Iowa State is headed into the season with a lot more uncertainty than usual, and that’s why the 2026 campaign already feels like a turning point.
The Cyclones have gone through one of the biggest offseason shakeups in college football, and it all started with the departure of Matt Campbell. That change triggered the arrival of Jimmy Rogers as the new head coach, and Rogers immediately walked into a roster that needed major repair.
He had to lean hard on the transfer portal to piece things back together. Iowa State did bring in some useful talent, but the reality is that this team is expected to take a step back after the success of the Campbell years.
That’s part of what makes 2026 so significant. This is the beginning of a new era, and while it would be unfair to load Rogers up with huge expectations right away, the program still needs to show signs that it’s moving in the right direction.
The roster was stripped down in the portal and simply does not have the same level of talent right now. Rogers is going to try to build things the right way through recruiting, but that kind of reset takes time. He dealt with a similar situation at Washington State last year and got the most out of what he had.
Now, though, he’s doing it in the Big 12, where the week-to-week challenge is much tougher. A conference title may not be realistic right away, but Iowa State has to prove it can be competitive.
That matters because the next wave of recruits needs to see a clear plan. They need to believe the Cyclones are building toward something.
A season in the six- or seven-win range would give Iowa State a solid foundation. Even beyond the record, close games in the bigger matchups would matter too. That kind of showing would suggest the program is pointed in the right direction.
But if things go sideways, the consequences could reach well beyond one bad year. If Iowa State ends up near the bottom of the conference, recruiting gets a lot harder. And with that being such a central part of the rebuild, being competitive in 2026 isn’t just helpful for the Cyclones - it’s essential.
In Other News...
Iowa States Defensive Reset Now Hinges On One New Arrival
Iowa States defensive makeover took another important step when Jimmy Rogers brought Isaac Terrell over from Washington State as part of the programs post-Matt Campbell reset. With Campbell gone for Penn State and much of the old staff and roster following, the Cyclones have been left to rebuild quickly, and Terrell has already been handed a prominent place in that effort. He has been named a team captain and also landed on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, a sign that the new staff views him as one of the most important pieces on the defense.
For a team trying to settle into a new identity, that kind of early trust matters. Terrell is expected to play a major role for Iowa State this season, not just because of his background under Rogers at Washington State, but because the Cyclones need someone to anchor the front while the broader transition takes shape. The question now is how quickly that leadership translates once the games start, and whether his arrival can help set the tone for a defense still finding its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Suddenly Has A Major Backcourt Question To Open The Season
Iowa State opened the week with an early backcourt concern after sophomore point guard Killyan Toure had surgery Aug. 21 to repair a right shoulder injury he sustained at Damian Lillards Formula Zero Elite Camp. Toure was viewed as an important part of the program and a player expected to have a key role in the 2026-27 season, so his absence changes the picture for a team that was already trying to settle its rotation heading into the new year.
T.J. Otzelberger said the expectation is for Toure to return in January, with the Big 12 schedule the target. In the meantime, Iowa State may have to lean on Jaquan Johnson to handle that role during the non-conference portion of the season, leaving the Cyclones with a notable test in the backcourt before the league grind even begins. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States Rebuilt Offense Is Suddenly Riding On Aiden Flora
After Matt Campbell left for Penn State and a wave of players followed him out, Iowa States offseason could have turned into a full-blown reset. Instead, one of the quieter decisions on the roster may end up shaping the direction of the rebuilt offense: Aiden Flora stayed put, and now the former walk-on is listed as the starting running back heading into the 2026 season under new coach Jimmy Rogers.
Flora was far from a proven headliner before this opportunity, but he beat out transfer Cameron Pettaway and landed in a backfield that figures to be central to Tyler Roehls run-heavy approach. For Iowa State, it is the sort of development that speaks to both continuity and uncertainty, with a player who once had limited carries now sitting at the heart of how the Cyclones plan to move the ball. [Read more 🡒]