Iowa State’s first test of the Jimmy Rogers era comes with plenty of fresh faces, a loud Jack Trice Stadium crowd, and a Southeast Missouri team that already has a game in its pocket. That matters.
The Redhawks opened their season with a 23-21 win over Indiana State, and that kind of early reps can sharpen a team fast. Still, the Cyclones are heavily favored, and the opener will be about whether the new-look group handles the details.
One of the biggest questions sits on Iowa State’s back end. Defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit has that unit in good hands, but the secondary took a hit when safety Braden Awls suffered a season-ending injury during the offseason program.
That leaves the Cyclones vulnerable to an immediate stress test from a passing game that looked comfortable last week. Braylen Ragland led Southeast Missouri by completing 26-of-36 passes for 274 yards and a touchdown, and the air attack proved to be the separator when the Redhawks’ run game was bottled up.
That puts extra pressure on Iowa State’s corner group. David Coffey and Seth Johnson are listed as the starters, and both should see plenty of action early. Ben Ngoyi, Jaheim Singletary and Keyon Washington are also in line for snaps, especially when Johnson slides inside to the slot.
Special teams could be another area where this game gets interesting. Iowa State has leaned on Kyle Konrardy before, and he’s earned a reputation as a clutch kicker after winning the Cy-Hawk Rivalry game two years in a row with his right foot.
But Southeast Missouri brings its own confidence to the kicking game. Justin Keller went 3-for-3 against Indiana State, and all three tries came from at least 42 yards out.
When a kicker is that steady, it changes how an offense manages the field and when it decides to take its shots.
Up front, Iowa State will also be sorting through a brand-new offensive line. The unit features five new starters, with Austin Barrett the lone returning player even listed on the depth chart.
That kind of turnover takes time to settle, and the timing matters because Southeast Missouri’s defensive front was active against Indiana State. The Redhawks finished with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks, with DJ Delmore leading the way with three tackles for loss and a sack.
He’s the kind of disruptive presence Iowa State’s staff will need to track closely from the opening whistle.
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Iowa State Fans Already Have A Defining Jimmy Rogers Era Debate
By the time Iowa State gets to the 2026 season, the conversation around Jimmy Rogers will already have a cast of familiar names. The new head coach is expected to lean on a core that includes wide receiver Omari Hayes, tight end Tyler Fortenberry, quarterback Jaylen Raynor, kicker Kyle Konrardy and defensive standout Isaac Terrell, a group whose recent production and projected roles give the program a clear starting point as Rogers begins shaping the roster in his image.
For Cyclones fans, the early debate is less about whether the talent is there and more about which side of the ball will define the Rogers era first. Raynor brings obvious importance under center, while Hayes and Fortenberry give the offense reliable options and Terrell anchors the defense, but the biggest question around the new staff is how quickly that mix turns into something more than a promising top five. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States New Offense Hinges On One Early Test Up Front
Iowa States offseason overhaul has already put one of its biggest questions in plain sight, and it starts at the edge of the line. Jake Taylor, a fifth-year tackle who spent his earlier college seasons on the right side at Oklahoma, has been moved to left tackle to protect Jaylen Raynors blind side in the opener against Southeast Missouri State. Taylors role carries extra weight because he was also voted a team captain, giving him both a technical and leadership assignment as he adapts to Tyler Roehls new offensive scheme.
For Raynor, the early chemistry with Taylor is part of a broader adjustment period as the Cyclones build toward the start of the season. The quarterback has been working on improving his deep passing accuracy, but none of that matters much if the protection on his front side is shaky from the jump. With a new offense taking shape and a new blind-side blocker in place, Iowa States first real test may come before the opening game even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State's New Era Starts With One Player Under Pressure
Iowa State is heading into a new chapter under head coach Jimmy Rogers after the Matt Campbell era ended, and the roster looks different enough that the first few weeks will say a lot about how quickly this thing can settle in. Much of the rebuild came through the transfer portal, and at the center of it all is senior quarterback Jaylen Raynor, the Arkansas State transfer who is expected to guide the offense in Week 1.
Raynor does not just have to learn a new system and mesh with a reshaped group around him, he also inherits the pressure that comes with steering a team facing a difficult schedule right out of the gate. For a program trying to establish itself again under a new coach, the quarterback is never just another piece, and Raynors early play could go a long way toward defining how this season feels before it really gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]