Let’s be honest for a second. If you’re looking at iowa state football rankings right now, you’re probably either ecstatic or deeply confused. That’s just the nature of life in Ames. One week you’re the darling of the Big 12, and the next, you’re wondering how a certain goal-line stand went sideways.
The 2025 season was a absolute rollercoaster that ended with the Cyclones sitting at 8-4. They finished 7th in the Big 12, which sounds middle-of-the-pack until you realize they started the year 7-0 and climbed as high as No. 9 in the AP Poll. Then the wheels didn't exactly fall off, but they definitely started wobbling.
The Current State of the Polls
As of early 2026, the dust has settled on the postseason. Iowa State isn't currently sitting in the Top 25 of the major polls like the AP or Coaches, but they are consistently hovering in that "Receiving Votes" purgatory.
Basically, the voters are in "wait and see" mode. And who can blame them? The program just went through a massive earthquake. Matt Campbell, the guy who basically rebuilt the culture from scratch, took the Penn State job. Now, Jimmy Rogers is the man in charge, and his first task is proving that the iowa state football rankings won't crater just because the head architect left the building.
If you look at the advanced analytics—stuff like SP+ or FEI—the Cyclones actually look better than their 8-4 record suggests. Their defense was legitimately elite last year, allowing only 20.2 points per game. That ranked 26th nationally. When your defense is that stingy, you're always a couple of offensive plays away from being a Top 15 team.
Why the 2025 Slide Happened
It’s easy to look at the four-game losing streak in October and November and think the team gave up. They didn't.
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They lost to Cincinnati by 8. They lost to Colorado by 7. They lost to Arizona State by 5. That is a combined 20 points across three games. If a couple of bounces go their way, we’re talking about a 10-win team that’s comfortably ranked in the Top 12.
Rocco Becht threw for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was solid. But the running game, led by Carson Hansen (952 yards) and Abu Sama III (732 yards), sometimes struggled to find that "knockout" punch in the red zone. That’s the difference between being a ranked powerhouse and a team "also receiving votes."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rankings
People tend to obsess over the AP Top 25. It’s the "gold standard," sure, but it’s often a lagging indicator. It tells you what happened last week, not what’s going to happen next month.
For Iowa State, the real ranking that matters right now is the recruiting and transfer portal standings. Jimmy Rogers has been a madman on the trail. He’s already secured commitments from 18 hard commits for the Class of 2026.
"It's extremely rare to see a potential first-round draft pick... enter the transfer portal," says Max Olson of ESPN, referring to the general volatility of the current landscape.
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Iowa State is fighting that volatility. They lost over 50 players to the portal when Campbell left. Fifty! Yet, they've already brought in 42 new faces. The "ranking" of this roster's talent is actually holding steady because Rogers is targeting multi-year contributors rather than quick-fix rentals.
The "Ames Factor" in National Perception
There’s this weird bias in national iowa state football rankings where the blue bloods get the benefit of the doubt and the "blue collar" schools have to earn it twice over.
- The Week Zero Win: Beating Kansas State 24-21 in Ireland was a massive statement.
- The Cy-Hawk Victory: Taking down Iowa 16-13 in Iowa City usually guarantees a ranking boost.
- The Big 12 Grind: The new Big 12 is a meat grinder. There are no "off" weeks anymore with Utah, BYU, and the Arizona schools in the mix.
How to Track Progress in 2026
If you want to know if the Cyclones are actually a Top 25 team, don't just look at the number next to their name on ESPN. Watch the defensive efficiency.
Last season, they had a scoring defense that ranked 5th in the Big 12. If Jesse Bobbit (the Defensive Coordinator) can keep that unit in the top 30 nationally while the offense finds more explosiveness under Tyler Roehl, the rankings will take care of themselves.
The schedule for the upcoming season is going to be the ultimate litmus test. Early games against non-conference foes will decide if they enter Big 12 play with momentum or if they'll be clawing their way back into the conversation all autumn.
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Practical Steps for Fans and Analysts
Keep an eye on the "Points Against" column. It’s the most honest stat in football.
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: Check if the 42 new additions are starters or depth pieces by the time spring ball wraps up.
- Watch the Offensive Line: Rankings often fail to account for line play. If Becht has time to throw, his 60.5% completion rate will skyrocket.
- Ignore Preseason Hype: Preseason rankings are guesses. Mid-October is when the real iowa state football rankings take shape.
The reality is that Iowa State is currently a program in transition, but they aren't a program in decline. They have the 11th ranked scoring offense nationally (if you count the women's basketball side of things for program health), and the football side is looking to mirror that consistency.
Stay patient. The 2026 season is going to be about identity. If Rogers can keep the "Ames Tough" mantra alive while adding some tactical wrinkles, that No. 15 final ranking from 2024 won't feel like a distant memory for long.
Actionable Insight: To get the most accurate picture of where the Cyclones stand, follow the SP+ rankings starting in Week 4. These stats strip away the luck of "close wins" and show the true efficiency of the roster, which is a much better predictor of future Top 25 appearances than the weekly AP Poll.