Megan: You are not going to believe what we just uncovered in the film room. Sullivan Schlimgen didn't just hold up—he dominated. But is that enough to carry us through the rest of the season? Let’s find out.
Steve: It’s a lot to unpack after that 24-10 loss to No. 8 BYU. Jaylen Raynor struggled, the offense stalled, and now we’re left wondering about the offensive line adjustments following Killyan Toure’s surgery.
Megan: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Megan Jones, and this is your daily deep dive into Iowa State basketball and football. I’m joined by my favorite analyst, Steve Miller.
Steve: Hey everyone. Good to be here. We’ve got a packed mailbag today covering everything from Toure’s January return to where we stand in the Big 12 right now.
Megan: Here’s what we’re tackling: First, breaking down that tough loss to BYU and what it means for our playoff hopes. Second, we’re looking at the roster battles—specifically how Aiden Flora is stepping up with the offensive line reshuffled. And third, we’re answering your questions about our 20-win projection and that low NCAA tournament seed we talked about yesterday.
Steve: Exactly. We’re grounded in the facts. Third in the Big 12. Eligibility questions swirling around the league. And Toure coming back in January. Let’s get into it.
Megan: Alright, let’s start with Segment One. We’ve got a question from Marcus in Des Moines. He says, 'The 24-10 score against BYU feels like a nightmare. Jaylen Raynor looked lost in the pocket. Is this a coaching issue or just bad execution?' What’s your read, Steve?
Steve: It’s both, but mostly execution. You look at the stats—Raynor had a poor passing performance. When you’re playing No. 8 BYU on the road, you can’t afford that. The offensive line was still adjusting without Toure, so pressure got home more often than usual.
Megan: Right. And remember, we predicted yesterday that this would be a close, low-scoring affair. Well, 24-10 is definitely low-scoring, but not the outcome we wanted. How do we fix the pocket protection before Arizona?
Steve: You simplify the reads. Raynor needs to trust his receivers. The Cougars’ defense was aggressive, forcing him into hurried throws. Without Toure anchoring the interior, the center—Sullivan Schlimgen—had to help more in pass protection, which took him away from run blocking.
Megan: So it’s a trade-off. Better pass protection, weaker run game. That makes sense. Here’s another one from Sarah in Ames. She asks, 'If Toure is out until January, does that mean Aiden Flora has to carry the entire rushing load?' Can he handle it?
Steve: He’ll have to step up significantly. Flora has shown flashes of explosiveness, but relying solely on him is risky. The offensive line adjustments were supposed to create lanes for both Raynor and Flora. With Toure sidelined, those lanes are tighter.
Megan: So we need more balance. Maybe some play-action to slow down the edge rushers. Thanks, Sarah. Next question comes from @CycloneFan88 on Twitter. They want to know about the Big 12 standings. We’re third, but is that position secure?
Steve: Third in the Big 12 is solid, but nothing is secure. Look at the headlines—teams like Florida and LSU are dealing with eligibility uncertainty. Texas Tech and BYU are new faces in the top tier conversations. One loss can drop you fast.
Megan: And we saw that today. Losing to BYU drops the momentum. But as we said yesterday, we’re projecting a 20-win season overall. That includes football and basketball. Does this loss hurt that 20-win total?
Steve: It makes it harder, but not impossible. If we win out in football, that’s six wins right there. Add in a strong basketball season, and we’re still hovering around that 20-win mark. It’s about damage control now.
Megan: Damage control. I like that. Stick with us—we’re diving deeper into the roster battles next.
Megan: Welcome back to Segment Two. We’re talking roster depth. Kevin from Lincoln has a great question: 'With Killyan Toure out until January, who is actually starting at center? Is it fully Sullivan Schlimgen’s job now?'
Steve: Yes, it’s Schlimgen’s job. Full-time. We analyzed this yesterday. Schlimgen stepped up defensively against BYU. He recorded four tackles and one sack, exactly as we predicted. He’s physical, he’s smart, and he’s holding the line together.
Megan: Four tackles and one sack! That is huge for a defensive lineman. It shows he can impact the game even when he’s helping in pass protection. But is there anyone else competing for snaps behind him?
Steve: Not really. The depth chart is thin there. If Schlimgen gets tired or injured, we’re looking at backups who haven’t seen significant action. That’s the risk of Toure’s injury. It exposes the lack of depth.
Megan: Ouch. So we’re riding Schlimgen hard. Let’s pivot to basketball. Emily in Manhattan asks, 'How does the men’s basketball team look coming off this football loss? Are fans worried about morale?'
Steve: Morale is key, but the basketball team is separate. They’re preparing for their own season. The headlines mention eligibility issues across the Big 12, but ISU’s basketball roster is relatively stable. They’re focused on their own grind.
Megan: Stability is good. In a league full of transfers and eligibility questions, having a core group that knows each other is an advantage. Do you think the football team’s struggles will bleed over?
Steve: Hopefully not. Athletes are competitive. Sometimes a tough loss fuels them; other times it drains them. But for basketball, they’re in preseason mode. They’re looking at the Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings, not the football scoreboard.
Megan: Fair point. One last question for this segment from @Big12Blitz. He wants to know about the recruiting class. Are we bringing in any big names to help fill the gaps left by injuries?
Steve: Recruiting is always ongoing, but right now the focus is on development. The current roster has to execute. We’re tracking player movement across key programs, but for ISU, it’s about maximizing the talent we have right now.
Megan: Maximizing what we have. Got it. Up next, a fun hypothetical and a lightning round. Don’t go anywhere.
Megan: Segment Three! Let’s have some fun. David in Fort Dodge asks: 'If Killyan Toure came back tomorrow instead of January, what’s the immediate impact on the next game?' Hypothetically, of course.
Steve: Huge impact. Toure is a disruptive force. His presence alone forces double teams. The offensive line wouldn’t have to slide as much. Jaylen Raynor would have more time. It changes the entire schematic approach.
Megan: That’s the dream. Double teams on Toure means open lanes for Flora and open routes for Raynor. But since he’s out until January, we have to live with the reality. Let’s do a quick lightning round. Topic: NCAA Tournament Seed.
Steve: Let’s go. We projected a low seed earlier. Agreed?
Megan: Agreed. Low seed. But makeable. We’re in the conversation, just not the favorites.
Steve: Next topic: Jaylen Raynor’s future. Is he the long-term starter?
Megan: Yes. He has the arm talent. He just needs consistency. Today was a bad day, not a bad career.
Steve: Last one: Will ISU beat Arizona next? Yes. We bounce back. High energy. Strong defense.
Megan: Love the confidence, Steve. Alright, folks, before we wrap up, we need your help. This show is free because of you. If you enjoyed this breakdown of the BYU loss and the Toure update, please consider supporting us. Your contribution keeps these daily episodes rolling. Just click the link in the episode description to chip in. Every bit helps us keep bringing you the truth, no fluff.
Megan: We covered the fallout from BYU, Schlimgen’s dominance, and Toure’s timeline. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Go Cyclones!