Iowa State delivered a commanding 20-0 victory over Houston on Saturday night, improving its record to 4-0 for the first time since 2000.

The victory was a significant moment for the Cyclones, not only for the team’s continued success, but also for head coach Matt Campbell, who became the program’s all-time leader in wins with 57. This success cements Campbell’s legacy at Iowa State, a program that has continued to improve under his leadership.

The Cyclones’ defense, a pillar of their success this season, once again showed its strength. Iowa State’s defense entered the game ranked ninth nationally in points allowed and held Houston completely scoreless. Their defensive unit applied constant pressure and prevented Houston’s offense from finding a rhythm. The win was further evidence of the Cyclones’ ability to control games with their dominant defense that has become their trademark.

This loss is Houston’s second shutout in a row, following a 34-0 loss to Cincinnati the previous week. Cougars coach Willie Fritz is struggling with the challenge of finding consistency at the quarterback position. He used a two-quarterback system, alternating between Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss, but neither could emerge as a clear starter.

Fritz expressed frustration about the ongoing uncertainty about the quarterback and stated: “We are looking for a guy who can step up and be the guy.” The possibility of giving third street quarterback Ui Ale a chance was also raised in the wake of the Looking for solutions within the coaching staff is being considered.

“At the moment we are at a point where we have played a few games. If a player just isn’t able to do that, we have to limit the number of times he plays, or we’ll train him damned better so he can’t do it.” “I don’t make the same mistake over and over again,” Fritz said. “The kids don’t want to make mistakes.” He also acknowledged that the team may need to simplify the playbook because some players still have difficulty executing plays, even with wristbands designed to help them.

Facing a tough matchup against TCU and a 1-4 record, Houston finds itself in a precarious situation with growing pressure to turn things around before the season slips even further out of reach.