- Head coach: Matt Campbell (ninth season)
- 2023 record: 7-6 (Lost Liberty Bowl)
- PFF power ranking: 29th
- Chance to win the Big 12: 12%
- Strength of schedule: 57th
- Projected win total: 7.9
- FanDuel win total: 7.5
- 2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 58 nationally, No. 13 in the Big 12
Iowa State finished 2022 with a 4-8 record — head coach Matt Campbell’s second losing season with the Cyclones, and his first since his debut campaign. Iowa State got back on track in 2023, ending the year at 7-6. The expectation is that the Cyclones will be at least as good as they were last season with so many key players returning. They’ll need significant improvements from their offensive line and pass rush if they want to take a step forward, though.
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Biggest Strength: Continuity
The 2024 version of Iowa State won’t look much different than this past season’s. The Cyclones returned 13 of their 14 most valuable players from 2023, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. With another year under all of their belts, Iowa State could take the next step.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive line
Even with all five starters from last season returning, the offensive line remains a serious question mark. That’s because the Cyclones finished 2023 with the Power Five’s lowest-graded offensive line and the second-lowest in the nation, posting just a 44.7 unit grade. They were also the lowest-graded line in the Power Five for both pass blocking (44.7) and run blocking (42.1).
2023 Team Overview
Offense |
||||
| EPA per play | Yards per play | Successful play rate | Explosive run play rate | Explosive pass play rate |
| 0.001 | 6.3 | 32.2% | 12.3% | 16.3% |
| 67th | 36th | 104th | 116th | 40th |
Defense |
||||
| EPA allowed per play | Yards allowed per play | Successful play rate allowed | Explosive run rate allowed | Explosive pass rate allowed |
| -0.027 | 5.3 | 32.9% | 14.0% | 15.1% |
| 61st | 39th | 40th | 43rd | 93rd |
Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions
- WR Eli Green (North Dakota State): 91.1 PFF grade
- RB Jaylon Jackson (Eastern Michigan): 72.0 PFF grade
- EDGE Kenard Snyder (Louisiana-Monroe): 79.1 PFF grade
Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses
- RB Cartevious Norton (Charlotte): 72.3 PFF grade
- RB Eli Sanders (New Mexico): 76.9 PFF grade
- S Blake Thompson (Louisiana Tech): 69.2 PFF grade
Quarterback Spotlight: Rocco Becht
2023 Grade: 76.6
Key Stat: 88.9 PFF passing grade from Week 10 onward (sixth best in FBS)
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