Every spot is open at Iowa State right now, and that was the message Jimmy Rogers sent loud and clear at Big 12 media day.
The first-year Cyclones coach didn’t dress it up. In an interview, Rogers said, “Right now there is no scout team. Everyone is fighting to earn a position.”
That line says plenty about where Iowa State stands heading into the season. A scout team is usually made up of practice players, often walk-ons, who help starters prepare by simulating what an opponent might throw at them.
Rogers made it clear that isn’t the setup in Ames at the moment. For now, everybody is in the same race.
Rogers was one of the Iowa State representatives at the event, along with quarterback Jaylen Raynor, defensive end Issac Terrell, kicker Kyle Konrardy, running back Aiden Flora, and cornerback David Coffey. The Big 12’s annual media day brought all 16 conference teams together, giving coaches, players, and commissioner-level voices a chance to answer questions about their programs and the league.
For Iowa State, the bigger story is what the roster looks like after the offseason. The Cyclones lost every offensive and defensive starter, a massive turnover that leaves the depth chart wide open. That kind of reset can be a problem, but it also creates a real opening for players who are willing to push for snaps.
With less than two months left in the offseason, there isn’t much time for the picture to change dramatically. But there is still time for players to make their case before Sept. 5th and beyond.
That’s what makes this Iowa State team feel different from the recent versions. The Cyclones may not win at the same rate, control games the same way, or lean on proven stars in the same fashion. What they do have, at least for now, is a roster full of players chasing opportunity.
And if Iowa State is going to surprise people this fall, it sounds like it will come from that kind of fight: hard work, a blue-collar edge, and a willingness to embrace the underdog role.
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Iowa States 2026 Offense Suddenly Has One Huge Question
Iowa States offense is heading into 2026 with a very different feel, and the early conversation starts with a small group of players who will shape whatever the Cyclones become. Raynor, Hayes, Pettaway, Fortenberry and Taylor are the names to know, each carrying a different piece of the puzzle as the program adjusts to a new era and tries to keep its offensive identity intact.
The biggest question is how quickly that group can settle into roles under Jimmy Rogers, especially with so much of the unit still being defined by experience, fit and continuity. Raynor looks like the clear centerpiece, while Taylors veteran presence should matter for a line that still needs stability, but the larger issue is whether the rest of the offense can grow fast enough around them to make the transition smooth. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]