AMES - Iowa State football finally gets to put all the camp talk, roster turnover and new-coach energy on the field Saturday, when Southeast Missouri State visits Jack Trice Stadium.
This is the start of Year 1 for Jimmy Rogers in Ames, and it comes with a mostly rebuilt Cyclone roster and a fresh coaching setup around him. Tyler Roehl is handling the offense, Jesse Bobbit is in charge of the defense and Rob Grande is working with special teams. Between the newcomers and the holdovers, Iowa State is working with a roster of about 80 new players and roughly 25 players who were retained from last season.
The opener kicks off at noon CT and will be shown on ESPN+.
SEMO arrives at 1-0 after beating Indiana State 23-21. In that game, Redhawk quarterback Braylen Ragland went 26-for-36 for 274 yards and a touchdown. The SEMO defense also made noise, finishing with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks.
For Iowa State, Saturday is more than just a season opener. It’s the first chance to see what this new staff is really going to put on film, and one of the biggest questions is how the depth chart shakes out once the lights come on.
The last month has been spent in training camp and preseason practices, with spring work adding another 15 chances for players to battle for roles. Now the competition shifts from practice fields to game action, and the players who won the biggest opportunities are the ones who will get the first, and probably the biggest, chance to prove they belong.
In Other News...
Iowa State Fans Have A New Jimmy Rogers Routine To Watch
About 15 former Iowa State football players are expected to open the 2026 NFL season on active rosters after the leagues official roster deadline, another reminder of how much talent has been moving through the program in recent years. For Cyclone fans, its a notable point of pride and a useful measuring stick for where the program stands, especially as the current staff settles in and starts putting its own stamp on the roster and routine.
The fall schedule now gives supporters a steady weekly look at that process, with Tuesday morning media availabilities set to begin with head coach Jimmy Rogers and offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl, plus selected players. And beyond the weekly football updates, the Cyclone Club will be recognized at the home opener, a small but meaningful nod to the people whose support helps keep Iowa State athletics moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States Rebuilt Roster Faces An Early Test In Raynors Debut
Jaylen Raynor is about to get his first start for Iowa State, and it comes in a setting that will tell the Cyclones plenty about where their rebuilt offense stands. The transfer quarterback from Arkansas State has spent the lead-up to the opener earning trust in a system being shaped by head coach Jimmy Rogers and offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl, both of whom have stressed preparation and discipline as the foundation for this teams next step.
Southeast Missouri State may not be the kind of opponent that defines a season, but it is the kind that can expose how quickly a roster is coming together. Both sides have changed a lot since last fall, and Iowa State will be looking for clean execution and steady competitiveness as Raynor settles into a new role and the Cyclones begin to show what this version of the team can become. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States First Jimmy Rogers Test Looks Trickier Than Expected
The Jimmy Rogers era at Iowa State is set to begin in familiar surroundings, with the Cyclones opening the 2026 season against SEMO at Jack Trice Stadium. It is the kind of debut that brings immediate attention to how quickly a new staff can settle in, especially with Iowa State working to blend in 22 new starters before the first snap.
SEMOs defense already offered one early warning sign. Safety DJ Delmore turned heads in the Redhawks opener with a disruptive all-around night against Indiana State, making life harder for the offense from the back end and around the line of scrimmage. For Iowa State, the first test of the Rogers tenure now looks a little less like a tune-up and a little more like a genuine first examination. [Read more 🡒]