Iowa State: College football's overlooked underdog

The 2024 college football season has been as wild as ever through the first half of the season. From the SEC standings shuffling every week, Ashton Jeanty’s historic Heisman push and the combined 11-0 start from Army and Navy, there are bound to be some other newsworthy headlines getting overshadowed as we enter the latter portion of the season.

One such development is the Big 12’s lone AP top 10 team. The Iowa State Cyclones.

These underdogs from Ames are not just surprising people who follow the sport nationally, but in the Big 12 preseason media poll they received no first-place votes and were projected to finish sixth in the conference.

After starting the season unranked, it would only take the Cyclones two games to crack the top 25 after claiming the Cy-Hawk Trophy in come-from-behind fashion against in-state rival Iowa. And following a 3-0 start in conference play, the now ninth-ranked team in the land sits atop the Big 12 along with No. 13 BYU and unranked Texas Tech.

While their first 6-0 record since 1938 is quite impressive, many should not consider it unexpected based on who is at the helm.

Head coach Matt Campbell has proven over the course of his career that he can win in college football. As the offensive coordinator for two seasons at Division III Mount Union, the Purple Raiders won the 2005 and 2006 national championships. Then after spending some time on the Bowling Green and Toledo coaching staffs Campbell would become Toledo’s next head coach in 2012.

At 32 Campbell was the youngest coach at the FBS level and after going 35-15 in four years with the Rockets, he was hired by Iowa State in 2016.

Now in his ninth season in Ames, he has had six winning seasons, two AP Big 12 Coach of the Year awards in 2017 and 2020, a conference title game appearance, a New Year’s Six bowl victory and the school’s highest-ever final ranking in the AP poll and CFP committee rankings in 2020.

Campbell also became the Cyclones’ all-time leader in wins on September 28 after defeating Houston.

Campbell’s stout defensive unit has played a pivotal role in the success of this year's Iowa State team.

Led by defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, the Cyclones have allowed just 11 points per game, 285.3 yards per game and have 13 takeaways. All three of those major stat categories lead the Big 12 and are top 15 nationally.

On the other side of the ball, ISU may not be as impressive but is far from a sight for sore eyes.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht is the embodiment of this statement as his 1,438 passing yards and 12 total touchdowns are nowhere close to the likes of Sanders, Ward and Dart, but he has only thrown three interceptions and has a passer rating of 160.

Their rushing attack has been by committee this year as senior Jaylon Jackson, sophomore Carson Hansen and sophomore Abu Sama III have all averaged around five yards per carry on similar touches.

Becht’s favorite targets have been his two senior wide receivers, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. Noel leads the team in yards and Higgins has come on strong as of late as he paces the Cyclones in receptions and receiving touchdowns.

Looking ahead, it seems very possible that the Cyclones can turn this historic start into a College Football Playoff bid.

Their road ahead highlights their three biggest games remaining against Texas Tech, Utah, and No. 24 Kansas State.

Fortunately for the Cyclones, only the Utah game is away from Jack Trice Stadium and with Ute quarterback Cam Rising being ruled out for the year it puts their own conference championship and playoff aspirations in serious doubt.

Iowa State can’t be looking too far ahead though, as they face 3-3 UCF on Saturday in Ames at 7:30 p.m. A win will only move them closer to possibly claiming one of those 12 coveted playoff bids.

Chase Fisher is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ctf5198@psu.edu.