Cyclones Hit the Reset Button: Inside Iowa State’s Massive Roster Overhaul and What Comes Next at Quarterback
AMES - If January is any indication, 2026 is going to be a defining year for Iowa State football - and not just because of what happens on the field. Over the course of just a few weeks, new head coach Jimmy Rogers oversaw one of the most dramatic roster shakeups in program history.
More than 50 players exited through the transfer portal. Around 45 new ones came in.
That’s nearly 100 moves in under a month.
The result? A completely retooled Cyclone roster that now sits at roughly 105 players heading into the spring. For Rogers, who took over the program with a clear vision, it’s a fresh start - but also a steep challenge.
“It means you have to make the most out of what this roster is,” Rogers said. “And there’s no turning back.
You can’t say, ‘Well, this guy’s going to be better than this guy.’ It’s none of that.
You have what you have.”
That’s not coach-speak. That’s the reality of modern college football, especially in the transfer portal era.
For Iowa State, it means the 2026 season won’t be about easing into a rebuild. It’s a full-speed sprint into a new era, with a roster that’s been flipped like a pancake - and it starts at the most crucial position on the field: quarterback.
Over the coming days, the Cyclones will begin evaluating every position group during winter workouts, laying the groundwork for what spring practices will look like. But there’s no question where the spotlight shines brightest - under center.
Quarterback play has always been a swing factor in college football, but for a team experiencing this level of turnover, it’s even more critical. With so many new faces across the depth chart, the quarterback won’t just be asked to execute plays - they’ll need to lead, stabilize, and set the tone for a locker room that’s still figuring out what it is.
The Cyclones aren’t just looking for a signal-caller. They’re looking for a foundation.
As Iowa State begins this next chapter under Rogers, the quarterback battle will be one of the most closely watched storylines of the offseason. Who steps up?
Who earns the trust of the coaching staff - and more importantly, the locker room? And how quickly can that leader emerge with so much change swirling around them?
For now, Rogers and his staff are focused on what’s in front of them - not what was lost, not what could’ve been. The roster is the roster.
The rebuild is underway. And the quarterback room is officially on the clock.