Iowa State tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18), seen here making a catch in the second quarter on Saturday, left the game against Arizona State after taking a hard hit in the fourth quarter. Nirmalendu Majumdar / Ames Tribune / USA Today via Imagn Images

Iowa State junior tight end Benjamin Brahmer left the field on a cart after absorbing a hard hit on an incomplete pass in the fourth quarter against Arizona State and was taken to a local hospital on Saturday.

With 8:50 left, Brahmer was unable to corral a pass from Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht when Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney drilled him in the left side of his midsection. Brahmer worked to one knee, stood up in obvious pain, took approximately 10 steps, then collapsed on the field. His legs started shaking, and trainers tilted him on his side.

Players on both sides went to one knee as trainers huddled around Brahmer. He left the field on a cart after about a 10-minute delay with what appeared to be a pulse oximeter on his finger.

In his postgame news conference, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell told reporters that Brahmer was taken to the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.

“It’s precautionary, so far the feedback we’ve gotten has been positive,” Campbell told reporters and relayed by KCCI-TV’s Shannon Ehrhardt. “It was tough to watch and Ben is as tough as they come.”

Campbell declined to comment further to avoid providing “inaccurate information” but said he would provide an update Tuesday at his weekly news conference.

Brahmer, who is considered one of the nation’s top tight ends, was Iowa State’s leading receiver entering the home game with 29 catches and tied for the team high with three touchdown receptions this season.

Nov 1, 2025

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Scott Dochterman is a staff writer for The Athletic covering national college football and the Big Ten. He previously covered Iowa athletics for the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Land of 10.