The 2024 Iowa State Cyclones were the first team in program history to win 11 games in a season. The goal now for head coach Matt Campbell and the Cyclones is to win the Big 12 Championship and get into the College Football Playoff.
Campbell, entering his 10th season at Iowa State, feels the Big 12 is a deep conference. He also understands what it will take to get back to the Big 12 Championship Game.
“I think from top to bottom the consistency of this conference, you’ve got great quarterbacks, you’ve got great coaches, right now and you’ve got a lot of great programs,” Campbell said while speaking at Big 12 Media Days. “I think you got to try to stay healthy. You got to get on a great run, and you got to be able to, you know, you got to be able to what I would deem if we’re going to get back there this year, you got to be pretty tough.”
Iowa State Offense
That toughness for Iowa State starts with quarterback Rocco Becht. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound redshirt junior carried the Cyclones to their 11-3 record last season. Becht threw for 3,505 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was a presence in the run game as well, adding 318 yards on the ground with eight rushing touchdowns.
Campbell said he has been impressed with Becht’s leadership and his ability to make plays when the Cyclones needed them. Campbell said he feels his quarterback is one of the best in the country.
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“Rocco has evolved into one of the best quarterbacks in college football,” Campbell said. “I mean the moments that he was able to play, especially when you look at late in the game, what he was able to do in some critical moments, the ability to extend plays, make the winning plays, really special.”
Iowa State running back Carsen Hansen runs during the Cyclones’ first fall practice. Photo courtesy of Iowa State Athletics.
Iowa State has a tremendous duo of running backs in juniors Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III. In 2024, the duo combined to rush for 1,339 yards and 15 TDs. Neither back stood out in the passing game but may need to do so this year with the loss of Iowa State’s top two receivers, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. Noel and Higgins accounted for 67.8 percent of the receiving yards for Iowa State.
The Cyclones have two good tight ends in juniors Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle. Both will need to get more involved with the passing game in 2025. Campbell went to the transfer portal for help in the receiver room, getting Chase Sowell from East Carolina and Xavier Townsend from UCF. Sowell is a tall receiver at 6-foot-4 while Townsend is a speedster.
The offensive line will be a solid unit, as is typically the case with the Cyclones. Brendan Black moves from RG to center, and the projected starting five have an average of 21 starts. With returning players and additions from the transfer portal, the offensive line has solid depth.
Iowa State Defense
The defensive line took the biggest hit as they lose three starters. However, senior NG Domonique Orange and redshirt junior Ikenna Ezeogu return. Tamatoa McDonough from Yale and Cannon Butler from Northern Iowa arrived via the transfer portal. This unit will need a lot of help from the back seven defending the run.
The linebackers, who were crushed by the injury bug in 2024, only lose two from last year’s group. Will McLaughlin was out with an injury from the start of the season until November. He only played in the final four games, taking a redshirt. This should be a strong group returning, provided they can stay healthy.
The defensive backs are one of the best groups in the Big 12. Safety Jeremiah Cooper and cornerback Jontez Williams made the 2024 All Big 12 first and second teams, respectively. True freshman safety Ta’Shawn James started two games and recorded 41 tackles and could have a breakout season.
Iowa State Special Teams
Last year’s specialists, kicker Kyle Konrardy and punter Tyler Perkins, are back. Konrardy hit on 21-of-28 field goals as a redshirt freshman. Perkins averaged 39.2 yards per punt and had eight downed inside the 20-yard line. Both return men are gone, but Townsend is a legit option to take over both roles.
Campbell was quoted at Media Days saying that 20 Cyclones took pay cuts to stay at Iowa State. The cohesion of this group along with the returning production makes Iowa State my pick to win the Big 12 and get to the CFP.
