Published September 28, 2026 · By the Goalorithm model desk
Final: Iowa State Cyclones 45–42 West Virginia Mountaineers. Read the game analysis →
Preview
The West Virginia Mountaineers visit the Iowa State Cyclones in college football on Saturday, October 3, with kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET. Both teams are coming off losses in their latest games.
What the model expects
The model’s figures are estimates, not certainties. It gives the Iowa State Cyclones 74.1% to win and the West Virginia Mountaineers 25.9%; the model’s likelier result is an Iowa State Cyclones win.
The model projects 31.1 points for the Iowa State Cyclones and 22.8 for the West Virginia Mountaineers, with 53.9 in all. Its projected margin is the Iowa State Cyclones by 8.3 points.
Records and recent results
The Iowa State Cyclones are 2-2 this season, with 123 points scored and 64 allowed in 4 games. The West Virginia Mountaineers are 3-1, with 145 points scored and 99 allowed in 4 games; the West Virginia Mountaineers have the better record.
The Iowa State Cyclones lost 31-17 at home to the Utah Utes on September 26, and before that beat the Bowling Green Falcons 55-7 at home on September 19. The West Virginia Mountaineers lost 41-24 at home to the Oklahoma State Cowboys on September 26, and before that beat the Virginia Cavaliers 38-27 on the road on September 19.