Iowa State’s 2026 identity is already taking shape, and it starts on the defensive side of the ball.
With Matt Campbell gone, the Cyclones had a major coaching decision to make, and they landed on Jimmy Rogers, the defensive-minded hire from Washington State. He didn’t come alone, either. Jesse Bobbit came with him as the new defensive coordinator, and that pairing gives Iowa State a clear direction heading into the season.
That direction is defense, plain and simple. The Cyclones look like one of the stronger units in the conference, and there’s a real path for them to win games because of what they do on that side of the ball.
At the top of the list is Isaac Terrell, who looks like the tone-setter and the leader of the group. He posted seven sacks with Washington State and enters the season looking like one of the best pass rushers in the conference. Just as important, he already knows Rogers and Bobbit, which should make him a natural fit in this system.
Ta’ase is another key piece after logging 2.5 sacks last season with the Cougars alongside Terrell. He’s not on Terrell’s level, but he’s still a quality player and could be a major swing factor in how this defense performs under Rogers and Bobbit.
Montreze Smith Jr. might be the biggest question mark of the bunch. He was excellent at the FCS level, but the jump to FBS still leaves something to prove. His brief time with the Duke Blue Devils showed he belonged on a Power Four roster, but now he has to show he can be one of the defense’s star players.
In the secondary, Singletary is set to matter a lot. His strongest season came in 2024, when he finished with 24 tackles, an interception, and two pass deflections. He’s stepping into a new environment, but Iowa State is clearly counting on him to be a major presence back there.
Crawford brings a different kind of path to the roster. He started at Iowa and saw limited action before dropping to the FCS level, where he dominated. Now he’s back in Power Four football, and Iowa State needs him to translate that success if he’s going to become a central piece for this team.
In Other News...
Iowa State Just Got A Valuation That Will Spark Debate
A new valuation has put Iowa States football program in a familiar but uncomfortable spot, measuring where the Cyclones stack up financially against the rest of the sport. According to The Athletic, the program is valued at about $300 million, which lands it 48th nationally and eighth in the Big 12, a reminder that even after years of consistent competitiveness, there is still plenty of ground to make up in the money race.
The timing makes it even more interesting, with Iowa State moving into a new era after Matt Campbells departure for Penn State and the hire of Jimmy Rogers as the next head coach. The Cyclones are also turning the page toward their season opener against SEMO, and the conversation around valuation only adds another layer to a year that already feels like a reset point for the program. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Enters Camp With One Major Question At Linebacker
Iowa State heads into training camp with a linebacker room that looks deeper than it did a year ago, but still carries one big unresolved question. Carson Willich, Rylan Barnes and Bea Goodwin are back, giving the Cyclones a familiar core to build around, and the staff also has a veteran piece in Sullivan Schlimgen, who arrived after starting at Washington State.
The larger intrigue is how quickly the newcomers can handle the jump into Power Conference play. Tristan Exline, Willie Breland and Montreze Smith Jr. all bring the kind of transfer pedigree that can raise the ceiling of the group, but camp will reveal how ready they are to contribute when the pads come on and the pace picks up. For Iowa State, the position has options, but it still needs someone to seize control. [Read more 🡒]
Tre Singleton Could Be Iowa States Most Important New Frontcourt Piece
Tre Singleton arrives in Ames with exactly the kind of rsum Iowa State can use in the frontcourt: a player who has already handled a full college season, logged 34 games at Northwestern and started 31 of them. The Cyclones were clearly drawn to that combination of experience and production, especially from a freshman year in which Singleton averaged 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while flashing a little bit of everything along the way.
For a roster that will need reliable minutes and flexibility up front, Singleton looks like more than a simple add. He posted multiple double-digit scoring games and showed he could contribute beyond the box score, setting career highs in steals, assists and blocks, the sort of all-around profile that can earn trust quickly. What Iowa State gets from him next will go a long way toward determining how important he becomes, but the early signs suggest there is real value there if the fit clicks. [Read more 🡒]