Inside Iowa State’s Historic Push for Glory
AMES, Iowa — On a crisp October morning, Matt Campbell, head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, stood before his team with a challenge. The Cyclones had shocked the college football world with a 7-0 start, climbing into the AP Top 10. Just days earlier, they had pulled off a dramatic last-minute win over UCF. But Campbell wasn’t satisfied. He wanted more.
“Are you tough enough to stay the course?” he asked his players, his voice echoing through the room. For 30 minutes, Campbell delivered a fiery sermon about what it would take to keep their momentum alive. He demanded “decisive excellence” and warned against leaving anything to chance. “When you get to November,” he said, “great teams go for the kill.”
Campbell’s message was clear: this team had the talent, the grit, and the opportunity to make history. “We’ve got more talent and better players right here, right now, than we’ve ever had,” he declared. “You’re better than any of those teams the last seven or eight years that have tried this. So there’s no excuse.”
And history was indeed on the line. “One-hundred and 33 years, men,” Campbell reminded them. “Nobody before you has ever touched what you’re trying to do. You want to talk about legacy? You want to talk about creating change? Real hope for the future? Oh, buddy, it’s big time.”
Fast forward to today, and the Cyclones are living up to their coach’s words. For the first time in program history, Iowa State has achieved a 10-win season. On Saturday, they’ll face Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship Game (12 p.m. ET, ABC) with a College Football Playoff berth on the line. A win would secure their first conference title since 1912 and cement this season as the greatest in Iowa State history.
A Team Built on Culture, Not Stars
Unlike past Cyclones teams led by NFL-caliber stars like Brock Purdy and Breece Hall, this year’s squad doesn’t boast household names. They have just one first-team All-Big 12 player. But what they lack in star power, they make up for in cohesion, selflessness, and resilience. This is “five-star culture” at its finest.
The Cyclones’ journey to this point hasn’t been easy. After a stellar 2020 season, the program struggled to meet expectations in 2021 and hit rock bottom in 2022 with a 4-8 record. A gambling investigation further derailed the team last year, leaving them too young and inexperienced to contend. But Campbell never wavered, and this season, he’s built something special.
“Everything that’s happened has not been a surprise for everyone in this building,” said defensive lineman J.R. Singleton.
“We Before Me”
The mantra “We Before Me” is plastered all over Iowa State’s Bergstrom Football Complex. It’s more than a slogan; it’s a way of life for this team. Campbell has always believed that if you can recruit players who genuinely love football and put the team first, you can achieve great things. This year’s senior leaders have embodied that philosophy, delivering what Campbell calls “leadership for the ages.”
Wide receiver Jaylin Noel, safety Beau Freyler, cornerback Darien Porter, and Singleton have led the way as part of a 20-man leadership committee. They meet with Campbell every Monday night to discuss the team’s progress and address any concerns. Coaches point to Noel as one of the best leaders they’ve ever had.
“I just hate losing,” Noel said. “We’ve been through it so much in the past here. At some point, you’re gonna get tired of it. Guys don’t want to lose and aren’t willing to lose, so they’re willing us to victory.”
Overcoming Adversity
This season hasn’t been without its challenges. Injuries have tested the team’s depth, particularly at linebacker, where six players have missed significant time. At one point, they were starting Rylan Barnes, a redshirt freshman walk-on whose parents missed his first start due to the fall harvest. Yet the team’s resilience has shone through.
“Nobody really realizes that stuff,” said quarterback Rocco Becht, “but it’s why this team is so great.”
Becht, a 3,000-yard passer, has been a revelation this season. Despite his youth, he’s shown poise and humility, earning the respect of his teammates and coaches. “He doesn’t think he’s a great player,” Campbell said. “He has truly outworked people to earn the right to be a really good football player.”
One Win Away
As the Cyclones prepare for Saturday’s showdown, they know the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win would not only secure a Big 12 title but also a spot in the College Football Playoff, where they’d face powerhouse programs like Oregon, Texas, and Ohio State. But Campbell isn’t intimidated. “Team and culture matters,” he said. “If you can get aligned and you can get the most out of your team, you still have a chance to win on Saturday, no matter what your budget is.”
For Campbell, this season is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. “We’re probably the closest to being what we envisioned this program being,” he said. And now, 133 years after the program’s inception, the Cyclones are on the brink of history.
Originally Written by: Max Olson
