Honestly, if you told a college football fan ten years ago that Ames, Iowa would become one of the most stable and respected hubs in the Big 12, they probably would’ve laughed in your face. For decades, Iowa State was the "cellar dweller," the team that other schools scheduled for an easy homecoming win. But things have changed. A lot.
The Cyclones of the Big 12 aren't just a scrappy underdog anymore; they’ve become a blueprint for how a "developmental" program can actually survive—and thrive—in the chaotic era of NIL and the transfer portal. While the rest of the conference is busy chasing five-star recruits who might leave in six months, Iowa State has been busy building something that actually sticks.
The Matt Campbell Era Just Took a Wild Turn
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Matt Campbell. For years, every time a big job opened up—Notre Dame, Michigan, the NFL—Campbell’s name was at the top of the list. And every year, he stayed. He even signed an extension through 2032 recently, making him the winningest coach in school history.
But late 2025 threw a massive curveball. After a solid 8-4 season where the Cyclones beat Iowa (again) and looked like a legitimate dark horse, the news dropped that Campbell was finally moving on to Penn State. It felt like the air got sucked out of Jack Trice Stadium.
However, the "Cyclone Way" didn't just vanish. Jimmy Rogers stepped in, and the transition has been fascinating to watch. While the 2025 team actually opted out of a bowl game due to a bizarre lack of healthy players—a move that ruffled feathers but showed a "players-first" mentality—the recruiting hasn't skipped a beat. The 2026 class is hovering around the Top 50 nationally, headlined by local wide receiver Jeffrey Roberts from Dowling Catholic. They aren't trying to outspend Texas or Oregon; they’re trying to find "Our Kind of Guy" (OKG), a phrase that sounds like a cliché until you see a three-star linebacker from small-town Nebraska flattening a blue-chip running back.
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Hilton Magic Is Reaching a Fever Pitch
If the football team is the gritty backbone of the school, the basketball program is the electric pulse. T.J. Otzelberger has turned Hilton Coliseum into a house of horrors for visiting teams. Basically, if you go to Ames and expect to leave with a win, you’re probably going to have a bad time.
Just yesterday, on January 13, 2026, the No. 2 ranked Cyclones finally met their match at Phog Allen, losing a tough one to Kansas, 84-63. It was their first loss of the season after a blistering 16-0 start. But don't let that one score fool you. This team is terrifying.
- Tamin Lipsey is the engine. He’s a local kid who plays defense like his life depends on it.
- Milan Momcilovic is a walking bucket, hitting shots from the parking lot that make you question the laws of physics.
- Killyan Toure, the freshman from France, is already being called a "two-way terror" by opposing coaches.
What Otzelberger has done is take "defense" and turn it into an offensive weapon. They don't just guard you; they harass you until you make a mistake, then they run you out of the gym. It’s a chaotic, high-pressure style that has made the Cyclones of the Big 12 a permanent fixture in the Top 10.
Wrestling: The Quiet Powerhouse
You can't talk about Iowa State without mentioning the mats. While football and basketball get the TV time, the wrestling program is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation. They just absolutely dismantled North Dakota State 36-3 a few days ago.
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Yonger Bastida, the heavyweight, is arguably the most dominant athlete on campus right now. He’s out there racking up technical falls like he’s practicing against a middle school team. Between Bastida and guys like Evan Frost and Anthony Echemendia, Kevin Dresser has built a squad that is legitimately capable of challenging Penn State for a national title. In the Big 12, where wrestling is basically a religion, being at the top of the heap is a massive statement of intent.
The Reality of the "New" Big 12
Let's be real for a second. The Big 12 is a mess of a conference—in a good way. With Oklahoma and Texas gone to the SEC, the power vacuum is huge. The Cyclones of the Big 12 are positioned better than almost anyone to fill it. Why? Because they’ve been doing "more with less" for so long that they actually know how to handle the parity.
In 2025, we saw Texas Tech and BYU rise to the top of the football standings, but Iowa State was right there in the mix. They finished 5-4 in the conference, proving they can hang with the Arizonas and Utahs of the world. The fan base is another factor. Whether it’s 15 degrees in November or 95 degrees in September, Jack Trice is sold out. That home-field advantage is worth a touchdown, easily.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Iowa State’s success is a fluke or a "flash in the pan" moment. It’s not. It’s built on a very specific type of culture that emphasizes "Loyal Sons" (as the fight song says). While other schools are losing half their roster to the portal, the Cyclones tend to keep their core. When a player like Rocco Becht or Tamin Lipsey stays, it sends a message.
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Sure, they’ve had some heartbreaks. Losing a head coach like Campbell is a massive hurdle. But the infrastructure—the facilities, the NIL collectives like "We Will," and the fan support—is now among the best in the country. They aren't just "happy to be here" anymore. They expect to win.
The Cyclones of the Big 12 Survival Guide
If you're a fan of another Big 12 school, or just a college sports nut, here is how you should view the Cyclones moving forward:
- Never bet against Hilton Magic. I don't care if the opponent is the 1996 Chicago Bulls; if the game is in Ames at night, Iowa State has a chance.
- Respect the "Flyover" recruits. The coaching staff has an uncanny ability to find kids in rural Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin who turn into NFL prospects.
- Watch the turnover margin. Whether it’s Jon Heacock’s 3-high safety defense in football or Otzelberger’s "clones" in basketball, this school thrives on creating mistakes.
What’s Next for the Cyclones?
The transition to the Jimmy Rogers era in football is the biggest story to watch in 2026. The spring game will be the first real look at how the "new" staff handles the roster. Meanwhile, the basketball team is headed toward a deep March Madness run. If you want to get ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the 2026 recruiting class—specifically how they use the transfer portal to fill the defensive line gaps.
If you're looking to support the program or just keep up with the latest, checking out the "Cyclone Fanatic" forums or the official "We Will" collective is the best way to see how the NIL landscape is shifting in real-time. The era of Iowa State being a "cute" underdog is officially over; they are a Big 12 heavyweight now.
To stay on top of the next wave of Cyclone talent, you should look into the 2026 early enrollees like Mason Bandhauer, who are expected to start competing for spots as early as this spring. Also, keep an eye on the wrestling dual against West Virginia later this week; it's going to be a bloodbath for the top spot in the conference standings. The momentum in Ames isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Actionable Insight: If you're following the Big 12 landscape, prioritize watching Iowa State's home games. The statistical advantage they gain from the "Hilton Magic" and "Jack Trice" atmospheres is one of the few remaining constants in an ever-changing college sports world.