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Cyclone Fanatic

Chris Williams

Premium Iowa State coverage without the filter. Sharp analysis, strong opinions, and real conversations from the voices at Cyclone Fanatic — the largest Iowa State community on the internet. If it matters to Cyclone Nation, we’re talking about it.

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  • 165 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 38 min
  • English

Episodes 165

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  • October 19 · 10 min

    Williams & Brend Recap Jared Benko's Introduction

    Chris Willams and Jake Brend recap Jared Benko's introductory press conference.What were their biggest impressions? How does his leadership fit Iowa State? What does he seek to accomplish in Ames? CW and Brend break it down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 18 · 1 hr 12 min

    Williams and Blum: Big 12’s time is now and a new era at Iowa State

    Chris Williams and Brent Blum analyze what BYU’s massive win over Notre Dame means for the Big 12 Conference. The Jared Benko era begins in Ames on Monday. Who is Iowa State’s new leader, and what changes are the guys expecting? Breaking it all down courtesy of Mechdyne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 15 · 10 min

    DAILY CLONE: Can Iowa State Go 10 Deep?

    Jake Brend lays out why he thinks Iowa State can go 10 deep in the 2026-27 season on the Daily Clone. Presented by Wyffels Hybrids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 15 · 1 hr

    The Beat Reporters: How deep can MBB be? + WBB Impressions, Midseason Football Eval

    Rob Gray, Jackson Pence, and Jake Brend break down what they learned from both men’s and women’s basketball media days. How deep of a rotation can T.J. Otzelberger play? Will they have a “go-to” guy? As Bill Fennelly enters his final season, what will be the team’s identity? Finally, the guys close out with an evaluation of Jimmy Rogers' squad through six games. Presented by Kelderman Manufacturing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 14 · 9 min

    DAILY CLONE: WBB Media Day Takeaways

    Following the final media day of Bill Fennelly's career in Ames, he shares why he wants this last season to be about the players.What do we know about Fennelly's last team? Jake Brend shares his takeaways from media day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 14 · 1 hr 12 min

    Williams & Blum: Iowa State Basketball Preview, Tamin Lipsey & Big 12 Football Picks

    Iowa State basketball season is almost here! Chris Williams, Brent Blum, and Jake Brend get ready for the Cyclones’ upcoming season, break down key storylines from men’s and women’s basketball media days, and look ahead to another weekend of Big 12 football. With Iowa State football on its bye week, the guys turn their attention to basketball. They discuss the atmosphere at Hilton Coliseum, the upcoming exhibition, the roster’s strengths and questions, and what the Cyclones need to do to be playing their best basketball in February and March. Plus, the guys discuss Bill Fennelly’s retirement announcement, Iowa State’s evolving roster and eligibility questions, and the challenges facing the Cyclones as the new season approaches. They break down this weekend’s biggest conference matchups, including BYU’s showdown with Notre Dame and the latest Big 12 football outlook. Williams & Blum is presented by Mechdyne. 01:32 Show open 03:13 Iowa State Basketball Season Is Almost Here 05:03 Hilton Coliseum, Game Times and the Home-Court Experience 08:01 Iowa State Basketball, Community and Program Expectations 12:01 Women's Basketball Media Day and Bill Fennelly's Legacy 16:00 Iowa State's Roster, Transfers and Emerging Players 20:01 Eligibility Questions and the Changing College Basketball Landscape 25:00 Roster Availability, Injuries and Early-Season Expectations 28:00 Buy, Sell or Hold 30:00 Can the Cyclones Peak in February and March? 34:01 Iowa State's Perimeter Attack and Getting Into the Paint 40:01 Frontcourt Pairings and Nonconference Experimentation 48:01 Iowa State Basketball's Depth and Offensive Options 52:00 Women's Basketball and the Big 12 Landscape 54:00 Big 12 Football: Weekend Matchups and Predictions 59:00 BYU vs. Notre Dame and the Biggest Games of the Weekend 1:04:00 Big 12 Football Storylines and Closing Conversation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 13 · 15 min

    DAILY CLONE: Fennelly's Legacy, What will be ISU MBB's Offensive Identity?

