Honestly, if you looked at the iowa state 2024 football schedule back in August, you probably didn't see an 11-win season coming. Most experts didn't. The Big 12 was supposed to be a wide-open mess, and while the Cyclones were "solid," nobody was really picking them to rewrite the program's history books.
But then Kyle Konrardy stepped up in Iowa City.
That 54-yarder against the Hawkeyes didn't just win a rivalry game; it set the tone for a year where Matt Campbell’s squad found ways to win that previous Iowa State teams simply didn't. They didn't just survive their schedule; they dominated large chunks of it, navigated a mid-season slump, and ended up in Orlando eating a giant toasted pastry after the wildest Pop-Tarts Bowl you’ll ever see.
The Early Surge: Going 7-0
The first half of the iowa state 2024 football schedule was essentially a masterclass in "winning the margins." It started with a quiet win over North Dakota, but the real fireworks happened in Week 2. Going into Kinnick Stadium is never easy. Coming back from a 13-0 halftime deficit? That's almost unheard of for a visiting team in that environment.
Rocco Becht proved he wasn't just a "safe" quarterback. He was a playmaker.
The schedule then opened up. A 52-7 blowout of Arkansas State was followed by a statement shutout in Houston. It was the first time since 1971 that the Cyclones had shut out a conference opponent on the road. People started noticing. By the time they handled Baylor 43-21 and grinded out a win in the Morgantown fog against West Virginia, the Cyclones were sitting at 6-0.
Then came the UCF game.
It was ugly. It was stressful. 38-35. But a win is a win, and it pushed them to 7-0, matching the best start in the 133-year history of the school. At that point, the conversation shifted from "Can they make a bowl?" to "Can they make the Playoff?"
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Breaking Down the 7-0 Start
- Aug 31: North Dakota (W 21-3) - A bit sluggish, but the defense was elite.
- Sept 7: at Iowa (W 20-19) - The Konrardy kick heard 'round the state.
- Sept 21: Arkansas State (W 52-7) - Rocco Becht threw for two scores; pure dominance.
- Sept 28: at Houston (W 20-0) - Matt Campbell became the school's winningest coach here.
- Oct 5: Baylor (W 43-21) - The offense finally hit top gear.
- Oct 12: at West Virginia (W 28-16) - A professional, road-warrior performance.
- Oct 19: UCF (W 38-35) - The "survive and advance" moment of the season.
The Mid-November Reality Check
Every season has a dip. For the 2024 Cyclones, it happened right when the stakes were highest.
On November 2, Texas Tech came into Jack Trice Stadium and played spoiler. A 23-22 loss that felt like a gut punch. It was one of those games where a single play here or there—a missed assignment, a slightly off-target throw—changed everything. The momentum stalled further a week later in Kansas City.
Playing at Arrowhead Stadium against a Kansas team that was better than their record, the Cyclones surrendered 45 points. It was the first time all year the defense looked truly vulnerable. Suddenly, the "lock" for the Big 12 Championship game looked like it was slipping away.
But Matt Campbell teams are built for November.
They bounced back. They beat Cincinnati 34-17 to steady the ship. Then, a massive road win at Utah (31-28) set up a winner-take-all Farmageddon against Kansas State.
Farmageddon and the Path to Arlington
The iowa state 2024 football schedule always seemed to point toward that November 30th date with Kansas State. It's one of the most underrated rivalries in college football. This time, it wasn't just for pride—it was for a spot in the Big 12 title game and the first 10-win season in program history.
Under the lights in Ames, the Cyclones took care of business 29-21.
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Becht was clinical. The receiving duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel—both of whom finished with over 1,000 yards on the season—were too much for the Wildcats. Higgins, an AP Third-Team All-American, proved why he’s a Sunday player.
The win secured a trip to AT&T Stadium in Arlington to face Arizona State. While the championship game itself didn't go Iowa State's way (a 45-19 loss to the Sun Devils), the season wasn't over.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl: A 133-Year Milestone
Ending the year against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl felt like a mismatch on paper to some. Miami had Cam Ward. They had speed. They had the "U" brand.
But Iowa State had a chip on its shoulder and a chance to win 11 games for the first time ever.
The game was absolute chaos. 84 total points. 42-41 final score.
The first half was a track meet. Neither team could stop a nosebleed. Miami held a 31-28 lead at the break, and it felt like whoever had the ball last would win. In the end, it was a 15-play, 84-yard drive orchestrated by Rocco Becht that sealed it. Becht dove in from a yard out with 56 seconds left.
The defense, which had struggled all day, came up with one final stop to secure win number 11.
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2024 Statistical Standouts
| Player | Stat | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Rocco Becht | 3,505 Pass Yards | 25 TDs; 4 Game-winning drives |
| Jaylin Noel | 1,194 Rec Yards | 80 catches; 8 TDs |
| Jayden Higgins | 1,183 Rec Yards | 87 catches; 9 TDs |
| Carson Hansen | 752 Rush Yards | 13 Rushing TDs |
| Team Defense | 22.9 PPG Allowed | 8th straight year under 26.0 |
Why the 2024 Season Still Matters
This wasn't just a "good year" for Iowa State. It was a ceiling-shattering year.
For over a century, nine wins was the limit. In 2024, they blew past that. They did it with one of the youngest rosters in the conference and an offensive coordinator, Taylor Mouser, in his first year in the role.
The iowa state 2024 football schedule also showed that Jon Heacock’s 3-high safety defense still works, even with a depleted linebacker corps. They finished the year as one of the least penalized teams in the country (3.8 per game), which is basically the hallmark of a Matt Campbell team.
They didn't beat themselves. They made you beat them. And in 11 out of 14 games, nobody could.
Actionable Insights for Cyclone Fans
If you're looking back at this season to understand what's next, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Quarterback Development: Rocco Becht is now statistically one of the top five QBs in school history. His ability to lead game-winning drives (Iowa, UCF, Utah, Miami) is the "clutch gene" the program has lacked in years past.
- The Receiver Pipeline is Real: Higgins and Noel became the first duo in school history to both go over 1,000 yards. The "Spread" offense under Mouser is officially a destination for elite pass-catchers.
- Consistency is the Key: Iowa State is one of only 11 teams nationally to allow fewer than 26 points per game for eight consecutive seasons. As long as Heacock is the DC, the floor for this team will remain high.
The 2024 season is officially in the books as the greatest in Iowa State history. From the kick in Iowa City to the trophy in Orlando, the Cyclones proved they belong at the top of the new-look Big 12.