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    • Iowa State Football gets another big night from the wideouts
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    Iowa State Football gets another big night from the wideouts

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    AMES – When everything is going well, it is sometimes normal to look for problems. Or, to put it another way, to become greedy. To let really good not be good enough. To want more. To seek perfection.

    Sometimes that means creating problems where there are none.

    Take Iowa State’s passing game, for example.

    For weeks, we, the media, you, the fans, and even the Iowa State football team itself, have talked about the “need” for a third receiving option that would emerge as a consistent threat.

    The Cyclones “need,” the thinking goes, another option to expand the field and take the pressure off Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

    But after another monster game from that monster duo, I have to ask: does it even matter?

    More: Hines: Iowa State football improves to 5-0 with resilience key

    Of course, it would be nice to see Ben Brahmer, Beni Ngoyi, Eli Green or someone else break through as such a consistent, dynamic third option. But if you let Higgins and Noel do what they did in Saturday’s 43-21 win over Baylor, it’s probably not worth worrying about.

    “Those two,” Iowa State running back Jaylon Jackson said, “you don’t want to play one-on-one with those two outside. They’re going to win anyway.

    “Those two are special.”

    They really are.

    Higgins extended his school record of consecutive games with a touchdown reception to seven, catching eight passes for 116 yards and that crucial score late in the third quarter. Noel had five grabs for 98 yards and moved into third all-time for career receptions as a Cyclone.

    They accounted for 77 percent of Iowa State’s receiving yards and 81 percent of the team’s receptions against the Bears.

    They are certainly a dynamic duo. But the multiverse version with two Batmans. No helpers needed.

    “They’ve obviously done great things for us,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said, “and will continue to play great football for us.”

    Iowa State got a nice night out from Brahmer, perhaps the best candidate to break out as a third option given his size and skill at the tight end position. He had two catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.

    That is undoubtedly useful. But it’s a bonus, not a necessity, for Iowa State’s offense with the way they can get the ball to their two playmakers.

    “They keep showing up for us, keep making big plays,” quarterback Rocco Becht said. “All I have to do is put the ball in the area, near those players, and they’re going to make a big play and get the ball for us.

    “I love those guys.”

    And what’s not to love?

    More: Join Travis Hines’ Cyclone Insider text messaging group for behind-the-scenes access

    Higgins is a 6-foot-1, 215-pounder who rose from obscurity in two seasons at Eastern Kentucky to become a star at Iowa State with his ability to beat corners with size and speed.

    The 6-foot-4 Noel is the perfect addition as one of the best and most consistent players in Iowa State football over the past four years.

    Together, they give Iowa State the ability to hurt defenses anywhere.

    “What makes these two guys unique is that they can really play anywhere,” Campbell said. “They are not just a man on the inside or outside. They can really play across the spectrum.

    “To be able to try to find ways to create matchups for those guys that are positive, that’s really important.”

    Six of Higgins’ eight catches resulted in a first down or a touchdown. He drew three pass interference penalties to add another 45 yards of production for the Iowa State offense.

    “That’s the work he puts in,” Becht said. “He’s the last one here every night (practicing) to get that work in.”

    “No matter how well he plays in the game, he’s still going to be in the film room or on the field, and he’s going to be the last one here.”

    Iowa State needs a well-rounded offense, and Jackson’s first career 100-yard game helps move things in that direction. Brahmer’s two great handles add to the comparison.

    Those things will matter at the margins. They can determine profits and losses.

    But let’s be honest: the hard work is done by the stars.

    “We have a lot of good football players,” Campbell said. “You can’t play big games without really talented players.

    “Our guys make plays in the moment.”

    And if those guys are Higgins and Noel, that’s more than enough.

    Iowa State columnist Travis Hines has covered cyclones for the Des Moines Register and the Ames Tribune since 2012. Contact him at [email protected] or (515) 284-8000. FFollow him on X at @TravisHines21.

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