What Iowa State Brings to Big 12 Football in 2023

IOWA STATE CYLCONES

The Basics

Matt Campbell enters his eighth season as a 3x Big 12 Coach of the Year and, by nearly every metric, the most successful head coach in Iowa State history.

He trails only Dan McCarney for all-time school wins, 56-46, despite having coached in 53 fewer games. Under Campbell, Iowa State has won seven or more games in five of seven seasons. The two exceptions are his debut in 2016 and last year’s frustrating 4-8 campaign.

In 2020, Campbell’s ‘Clones experienced the most outstanding season in school history, falling in the Big 12 Championship game to Oklahoma before knocking off Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl, finishing 9-3 and in the final top ten for the first time in school history. 

The program remains in the best shape of its 125-year history, and there’s more room to grow, but last year was a step back and only the second time the Cyclones have missed a bowl game since Campbell’s first season in 2016. 

The Storylines 

Staff Shakeup - Despite having seniors like Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, NFL first-rounder Will McDonald, and WR Xavier Hutchinson, ISU only won four games and finished dead last in the Big 12 with just one conference win. So, Campbell moved quickly to shake up the status quo, parting ways with OC Tom Manning and quickly promoting RB/WR coach Nate Scheelhaase to the OC/QB roles. In another symbolic move, they also moved on to new S&C and OL coaches. Every offensive position coach is new to their role, except for tight ends. 

Hunter Dekkers - Turnovers were problematic, as Dekkers threw 19 touchdowns to 14 interceptions, including four multiple-turnover games — all losses. But he wasn’t solely to blame. With four of five starters back on the line, Dekkers has to protect the ball better and get better protection. 

Defensive Minded - It’s Iowa State, so they’ll have an above-average to great defense. They’ll need to replace the output of Will McDonald, a first-rounder and all-time program legend, but overall should remain a terrorizing unit, especially in the secondary.

The Games 

Do They Play Baylor? - YES, on October 28th at McLane Stadium. The Bears have won 3 of the last 4 and lead the all-time series 12-9. This should be another slobber-knocker, per usual. There’s no love lost here. 

Biggest Game - I nominate the October home showdown with TCU, who utterly embarrassed the Cyclones 62-14 last year to clinch their perfect regular season. That was bullying. Also, the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry with Iowa is an automatic big game. Not that it always means everything when you win, as evidenced by last year’s first ISU victory in seven years. Okay, that was still a huge W. 

Demanding Schedule - The Cyclones got the rare double-dip of playing OU (away) and Texas (home) in the duo’s final Big 12 season. Overall, Iowa State has one of the league’s toughest scheduleson paper. They drew OU, Cincinnati, Baylor, BYU, and Kansas State on the road, and Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, and Kansas at home. No gimmes. 

The Expectations

Few, if any, believe 4-8 will repeat itself, and Iowa State is a trendy sleeper pick for a turnaround. The schedule is rough, but the path to six wins isn’t impossible. I think making a bowl game is the baseline expectation and desire after having a five-year postseason streak snapped. 

But, the offense has to improve and there’s little reason to believe it can’t.