    As Bill Fennelly begins his 32nd and final year as Iowa State's head coach, Jake Brend shares how important his legacy is.Plus, what will T.J. Otzelberger's offensive identity be this year? Presented by Whiskey River. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 12 · 13 min

    DAILY CLONE: Media Day Takeaways with Jake Brend

    Jake Brend shares his biggest takeaways from men's basketball media days. Regardless of Tamin Lipsey's status, how vital can he be? What will the offense look like without Jefferson and Momcilovic? How does the second year jump happen consistently? Presented by Fareway Meat & Grocery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 12 · 35 min

    2026 Men's Basketball Media Day 1-on-1 Special

    Basketball season is back! Iowa State kicks off the 2026-27 season with media day. CF's Jake Brend sits down 1-on-1 with returners Tamin Lipsey, Blake Buchanan, Jamarion Batemon, Killyan Toure and Dominykas Pleta. Tamin Lipsey: 00:00-09:55 Blake Buchanan: 09:55-17:36 Jamarion Batemon: 17:36-24:27 Killyan Toure: 24:27-29:31 Dominykas Pleta: 29:31-32:41 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 12 · 34 min

    T.J. Otzelberger Media Day Press Conference

    Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger starts his sixth year at the helm with a media day press conference to discuss Tamin Lipsey's return to Cyclone basketball. What is the process with getting him on the court? How is the program handling the uncertainty? Otzelberger gets into the dynamics of the team, sharing the jump he expects from Blake Buchanan, Jamarion Batemon and Dominykas Pleta. How is the front coming together? How are the newcomers acclimating? Otzelberger has it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 12 · 53 min

    InCYde Zone: Iowa State’s BYU Loss Exposes Major Problems, Can a Bye Fix It?

    Iowa State football has plenty to fix after its loss to BYU. Jacqueline Cordova, Jake Remsburg, and Jirehl Brock break down what went wrong for the Cyclones and what needs to change during the bye week. The InCYde Zone crew examines Iowa State’s offensive struggles, the offensive line’s difficulties handling BYU’s pressure, and the questions surrounding Jaylen Raynor and the passing game. They also discuss the defense’s performance, injuries and depth concerns, and how the Cyclones can get back on track for the second half of the season. Plus, the crew looks at BYU’s home-field advantage, Iowa State’s remaining challenges, and the frustrating moments that defined Friday night’s loss. Presented by Wiffle’s Hybrids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 11 · 1 hr 12 min

    Williams & Blum: Assessing the Cyclones heading into the bye week

    Chris Williams and Brent Blum analyze Iowa State’s Friday night loss to BYU from a big-picture standpoint. The Big 12 is stronger this year than it has been in a long time. Plus, the first KenPom ratings are out for college basketball. Where are the Cyclones? Guessing the point spreads and more, all courtesy of Mechdyne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 8 · 25 min

    CF Pregame: Iowa State Can SHOCK BYU?

    Can Iowa State pull off the upset at No. 8 BYU? Jake Brend and Chris Williams preview the Cyclones’ massive Friday night road test in Provo and explain why they believe this game is much more winnable than it looked before the season. The guys break down BYU’s injuries, the Cougars looking ahead to Notre Dame, Bear Bachmeier, Aiden Flora, Iowa State’s defense, tackling, special teams, physicality, and the importance of playing a clean game. They also make their predictions for Iowa State-BYU and discuss whether the Cyclones can stay within striking distance against one of the Big 12’s top teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 8 · 12 min

    DAILY CLONE: Three Keys to Iowa State @ BYU

    What does Iowa State have to do to pull off a win in Provo?Jake Brend lays out his keys to the game for Iowa State at BYU. Presented by Wyffels Hybrids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 7 · 9 min

    DAILY CLONE: Haliburton Homecoming at Hilton

    Tyrese Haliburton is making his long-awaited to return to the NBA court following his achilles injury suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals. He's excited to play again and he's excited to play at Hilton Coliseum for the first time in six years. Jake Brend looks ahead to Haliburton's homecoming on the Daily Clone. Presented by Fareway Meat & Grocery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 7 · 55 min

