Iowa State has finished its training camp work, and the focus has already shifted hard toward the Sept. 5 opener against SEMO. With Jimmy Rogers’ first season at the helm set to begin in just eight days, the Cyclones are moving from camp mode into game-planning mode, and that has put a few names and storylines in sharper view.
One of the biggest things to watch is Jaylen Raynor’s ability to push the ball downfield. That was a clear emphasis in camp, and it makes sense given how his 2023 numbers looked at Arkansas State.
More than half of his throws came in under 10 yards, about 17% were behind the line of scrimmage, and he had trouble when he had to air it out. On passes of at least 20 yards, he completed just 25%, with three touchdowns and six interceptions.
Raynor has a familiar voice helping him clean that up. He has spent three years working with quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf, and Heckendorf said the vertical passing game has been a major point of focus this preseason.
"I think deep ball, ball placement is something that he's made an emphasis in training camp," Heckendorf said earlier this week. "And understanding not just where the ball needs to go, but also who you're throwing it to."
That kind of detail matters now more than ever, with Week 1 approaching and Iowa State starting to narrow its attention on what the offense will look like when the games count. The early read from camp is that Raynor’s downfield work could be one of the first things to track when the Cyclones line up against SEMO.
In Other News...
Jimmy Rogers' First Iowa State Team Has One Defining Roster Question
The first Iowa State roster built under Jimmy Rogers is starting to take shape, and the middle of the depth chart is where the intrigue really lives. With the program moving on from the Matt Campbell era, the Cyclones have spent this offseason reshaping both the lineup and the staff, including bringing in coaches from Washington State to help guide the transition.
A recent look at players ranked 15 through 11 on the 2026 roster shows why this group matters so much: several transfers are positioned to factor into the rotation, including newcomers from Washington State and Arkansas who could help define the teams identity early in Rogers tenure. The broader question is no longer whether Iowa State has pieces to work with, but how quickly those pieces can settle into roles that make the whole thing click. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States Backcourt Just Took A Hit It Cant Ignore
Iowa States backcourt is entering a tricky stretch after losing several familiar pieces to eligibility and the transfer portal, and now the Cyclones have another immediate concern to manage. Sophomore Killyan Toure recently underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to be out until January, a setback that removes one of the teams more valuable two-way options just as the roster is being reshaped.
For a program that leans on guard play to set the tone at both ends, Toures absence puts even more on the shoulders of the newcomers. Transfer guard Jaquan Johnson was brought in with a major role in mind, and that importance only grows while Iowa State waits for Toure to get back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cyclone Sydney Harris Is Giving Fans A New Reason To Watch
Sydney Harris is starting her professional basketball career in Portugal, where she has signed with Basquete Clube de Barcelos after turning heads at the Eurobasket Summer League. For Iowa State fans who followed her final collegiate seasons in Ames, the move offers a fresh chance to keep tabs on a familiar player whose game was built around shooting and work on the perimeter.
Harris arrived at Iowa State after earlier stops at Central Michigan and TCU, and her latest opportunity gives her a new stage to show the same skills that made her a fit for BC Barcelos. The signing also gives Cyclone followers another reason to check in overseas, especially after her strong summer showing hinted that she could be ready to make an early impact in her first pro season. [Read more 🡒]