2024 Iowa State Cyclones football team explained

The 2024 Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by Matt Campbell in his ninth year as their head coach. The Cyclones play home games at Jack Trice Stadium located in Ames, Iowa. Following a comeback 38–35 win against the UCF Knights on October 19, the Cyclones achieved their best start since 1938, and a 4–0 start in Big 12 play for the first time in program history.^[1] With the win against Kansas State in the annual Farmageddon game on November 30, the Cyclones clinched their first ever 10-win season in program history; a win by BYU later that night gave Iowa State the right to play Arizona State in the 2024 Big 12 Championship Game, their first appearance in the game since 2020.

Preseason

Big 12 media poll

The preseason poll was released on July 2, 2024.^[2]

Big 12 preseason poll

1	Utah	906 (20)
2	Kansas State	889 (19)
3	Oklahoma State	829 (14)
4	Kansas	772 (5)
5	Arizona	762 (3)
6	Iowa State	661
7	West Virginia	581
8	UCF	551
9	Texas Tech	532
10	TCU	436
11	Colorado	400
12	Baylor	268
13	BYU	215
14	Cincinnati	196
15	Houston	157
16	Arizona State	141

Schedule

^[3]

• Game partially aired on ESPN2 as a live look-in due to the Kansas-West Virginia lightning delay.

Game summaries

vs No. 24 (FCS) North Dakota

See also: 2024 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team.

Statistics	UND	ISU
First downs	20	18
Total yards	295	353
Rushing yards	174	86
Passing yards	121	267
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–30–1	20–26–0
Time of possession	37:51	22:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Dakota	Passing	Simon Romfo	17–30, 121 yds, INT
Rushing	Isaiah Smith	12 car, 50 yds
Receiving	Bo Belquist	6 rec, 43 yds
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	20–26, 267 yds, 2 TD
Rushing	Abu Sama	5 car, 36 yds
Receiving	Jaylin Noel	8 rec, 135 yds, TD

at No. 21 Iowa (rivalry)

See also: 2024 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and Iowa–Iowa State football rivalry.

Statistics	ISU	IOWA
First downs	15	16
Total yards	361	303
Rushing yards	89	204
Passing yards	272	99
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–36–1	13–29–2
Time of possession	30:10	29:50

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	23–35, 272 yds, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Abu Sama	17 car, 58 yds
Receiving	Jaylin Noel	5 rec, 133 yds, TD
Iowa	Passing	Cade McNamara	13–29, 99 yds, 2 INT
Rushing	Kaleb Johnson	25 car, 187 yds, 2 TD
Receiving	Jacob Gill	4 rec, 47 yds

vs Arkansas State

See also: 2024 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team.

Statistics	ARST	ISU
First downs	12	25
Total yards	182	490
Rushing yards	64	237
Passing yards	118	253
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	9–23–2	16–25–2
Time of possession	25:16	34:44

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas State	Passing		5/16, 68 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Devin Spencer	9 carries, 52 yards
Receiving	Hunter Summers	2 receptions, 37 yards, TD
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	11/18, 204 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Carson Hansen	9 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD
Receiving		3 receptions, 73 yards

at Houston

See also: 2024 Houston Cougars football team.

Statistics	ISU	HOU
First downs	19	11
Total yards	393	241
Rushing yards	240	169
Passing yards	153	72
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–28–0	9–16–2
Time of possession	34:55	25:05

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	17/28, 153 yards, TD
Rushing	Abu Sama	11 carries, 101 yards, TD
Receiving		8 receptions, 79 yards, TD
Houston	Passing		8/12, 71 yards, INT
Rushing	Stacy Sneed	10 carries, 79 yards
Receiving	Stephon Johnson	4 receptions, 42 yards

vs Baylor

See also: 2024 Baylor Bears football team.

Statistics	BAY	ISU
First downs	21	27
Total yards	337	542
Rushing yards	79	265
Passing yards	258	277
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25–44–1	16–25–1
Time of possession	24:06	35:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing		25/44, 258 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing		8 carries, 28 yards
Receiving	Ketron Jackson Jr.	5 receptions, 66 yards, TD
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	16/25, 277 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Jaylon Jackson	15 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Jayden Higgins	8 receptions, 116 yards, TD

at West Virginia

See also: 2024 West Virginia Mountaineers football team.

Statistics	ISU	WVU
First downs	24	23
Total yards	395	356
Rushing yards	130	150
Passing yards	265	206
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–26–0	18–32–2
Time of possession	33:03	26:57

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	18/26, 265 yards, TD
Rushing	Carson Hansen	20 carries, 96 yards, 3 TD
Receiving	Jayden Higgins	6 receptions, 102 yards
West Virginia	Passing		18/32, 206 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Garrett Greene	10 carries, 87 yards
Receiving	Kole Taylor	5 receptions, 55 yards

vs UCF

See also: 2024 UCF Knights football team.

Statistics	UCF	ISU
First downs	14	28
Total yards	416	530
Rushing yards	354	256
Passing yards	62	274
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	8–20–2	20–46–2
Time of possession	22:32	37:28

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UCF	Passing		8/20, 62 yards, 2 INT
Rushing		25 carries, 196 yards, 2TD
Receiving		3 receptions, 26 yards
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	20/46, 274 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Rocco Becht	20 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD
Receiving		8 receptions, 153 yards

vs Texas Tech

See also: 2024 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.