    The Beat Reporters: An opportunity against BYU, the NBA at Hilton

    Jake Brend, Rob Gray, and Jackson Pence dive deep into Iowa State’s game against BYU. What parts of the matchup give the Cyclones a chance to make a statement? Plus, the guys discuss Tyrese Haliburton’s return to Hilton Coliseum and look back at the last time Brend covered an NBA game. Presented by Kelderman Manufacturing. 00:00 Tyrese Haliburton Returns to Hilton Coliseum 09:10 The Beat Reporters: Iowa State-BYU Preview 11:26 BYU Is a MASSIVE Challenge 14:00 How Iowa State Can Attack BYU 18:59 Why BYU’s Defense Is So Good 21:00 Iowa State’s Tackling Has to Improve 23:00 BYU’s Playmakers & Iowa State’s Banged-Up Secondary 25:00 Can Iowa State Get Pressure on Bear Bachmeier? 28:00 Third Down Could Decide the Game 29:00 How Iowa State Can Stay in the Game 32:00 Iowa State’s Offense Has More Weapons Now 34:00 River Peppers Gives Iowa State Another Weapon 36:02 Jake’s Hilarious Monte Morris Throwback Interview 42:00 Iowa State Heads to Provo 43:19 Basketball Season Is Coming 43:35 Iowa State Has a HUGE Opportunity 46:00 Aiden Flora & the Cyclones’ “Nothing to Lose” Mindset 48:00 What Does Iowa State Need to Score? 49:17 BYU Is GOOD — But This Game Is Winnable 51:00 Final Thoughts & BYU Prediction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 6 · 51 min

    Williams & Blum: Can Iowa State Beat No. 8 BYU? The Path to a Cyclone Upset

    Can Iowa State beat No. 8 BYU in Provo? Chris Williams and Brent Blum break down the Cyclones’ path to an upset, the injuries facing BYU, Bear Bachmeier’s style, and why this matchup could look much more like Iowa State’s game at Iowa than the recent West Virginia shootout. The guys dive deep into Iowa State’s defensive struggles, tackling, the matchup with BYU’s physical offensive line, and what the Cyclones need from their linebackers and secondary. They also explain why Aiden Flora has become impossible for opposing defensive coordinators to ignore and how his passing ability could open up Iowa State’s offense. Plus, Tyler Roehl’s play calling, Cody Jackson’s breakout, Jaylen Raynor’s need to hit his opportunities, and whether the conference can get multiple teams into the College Football Playoff. Williams & Blum presented by Mechdyne. 00:00 Intro + Iowa State Can Beat No. 8 BYU 02:19 BYU Injury News + Jimmy Rogers Press Conference 03:15 Iowa State Is FURIOUS About Its Tackling 05:47 Why BYU Is a Better Matchup for Iowa State 09:29 Jimmy Rogers Compares Bear Bachmeier to Mark Gronowski 10:32 Can Iowa State’s Defense Bounce Back? 11:15 Iowa State Injury Update 12:26 BYU’s Physicality vs. Iowa State’s Linebackers 13:52 Aiden Flora Handling the Hype 16:44 Buy, Sell, Hold: Jaylen Raynor 18:51 NO Quarterback Controversy at Iowa State 19:00 Buying Iowa State’s Defense 20:22 Can BYU Score 27+? 21:31 Big 12 Power Rankings Are WIDE OPEN 24:34 Jimmy Rogers on BYU’s Late Kickoff & Elevation 25:27 Aiden Flora Has Changed Iowa State’s Offense 26:01 Tyler Roehl’s Play Calling Was INCREDIBLE 27:29 BYU’s Defense vs. Aiden Flora 28:55 Iowa State’s Path to an Upset 30:20 Iowa State’s Offense Still Has More to Show 31:05 The Physicality Battle Up Front 34:19 Big 12 Games: Who’s Actually Good? 39:49 Is Baylor for Real? 41:13 Big 12 Championship Odds 42:51 Could Oklahoma State Make the CFP? 45:20 The Big 12 NEEDS Multiple Playoff Teams 45:45 Iowa State-BYU Picks 46:34 Can Iowa State Survive BYU’s Physicality? 48:14 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • October 6 · 11 min

    DAILY CLONE: How can Iowa State slow down Bear Bachmeier?

    After 53 missed tackles against Utah and West Virginia, Jimmy Rogers and Jesse Bobbit diagnose where the problems are coming from.Jake Brend explains the importance of fixing the tackling quickly with another capable running QB in Bear Bachmeier on the other side. Presented by Whiskey River. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 41–60 of 165 episodes