Valuation in Context
The latest valuation from The Athletic places the Iowa State Cyclones football program at $300 million, ranking 48th among all college football teams and marking a modest decline from the $331 million figure recorded a year earlier.
In a national context the Cyclones sit well behind the Texas Longhorns, valued at $2.46 billion, and the Ohio State Buckeyes at $2.3 billion, yet they outrank several conference peers, holding the eighth spot within the Big 12 among 14 members.
The program’s financial snapshot comes amid a turbulent offseason: longtime head coach Matt Campbell departed for Penn State, taking a core group of players with him, and was succeeded by Jimmy Rogers, who previously steered the Washington State Cougars and brought several of his top recruits to Ames.
A New Era Begins
Rogers’ arrival has sparked cautious optimism, but the team must also navigate a demanding schedule that opens on September 5 against the SEMO Redhawks at Jack Trice Stadium, a venue that has long served as the Cyclones’ home field in Ames, Iowa.
The Athletic’s estimates, while viewed as harsh by some observers, are not considered unfair given the current state of the program, which has yet to translate its $300 million valuation into on‑field success.
Compared with other Big 12 programs, Iowa State trails Utah Utes, Texas Tech Red Raiders, BYU Cougars and TCU Horned Frogs in valuation, while it surpasses West Virginia Mountaineers, Kansas State Wildcats, Arizona Wildcats and Baylor Bears.
The upcoming season offers a chance to test whether the financial metrics can be matched by measurable progress, as the Cyclones aim to climb the rankings and reshape the narrative surrounding their $300 million worth.