Statistics	TTU	ISU
First downs	21	23
Total yards	366	432
Rushing yards	129	133
Passing yards	237	299
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–40–2	22–38–1
Time of possession	25:43	34:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas Tech	Passing		21/40, 237 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing		25 carries, 122 yards, TD
Receiving		8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	23/39, 299 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Abu Sama	13 carries, 74 yards
Receiving	Jayden Higgins	10 receptions, 140 yards, TD

at Kansas

See also: 2024 Kansas Jayhawks football team.

Statistics	ISU	KU
First downs	23	25
Total yards	461	532
Rushing yards	78	237
Passing yards	383	295
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–38–1	12–24–0
Time of possession	24:43	35:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	24/37, 383 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing	Carson Hansen	8 carries, 48 yards, TD
Receiving	Jaylin Noel	8 receptions, 167 yards, 2 TD
Kansas	Passing	Jalon Daniels	12/24, 295 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Devin Neal	18 carries, 116 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Quentin Skinner	4 receptions, 135 yards, TD

vs Cincinnati

See also: 2024 Cincinnati Bearcats football team.

Statistics	CIN	ISU
First downs	15	21
Total yards	353	386
Rushing yards	287	152
Passing yards	66	234
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	10–18–0	24–35–0
Time of possession	28:12	31:48

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Cincinnati	Passing		10/18, 66 yards
Rushing	Brendan Sorsby	13 carries, 143 yards, TD
Receiving	Tony Johnson	3 receptions, 43 yards
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	24/33, 234 yards, TD
Rushing	Abu Sama	12 carries, 52 yards, TD
Receiving	Gabe Burkle	6 receptions, 73 yards

at Utah

See also: 2024 Utah Utes football team.

Statistics	ISU	UTAH
First downs	25	9
Total yards	405	224
Rushing yards	123	95
Passing yards	282	129
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–39–1	13–17–0
Time of possession	35:54	24:06

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	20/38, 256 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Carson Hansen	14 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Jayden Higgins	9 receptions, 155 yards, TD
Utah	Passing		8/8, 74 yards
Rushing	Luke Bottari	4 carries, 47 yards
Receiving	Daidren Zipperer	4 receptions, 66 yards

vs No. 24 Kansas State (rivalry)

See also: 2024 Kansas State Wildcats football team and Iowa State–Kansas State football rivalry.

Statistics	KSU	ISU
First downs	14	22
Total yards	364	324
Rushing yards	144	187
Passing yards	220	137
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–29–0	13–36–0
Time of possession	24:35	35:25

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kansas State	Passing	Avery Johnson	12/28, 220 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	DJ Giddens	14 carries, 72 yards
Receiving	Jayce Brown	3 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
Iowa State	Passing	Rocco Becht	13/35, 137 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Abu Sama III	14 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Jayden Higgins	5 receptions, 53 yards, TD

vs. No. 15 Arizona State (Big 12 Championship Game)

See also: 2024 Arizona State Sun Devils football team.

Game notes:

Statistics	Iowa State	Arizona State
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Arizona State	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Coaching staff

Iowa State Cyclones
Name	Position	Consecutive season at Iowa State in current position	Previous position	ISU profile
Matt Campbell	Head coach	9th	Toledo – Head coach (2012–2015)	[4]
Jon Heacock	Defensive coordinator	9th	Toledo – Assistant head coach / defensive coordinator / safeties (2014–2015)	[5]
Taylor Mouser	Offensive coordinator / tight ends	1st	Iowa State – Tight ends / associate head coach (2023)	[6]
Deon Broomfield	Passing game coordinator / safeties	4th	Houston Texans – Defensive assistant (2020)	[7]
Ryan Clanton	Run game coordinator / offensive line	1st	Iowa State – Offensive line (2023)	[8]
Colby Kratch	Linebackers	1st	North Texas – Linebackers (2023)	[9]
Noah Pauley	Pass game coordinator/wide receivers	1st	Iowa State – Wide receivers (2023)	[10]
Hank Poteat	Cornerbacks	2nd	Wisconsin – Cornerbacks (2021–2022)	[11]
Eli Rasheed	Defensive line	9th	Toledo – Defensive line (2009–2015)	[12]
Tyler Roehl	Assistant head coach/running backs	1st	North Dakota State – Offensive coordinator/tight ends/fullbacks (2019–2023)	[13]
Jake Waters	Quarterbacks	1st	Iowa State – Senior quality control/offense (2021–2023)	[14]
Reference:[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hines: Iowa State football remains perfect with thrilling victory vs UCF . Des Moines Register . October 19, 2024. 20 October 2024.
2. Web site: Utah Picked First in Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll . July 2, 2024 .
3. Web site: 2024 Iowa State Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . January 6, 2024.
4. Web site: Matt Campbell - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
5. Web site: Jon Heacock - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
6. Web site: Taylor Mouser - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
7. Web site: Deon Broomfield - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
8. Web site: Ryan Clanton - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
9. Web site: Colby Kratch - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
10. Web site: Noah Pauley - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
11. Web site: Hank Poteat - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
12. Web site: Eli Rasheed - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
13. Web site: Tyler Roehl - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
14. Web site: Jake Waters - Football Coach . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
15. Web site: Football Coaches . 2024-11-16 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.