2026 MAC Football Week 3 Game Preview: Bowling Green Falcons at Iowa State Cyclones

A tough 2026 campaign won't relent any time soon for the Bowling Green Falcons (0-2), who must leave home for the second time in as many weeks to take on a Power opponent in Iowa State (1-1).

The Falcons looked listless last week against Nebraska, dropping a 56-7 egg under the lights– even after nabbing an interception on Nebraska's first series from scrimmage. Now they have to take on an Iowa State team which is coming off a bitter one-score rivalry loss in the Cy-Hawk Game against Iowa.

The initial signs aren't encouraging for an upset, but nonetheless, the teams will try their hardest to give their fans the result they're wanting.

Game Notes

• Date and Time: Saturday, Sept. 19th, 2026 at 12 p.m. Eastern time/11 a.m. local time
• Location: Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa
• TV options: The game will be on ESPNU, part of the ESPN family of networks. A valid cable subscription is required for viewing.
• Streaming options: The game will be available for streaming on the ESPN App, ESPN Unlimited, or on applicable cable/satellite services. A valid subscription is required for viewing on any platform. Other streaming carriers include Sling, DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV.
• BGSU Radio: Todd Walker (play-by-play) and John Gibson (color) will provide the BGSU call for Eagle FM 99.
• Gambling Considerations: Iowa State is a 23.5 point home favorite, with an over/under set between 44.0 and 44.5 by various books, per Covers.
• All-Time Series: Iowa State is 2-0 all-time, with wins in 1977 and 1979.

Iowa State outlook

The Cyclones will be coming off a loss where they are looking to prove their record is not reflective of the talent on the team.

In the waning moments against Iowa, the Cyclones were mounting a comeback effort with a pass to get near mid-field, but the lack of a timeout prevented them from stopping a run-off for moving the chains, rendering Iowa State unable to snap the ball. They wound up losing 16-13 on a field goal scored by Iowa with 15 seconds left on the possession prior.

However, they had squandered a potential win before that point, up 13-10 at the end of the third quarter before allowing Iowa to score two field goals on drives combining for over 10 minutes while going three-and-out on their offensive possessions.

This Cyclones team will be looking at BGSU much like a hungry dog might look at a meat bone.

First-year head coach Jimmy Rogers hails from FCS powerhouse South Dakota State, and brings that rugged running offense with him to Ames after a gap year with Washington State.

Aiden Flora heads that department, rushing for 134 yards on 26 carries thus far in 2026. Flora will also feature at punt returner after being one the best in the country in 2025, averaging 26.1 yards per punt return and 21.4 yards per kick return, scoring once on special teams. Former Falcon Cameron Pettaway is Flora's spell back and also returns kicks.

Transfer QB Jaylen Raynor is under center with 301 passing yards and three passing scores, and is also second on the team in rushing (50 yards, two TDs); Raynor was a solid starter in 2025 at Arkansas State, finishing 66 percent of his passes for 3,361 yards and collecting 26 total scores (19 passing, seven rushing).

The receiving corps is still establishing itself, but Tulane transfer Omari Hayes (five catches, 93 yards) tops the charts. Tight end Vince Benetti has gotten work in the short pass game, with two touchdowns and 34 yards on just three catches. Watch for the six-foot-five, 200 lb. redshirt sophomore Dominic Overby (two catches, 85 yards) field-stretching option.

Sullivan Schlimgen followed Rogers from Washington State to Iowa State and has quickly established himself as the team's tackles leader (18 stops), while senior linebacker Carson Willich is near his output for all of 2025 through two games (15 stops) while tying for the team lead in tackles-for-loss (three). On that topic, EDGE rusher Isaac Terrell also joined the team from Wazzu and has paced the team with three TFLs and three sacks to date. He's coming off a 2025 campaign where 12 of his 28 tackles were for loss, with seven sacks.

As a unit, the team shows remarkable bend-don't-break aptitude. Iowa State has been decent in yards allowed (246.5), but lights out when it matters most, giving opponents only three redzone trips, two of which yield the team's only touchdowns allowed. They also hold a scoring defense of 13 points as a result; you don't want to get behind early against this team.

Bowling Green Outlook

It's hard to learn from a game like last week's against Nebraska.

When the score gets as lopsided as it did so quickly, the game can largely become elementary, taking away any opportunity for learning lessons from an outside perspective.

That said, there are a few identifiable aspects of the team we can wrap our hands around, including their reliance on the run game opening up the pass game and a defense which wants to stop the run first.

Assumption College transfer QB Jay Kastantin's box score wasn't pretty last week (10-of-16 for 84 yards, touchdown, interception), but he has to this point proven more than capable of leading the offense thanks to his ability to find his targets at an above-average rate. To date, Kastantin has a 73.9 percent completion rate, good for ninth in the NCAA. Jeremiah Scoby was limited last week after a breakout game against Tarleton State, where he compiled 10 catches for over 100 yards; the tight end will likely be Kastantin's favorite target as BG favors passing plays which can kill clock.

The Falcons will want to run the ball more often than not in ideal conditions. Austyn Dendy showed in 2025 he's capable of collecting yards, with three-straight 100+ yard performances to close the season out. He's currently sitting at 96 yards through two games as the offensive line tries to figure itself out, but will be the starter. Nakai Amachree has settled into the backup role and should spell Dendy.

BG does have several proven veteran defensive players leading the way, even with a number of notable departures from the past offseason. Linebacker Dorian Pringle is on the march after missing all of 2025 with an injury, leading the team in total tackles (23) and tackles-for-loss (1.5), while defensive back Kal-El Pascal mans the secondary with 22 tackles (11 solo) with fellow DB JoJo Johnson (nine tackles, interception, fumble recovery).

A major issue BG will need to address is their ability to stop the pass; they've given up seven touchdowns in two games (compared to two rushing scores), and average 505 total yards allowed per game, including 261 rushing yards.

Game Outlook 

Bowling Green still has a lot of questions to answer in terms of what they're meant to look like and who they can lean upon.

Iowa State is similar in talent to Nebraska, though a slight tier down, and should have no problem dispatching a Falcons team which is greatly limited in their current form.

Take the Cyclones where you can get them.