- Head Coach: Matt Campbell (10th season)
- 2024 Record: 11-3 (Won Pop-Tarts Bowl)
- Strength of Schedule: 37th
- PFF Projected Win Total: 6.5
- FanDuel Win Total: 7.5
2024 Recap
Iowa State enjoyed one of its best seasons in program history in 2024, going 11-3 and making the Big 12 Championship game. That was two more wins than the Cyclones had ever recorded in a season, and their No. 15 ranking in the final AP poll was the second-best finish in school history.
A big reason for Iowa State’s success was its passing game and pass defense. The Cyclones placed among the top 35 of the FBS in EPA per pass on both sides of the ball. While quarterback Rocco Becht and star cornerback Jontez Williams are back, there are some questions about whether the program can replicate that success after losing stars like cornerback Darien Porter and wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Biggest Strength: Stars at every level of the defense
Defensive tackle Domonique Orange and cornerback Jontez Williams are top-10 players at their respective positions in PFF’s rankings. Caleb Bacon played only one game in 2024 due to a knee injury, but he led all Power Five linebackers in PFF run-defense grade (91.3) in 2023.
Biggest Weakness: Will Rocco Becht be able to shoulder the load offensively?
Iowa State had one of the 25 most efficient offenses in America last year in terms of EPA per play, largely due to star receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Now that they’re both in the NFL with the Houston Texans, Becht will be forced to carry the offense much more as a redshirt junior. There are reasons to be pessimistic about his ability to do so, considering he earned a sub-70.0 PFF passing grade in 2024 and the Cyclones lost their two best offensive linemen from a unit that already ranked eighth worst in the Power Four (59.2 PFF grade).
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