2025 College Football Big 12 Team Previews: Iowa State Cyclones

Team: Iowa State
Mascot: Cyclones
Student Population: 30,432
Established: 1858
Motto: Science with Practice
Location: Ames, Iowa
Head Coach: Matt Campbell
Offensive Coordinator: Taylor Mouser
Defensive Coordinator: Jon Heacock
2024 Record: 11-3

Rankings

SP+: 32
FPI: 45
Kelly Ford: 37

Power Rankings

CBS Sports: 7

ISU reached the Big 12 title game behind the best season in program history in 2024. Now, the Cyclones will have to replicate the feat without two NFL receivers and the majority of a star-studded secondary. Nickel Jeremiah Cooper brings leadership to the defensive backfield and quarterback Rocco Becht is a star, but the program needs receiver transfers Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend to hit. (+1200)

SB Nation: 5

The Cyclones are the typical college football team that’s ravaged by the loss of prime production on both sides of the ball, but because they’re so well coached they can always be in contention for the conference title. Losing WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to the NFL Draft really hurts, but the reports from out of spring practice is that East Carolina transfer WR Chase Sowell is the real deal. He should see a lot of targets from returning QB Rocco Becht. In addition, RB Abu Sama III and TE Gabe Burkle return, as do a few starters on the offensive line.

Defensively, Domonique Orange anchors a defense that should once again be very well coached. Adding another lineman in Tamatoa McDonough should help to offset the production going out the door, and keep an eye on CB Jontez Williams in the secondary for the Cyclones.

24/7 Sports: 3

Matt Campbell took Iowa State to heights the program never reached. Coming off its first double-digit win season, the Cyclones have the pieces in place to be a serious contender again in the Big 12 after making their second conference championship game appearance in five years. Although quarterback Rocco Becht lost a pair of 1,000-yard receivers to the NFL Draft, incoming transfer wideouts Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend should help reload the passing game. Iowa State is among the national leaders in number of returning starters, giving the Cyclones a strong foundation to build on in 2025.

Transfer Class Rankings

24/7 Sports: National Rank 61 | Big 12 Rank 15 (8 players)
Rivals: National Rank 97 | Big 12 Rank 15 (8 players)

Miscellaneous

Bovada Win Totals: 7.5

Athlon Big 12 Predictions: 4

The 2024 season was a historic one for Iowa State. The 11 wins were the most for the program in a single year and the No. 15 final ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll was the second-highest mark in school history. And with 12 starters back, coach Matt Campbell’s team has all of the pieces in place to return to the league title game and hoist the Big 12 Championship for the first time.

Quarterback Rocco Becht is back to anchor an offense that averaged over 30 points a game last season. Becht averaged 273.1 total yards a contest in ‘24 and tied for fourth in the conference with 10 completions of 40-plus yards. However, Becht’s receiving corps is in transition with Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel off to the NFL. Transfers Chase Sowell (East Carolina) and Xavier Townsend (UCF) are counted upon to slide into go-to roles on the outside. Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III lead the way in the backfield, while three starters return in the trenches.

Iowa State’s defense wasn’t up to its usual standard last year, but coordinator Jon Heacock’s group still finished No. 59 nationally in success rate. Injuries (especially to the linebacker group) hit this unit hard last season. A return to full strength by linebacker Caleb Bacon should provide a boost, while the rush defense will also benefit from having lineman Domonique Orange anchoring the front once again. A revamped secondary is Heacock’s biggest preseason concern.