Iowa State Faces Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway Saturday at McLane

Iowa State Faces Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway Saturday at McLane

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DJ Lagway and Iowa State Collide at McLane Stadium

Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway enters Saturday’s matchup against Iowa State averaging 278.5 passing yards per game, ranking third in the Big 12 as his production begins to match the high-end expectations of his five-star recruiting profile. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 237 pounds, the former Florida transfer has thrown 13 touchdown passes against four interceptions this season for the Bears, completing 53.3 percent of his attempts.

CycloneFanatic.com reported that Iowa State (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) prepares to face Lagway at 11 a.m. Saturday on FS1 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, continuing a grueling conference schedule defined by elite signal-callers. First-year Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers noted the distinct physical traits of his upcoming opponent.

Baylor Football: Week 9 vs. Iowa State Media Availability | November 3, 2026

“He was recruited out of high school to go to Florida for a reason,” said the Cyclones’ first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers. “I think he’s coming into his own. I think you could see the growth in his game over the years. Really strong arm. Big athletic player.”

For Rogers and the Cyclones, containing high-powered offensive attacks has proved difficult throughout conference play. Iowa State barely edged West Virginia and dual-threat quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., and held off Oklahoma State’s prolific passer Drew Mestemaker in a 51-49 victory fueled by linebacker Beau Goodwin’s second career interception. Yet the defense struggled heavily against other top-tier all-around passers, dropping games against Arizona’s Noah Fifita, Utah’s Devon Dampier, and BYU’s Bear Bachmeier by an average of 21.3 points.

Freeman Drives Baylor Passing Attack Against Cyclone Defense

Lagway’s primary weapon, wide receiver Gavin Freeman, commands a major share of the Baylor aerial attack after previous stints at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Freeman has caught 35.4 percent of the Bears’ passes while accounting for 34.9 percent of their receiving yards. Slowing down that connection remains a core priority for a Cyclone defense tested repeatedly by the conference’s premier offensive units.

On the other side of the ball, Baylor fields a defense allowing just 15.3 points per contest, good for second-best in the Big 12, alongside a run defense surrendering only 99.4 yards per game. First-year Iowa State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl outlined the physical approach required to counter that front seven.

Iowa State Faces Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway Saturday at McLane

“They’ve got a really stout front,” said first-year ISU offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl. “So for us, it’s leverage, it’s pad level, it’s simplicity equals velocity, and lets our guys cut loose and play fast.”

Roster Updates Ahead of Kickoff

Injury concerns linger for Iowa State as the team travels to Texas. Rogers confirmed that backup quarterback Connor Moberly will miss approximately four weeks following an injury sustained two weeks ago against Arizona. Meanwhile, leading tackler and linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen, who exited last week’s win over Oklahoma State with a lower-body injury, has a chance to be available against the Bears.

Baylor FB: OL Coach Austin Woods, OL Koltin Sieracki, QB DJ Lagway (pre-Iowa State)

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