Iowa State is entering 2026 with a completely different look, and the preseason numbers from Phil Steele make that clear.
The Cyclones are in the middle of a full reset after Matt Campbell left for the Penn State Nittany Lions, taking virtually the entire coaching staff with him. A large chunk of the 50-plus players who entered the transfer portal followed as well, leaving Jimmy Rogers to piece together a roster that has zero returning starters.
That kind of turnover makes Iowa State one of the hardest teams in the country to project. There is talent on the roster, but most of it is unproven, especially at the Power 4 level. Steele’s latest rankings reflect that uncertainty, slotting the Cyclones at No. 100 overall out of 138 programs.
What stands out most is where that places Iowa State among Power 4 teams: dead last. It is a jarring spot for a program that has spent the last decade building a much stronger reputation in Ames.
The Cyclones are ranked behind Washington State, which checks in at No. 95.
That’s the same program Rogers left to become Iowa State’s head coach. Boston College is the nearest Power 4 team ahead of them at No.
The gap gets even wider inside the Big 12. Cincinnati is the closest league team to Iowa State in Steele’s rankings, coming in at No. 77.
For Rogers and his staff, the ranking only adds more fuel to the fire. Iowa State is being placed behind teams like North Texas, which lost head coach Eric Morris and several star players to Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys are ranked No. 64.
Still, this is the reality of a roster loaded with unknowns. The Cyclones will have to prove themselves on the field, and early on they are likely to face opponents with a clear edge in continuity and chemistry.
Rogers has dealt with that kind of challenge before. In 2025, Washington State had 75 newcomers on the roster, and he still led them to a bowl game. The Cougars won that bowl under interim head coach Jesse Bobbit, who is now the defensive coordinator in Ames.
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Former Cyclones are making a noticeable pass through NBA Summer League, with five alumni spread across several rosters and getting early chances to show how their games translate at the next level. Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones and Tristan Enaruna are all in the mix, giving Iowa State fans a summer rooting interest that stretches well beyond Ames.
Jefferson has already gotten a starters look for Brooklyn, while Gilbert has flashed a little of everything off the bench for Atlanta, and the others have each logged meaningful minutes as their teams keep sorting out rotations. The Celtics still have games ahead on their schedule, including a Sunday matchup with the Hornets, so there should be more chances for this Iowa State contingent to keep building its case before the week is out. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State's New Schedule Puts One Early Test Above Everything
Iowa States non-conference slate for 2026-27 is now set, and it gives T.J. Otzelberger another chance to shape the early part of the season around a mix of home dates, road trips and neutral-site tests. The schedule includes Memphis, Southern Miss, Southern and Niagara, along with a trip to the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, giving the Cyclones a familiar blend of variety before Big 12 play arrives.
The first real measuring stick comes right away, with Memphis waiting in the opener in Sioux Falls. From there, the path looks manageable enough to let Iowa State build momentum, but it also leaves room for the kind of early pressure that can define a season if the Cyclones handle it well. In a year when the non-conference setup appears favorable, the question is less about whether Iowa State can survive the stretch and more about how much it can gain before the league schedule turns up the heat. [Read more 🡒]