Cincinnati defeated Iowa State 38-30 in Week 6 action, with the Bearcats establishing early dominance before withstanding a late Cyclones surge. Cincinnati jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead and extended it to 31-15 by halftime, controlling the game through two quarters. Iowa State mounted a fourth-quarter comeback attempt but fell short.

Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby orchestrated the early offensive attack, connecting with Noah Jennings for a 36-yard gain in the first quarter and scoring on a 20-yard rushing touchdown in the second. Sorsby added a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Caleb Goodie covering 82 yards, a play that generated the game's highest EPA impact.

Iowa State's Rocco Becht completed 314 passing yards and led a fourth-quarter push featuring a 31-yard completion to Chase Sowell. Running back Abu Sama III rushed for 96 yards. Despite the late offensive effort, the Cyclones couldn't close the gap.

Cincinnati's defense made key plays in critical moments, holding Iowa State to a pivotal negative-EPA run play late in the game. The final score held at 38-30, with Cincinnati covering the 2-point spread and the game surpassing the 55.5 over-under.