The Iowa State Cyclones are gearing up for the 2026 campaign amid a sweeping transformation of the program.
A challenging outlook
Matt Campbell, who had steered the team for several seasons, accepted a position at Penn State, leaving a void that the university filled by appointing offensive coordinator Jimmy Rogers as the new head coach.
Early forecasts have the Cyclones projected to finish at the bottom of the Big 12, a placement that would mark a stark contrast to recent years.
Rogers' proven resilience
Rogers, however, brings a pedigree of defying expectations; in his inaugural year at Washington State he guided the Cougars to a bowl victory, showcasing his ability to extract performance from modest rosters.
The upcoming roster, bolstered by recruits who outperformed the previous Cougars squad, offers a glimpse of upside, though the team will head into the season without any preseason All‑Big 12 honorees.
The true test will arrive in the final weeks of competition, when the Cyclones' results could either validate optimism or cement the pessimistic projections.