Iowa State enters 2026 with a new head coach in Jimmy Rogers and a lot to sort out on offense after losing Matt Campbell following a 10-year run. Campbell also took an abundance of pieces with him to Penn State, leaving Rogers to build quickly if the Cyclones want to get into bowl contention and make noise in the Big 12 right away.
The offense will be shaped by a handful of key players, and the most important name is Raynor. He’s been phenomenal for three straight years at Arkansas State, and now Iowa State is counting on that production to carry over. The way he plays will drive the whole offense, which is why he stands alone as the Cyclones’ top offensive piece heading into next season.
Hayes is another major part of the picture. He has already shown he can produce in stretches with Florida Atlantic and Tulane, and Iowa State is giving him a huge role in 2026.
The yardage is there, but the next step is finding the end zone too. If he does that, the Cyclones could be dangerous on offense.
Pettaway brings a different kind of value. He was outstanding on special teams for Bowling Green last season, while also getting work at running back. That combination gives Iowa State a player who could see a major jump in snaps and make the most of his chances in the backfield.
Fortenberry may not be the flashiest option, but he matters because of what he brings every week. He and Raynor already have experience playing together from last season, and that chemistry should help. Iowa State will need his steady presence and timely plays.
Then there’s Taylor, whose background at Oklahoma gives him a different kind of credibility. He has seen real moments, including action and starts in games as big as the Red River Rivalry. That kind of veteran experience should matter for a young, unproven offensive line that needs help settling in this season.
In Other News...
Jimmy Rogers Just Sent A Bold Message About Iowa State's Future
Jimmy Rogers is wasting little time putting his stamp on Iowa State, and the message he sent this week was as direct as it gets. In the Big 12 coaches poll, he was the lone coach to pick the Cyclones to win the league, a vote that says plenty about how he sees the programs ceiling and how he wants the room to think. He also spent time on a podcast talking through his coaching philosophy and the culture he is trying to build, giving a clearer look at the standards he expects to set from the start.
The bigger takeaway is the way Rogers is approaching the job with conviction, not caution. He made it clear that if he is going to say Iowa State can win the Big 12, he has to fully believe it himself, and that kind of confidence tends to matter in a league where belief can be as important as depth in August. There is still plenty to prove on the field, of course, but Rogers is not waiting around to lower the bar for his team. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Massive Offensive Line Question Entering Camp
Iowa States offense is heading into camp with one of its biggest questions up front, and it starts with how much the line will have to be rebuilt after a wave of transfer portal movement. The Cyclones are trying to piece together a group that can function together quickly, even as the staff works through a mix of departures, additions and limited continuity from one spring to the next.
The challenge now is less about finding bodies than finding the right combinations, with some linemen expected to shift to different spots as coaches search for the best fit. Iowa State thinks it has roughly 8-10 players who could factor into the rotation this fall, but how that depth settles in and how fast the communication comes together will go a long way toward shaping the offense once the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]