It’s been a wild ride in Ames. If you follow the Iowa State Cyclones college football rankings, you know the feeling of whiplash. One week you’re staring at a number next to the name that makes you think of a dark-horse playoff run, and the next, you’re scrolling past the "Others Receiving Votes" section just trying to find a mention.
It’s kinda exhausting, honestly.
But that’s the reality of life in the Big 12 right now. The 2025 season was a perfect microcosm of the Matt Campbell era. We saw the highest of highs—a top-12 ranking and a 5-0 start—and then a mid-season skid that felt like the wheels were coming off. Then, of course, a gritty three-game win streak to end the regular season at 8-4.
The 2025 Rollercoaster: From No. 12 to Unranked (and Back)
Most people look at the final standings and see a respectable 8-4 record. That’s fine. It’s solid. But it doesn't tell the story of how the Iowa State Cyclones college football rankings moved like a heart monitor during a sprint.
The Cyclones started the 2025 campaign with a statement. They traveled to Dublin, Ireland, for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic and took down a ranked Kansas State team 24-21. That win catapulted them from their preseason No. 22 spot up to No. 16. People started talking. By the time they dismantled Arizona 39-14 in late September, Iowa State sat at No. 12 in the AP Poll.
That was the peak.
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Then the October blues hit. Hard. A loss at Cincinnati was followed by a heartbreaker at Colorado, a home loss to BYU, and a frustrating outcome against Arizona State. Just like that, the "No. 12" next to their name vanished. They weren't just out of the top 15; they were out of the rankings entirely.
Why the Mid-Season Slide Happened
You’ve gotta look at the tape to see why the ranking cratered. It wasn't just bad luck.
- The Turnover Bug: Rocco Becht is a stud, don't get me wrong. But during that four-game losing streak, the offense got sloppy in the red zone.
- Defensive Gaps: Jon Heacock’s 3-high safety look is legendary, but BYU and Cincinnati found ways to exploit the seams.
- Strength of Schedule: The Big 12 is a meat grinder. There are no "off" weeks anymore, especially with the new additions to the conference.
Historical Context: Are the Cyclones Still "Climbing"?
To understand the Iowa State Cyclones college football rankings, you have to look back at where this program was. Before Matt Campbell arrived, being ranked in the preseason was a dream. Now, it’s almost expected.
The 2024 season was actually the program's modern high-water mark. They finished 11-3, won a school-record 11 games, and ended the year ranked No. 15 in the final AP Poll. They even peaked at No. 9 during that season. Compare that to the 2020 season where they finished No. 9 after a Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon.
The consistency is what’s different now. Between 2017 and 2025, Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in some capacity during almost every single season. That’s a massive shift from the decades of being a basement dweller.
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The Matt Campbell Departure
It’s the elephant in the room. Following the 2025 regular season, Matt Campbell took the Penn State job. He left Ames as the winningest coach in school history with 72 wins. He changed the floor of the program.
But his departure leaves a massive question mark for future Iowa State Cyclones college football rankings. Can a new staff maintain the "Ames Edge"? Or was the ranking success tied strictly to Campbell’s culture?
What the Computers Say vs. The Human Polls
If you look at the "Predictive Rankings" or Power Ratings like those on TeamRankings or ESPN’s FPI, Iowa State often looks better than their AP rank suggests.
For example, at the end of 2025, while they were unranked in the AP Top 25, several computer models had them as the 31st or 37th best team in the country. Why the discrepancy?
- Point Differential: The Cyclones' losses were often close (like the 7-point loss to Colorado).
- Efficiency: On a per-play basis, the defense remained top-tier in the Big 12.
- Strength of Victory: Beating ranked Iowa (16-13) and ranked Kansas State (24-21) counts for a lot in the "nerd stats" even if the human voters forget about it after a loss to Cincinnati.
Breaking Down the Roster Impact on Rankings
Rankings aren't just about scores; they're about talent. The 2025 rankings stayed afloat as long as they did because of a few key names.
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Rocco Becht finished the 2025 regular season with 2,584 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. While his numbers didn't scream "Heisman," his ability to lead fourth-quarter comebacks kept Iowa State in the national conversation.
On the ground, Abu Sama III and Dylan Lee provided a one-two punch that made the Cyclones a nightmare to prep for. When Sama was healthy, Iowa State’s ranking usually trended upward. When the run game stalled, the ranking followed suit.
Defensively, players like Jeremiah Cooper and Will McLaughlin were the reason Iowa State stayed in the "Receiving Votes" category even during the losing streak. Voters tend to respect teams that don't get blown out. Iowa State rarely gets blown out.
What to Watch for in the Next Ranking Cycle
As we head into the 2026 offseason, the Iowa State Cyclones college football rankings are in a state of flux. With the coaching change and the inevitable transfer portal movement (we've already seen several players follow Campbell to Penn State), the preseason 2026 polls will likely be unkind.
Expect to see the Cyclones outside the Top 25 to start next year. It’s a "prove it" year.
Actionable Insights for the Dedicated Fan
- Monitor the Portal: The "ranking" of Iowa State’s recruiting class this winter will be the first indicator of where the 2026 team lands.
- Watch the Big 12 Shifts: With Texas Tech and BYU emerging as the new powers in the league, Iowa State's path to a top-15 ranking requires stealing wins from the top of the deck.
- Focus on Strength of Schedule: The non-conference slate, including the annual Cy-Hawk game, remains the quickest way for the Cyclones to jump back into the Top 25 early in the season.
The days of Iowa State being a "surprise" are over. They are a known quantity. Now, the challenge is whether they can turn "solidly ranked" into "perennially elite." It's a thin line, but in Ames, they've shown they know how to walk it.
To keep a pulse on the program, you should prioritize tracking the Coaches Poll early in the season, as they often give more weight to veteran rosters than the AP voters do. Additionally, keep an eye on the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings starting in November; even an 8-4 Big 12 team can sneak into the top 20 if their "strength of schedule" holds up through the conference's round-robin play.