With a loss in the Big 12 title game last year, Iowa State fell just short of ending its decades-long quest for a conference championship.
As the Cyclones prepare for the 2025 season, though, they are very much in the hunt to land on top.
This summer, BuffZone is previewing each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2025 season and in this installment we look at Iowa State, which will visit the Buffs in Boulder on Oct. 11.
Last year, Iowa State reached the Big 12 title game for the second time in the last five years, but was thumped by Arizona State, 45-19.
Although the Cyclones are still seeking their first conference title since they were Missouri Valley co-champs in 1912 (and 1911), last year was a banner season. They set a program record with 11 wins (previous mark was nine) and head coach Matt Campbell continues to put his team in a position to win.
Despite losing several key players from last year’s run to the title game, Iowa State returns quarterback Rocco Becht, several starters on the offensive line and six starters from a defense that was solid.
Top receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins are now in the NFL (both drafted by the Houston Texans). That duo combined for 167 catches and 2,377 yards, so they’ll be tough to replace.
However, Becht is entering his third season as the starting quarterback and he has some new weapons. Transfers Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend highlight the receiving corps, while there is a deep group of tight ends.
Top two rushers Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III are both back. Hansen rushed for 752 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Sama rushed for 587 yards and two scores.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell watches his team on the field during the first half of the Pop Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
A year ago, the Cyclones averaged 31.1 points per game (seventh in the Big 12). With Becht at the helm, it’s a good bet they’ll continue to be able to score around 30 points per game.
Defensively, the Cyclones gave up just 22.9 points per game (fourth in the Big 12), but were torched late, in the loss to ASU and in a 42-41 win against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Linebackers were hit hard by injury last year, but Iowa State will get Caleb Bacon back. He was injured in the opener and missed the rest of the year. Kooper Ebel (69 tackles) returns after finishing third on the team in tackles.
Up front, Iowa State was able to hold onto nose tackle Dominique Orange, but they’ll rely on some transfers to bolster that group.
Iowa State was No. 1 in the country last year in pass defense, allowing just 165.6 yards per game. Although there are holes to fill, cornerback Jontez Williams and safety Jeremiah Cooper return.
Certainly, there are question marks going into this year, and it won’t be easy to replace their dynamic duo at receiver. Campbell has built a confident program, though.
Iowa State has been playing football since 1892 and had won nine games in a season just twice before 2020 (in 1906 and 2000). They’ve now hit that mark twice in the last five years, and the Cyclones could be a preseason top-25 team that will contend for the Big 12 title.
Iowa State Cyclones
Head coach: Matt Campbell, 10th season (64-51; 99-66 career)
2024 season: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12; lost to Arizona State, 45-19, in Big 12 title game; beat Miami, 42-41, in Pop-Tarts Bowl
Series with CU: Buffs lead 49-15-1
Matchup with the Buffs: Saturday, Oct. 11 (TBA), at Folsom Field in Boulder
Iowa State defensive back Jontez Williams (3) celebrates his fourth-quarter interception during an NCAA football game against West Virginia on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Morgantown W.Va. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
5 Guys to Watch
LB Caleb Bacon: Suffered a season-ending injury in the 2024 opener, but he’s back and may be ISU’s best defender. Former walk-on earned a scholarship after a stellar 2023 season. Playing as a reserve that year, he was second on team with 60 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
QB Rocco Becht: One of the better quarterbacks in the country, Becht completed 59.4% of his passes for 3,505 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions last year. He also ran for 318 yards and eight touchdowns. Over the course of the last two years, he’s thrown for 6,625 yards, 48 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
S Jeremiah Cooper: Finished the 2024 season with 48 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention. He was first-team All-Big 12 in 2023, when he had 45 tackles, five interceptions and 10 pass breakups.
RB Carson Hansen: Became the lead back in 2024 and rushed for 752 yards and 13 touchdowns, while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He caught just 13 passes, but two of them went for touchdowns.
CB Jontez Williams: He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last year after recording 46 tackles, four interceptions and five pass breakups.
Good to know
• CU and Iowa State played each other every year from 1946-2010, but they haven’t met since a 34-14 Buffs’ win on Nov. 13, 2010. From 1948-2010, they were rivals in the Big 7/Big Eight/Big12.
• From 1979-99, Iowa State posted 17 losing seasons and played in no bowl games. Since 2000, the Cyclones have had 12 winning seasons and 15 bowl appearances.
• Former Colorado receiver Chase Sowell is a projected starter for the Cyclones. Sowell played the 2022 season at CU, catching two passes for 23 yards as a freshman. During the past two years, he was one of the top playmakers at East Carolina, catching a combined 81 passes for 1,300 yards and four touchdowns. His younger brother, Hunter, is a defensive back at Iowa State.
• Iowa State will have a lot of travel miles racked up by the time it gets to Boulder. The Cyclones will play Kansas State on Aug. 23 in Dublin, Ireland. They’ll also have a trip to Arkansas State on Sept. 13 and a trip to Cincinnati on Oct. 4 before heading to Boulder a week later.
• Kicker Kyle Konrardy is back. He went 21-of-28 on field goals with a long of 54 yards. He also went 46-of-48 on extra points.
Portal movement
The Cyclones lost 16 players to the portal, but there weren’t many significant losses. Three productive defenders have moved on, however: linebackers Jacob Ellis (Colorado State) and Jack Sadowsky V (Northwestern), and defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M). Eight players were signed in the portal and most should make an impact. Sowell (East Carolina) and Xavier Townsend (UCF) are projected starters at receiver. Defensive end Vontroy Malone (Tulsa) and cornerback Tre Bell (Lindenwood) are possible starters on defense. Tackle Austin Barrett (Indiana) and defensive end Tamatoa McDonough (Yale) could also make an impact.