College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Iowa State season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Analysis
– Iowa State Cyclones Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2020 Record: 9-3 overall, 8-1 in Big 12
Head Coach: Matt Campbell, 6th year, 35-28 (70-43 overall)
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 16
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 36
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 63
Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: Offense
– The Cyclone offense wasn’t always perfect, but it was balanced, consistent, and brutally effective. It led the Big 12 in third down conversions, it averaged 436 yards and 33 points per game, and it should all be even better with ten starters expected back with a whole slew of all-conference players and longtime veterans to work around.
– Brock Purdy is still around. It only seems like he’s been the Iowa State quarterback for 14 years, but he’s got the next-level passing talent and he’s got the three years of starting experience to be even better. He threw for close to 9,000 yards with 62 touchdowns and with 18 rushing scores so far, and he’s got a loaded group around him.
If Charlie Kolar isn’t the best tight end in college football, he’s close – he made 44 catches for 591 yards with a team-high seven scores – and 6-7, 240-pound Chase Allen is an NFL prospect, too. 6-3 senior Xavier Hutchinson is an All-Big 12 performer coming off a team-high 64-catch season, but the O needs more wide receiver options. 6-6 Sean Shaw and 6-2 Joe Scates bring even more size to the mix.
– The offensive front was the best in the Big 12 in pass protection and terrific for the ground game. C Colin Newell and OG Derek Schweiger are All-Big 12 talents to work the veteran line around. The group has a superstar in Breece Hall to block for – he ran for 1,572 yards and 21 scores – with 6-0, 200-pound sophomore Jirehl Brock the likely backup option now that Keke Nwangwu is a Minnesota Viking.
– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Analysis
NEXT: Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: Defense
4. Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– 12 of the top 15 tacklers are back from a defense that led the Big 12 against the run and finished second allowing 240 yards and 21 points per game. The super-senior year is helping get back several All-Big 12 stars, but this has been building over the last few years, and now the Cyclones have a killer D that should be even stronger.
– Mike Rose might not have been the best linebacker in college football last season, but he wasn’t far off. The team leader with 96 stops is back along with running mates Jake Hummel and O’Rien Vance to a big, deep linebacking corps that should be among the nation’s strongest.
The D line might not do a ton to get behind the line, and it loses JaQuan Bailey off one end, but it’s good enough thanks to Will McDonald, who came up with 10.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. There needs to be more depth at tackle, but it’s a big group around 6-6, 310-pound Eyioma Uwarzurike.
– The secondary allowed 237 yards per game, but it held its own more often than not, it can hit, and there are plenty of veteran playmakers back. Greg Eisworth is a terrific safety who’s been a key part of the puzzle for the last three seasons, and Isheem Young is a rising playmaker who made 50 stops, but the corners have to come up with more picks.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Analysis
NEXT: Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: Top Players
Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: Top Players
Best Iowa State Cyclones Offensive Player
RB Breece Hall, Jr.
The 6-1, 215-pounder wasn’t a superstar recruit, but he grew into one of the best backs in college football and a great pro prospect with his combination of toughness and – unlike former star David Montgomery – receiving ability.
He caught 23 passes with two scores to go along with 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground, hitting the 100-yard mark in each of his first eight games and with 136 in the Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon.
2. QB Brock Purdy, Sr.
3. TE Charlie Kolar, Sr.
4. WR Xavier Hutchinson, Sr.
5. C Colin Newell, Sr.
Best Iowa State Cyclones Defensive Player
LB Mike Rose, Sr.
Is there anything the guy didn’t do last year for the Cyclone D? The 6-4, 245-pound Rose came off a 77-tackle season to make 96 stops with 1.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss with a team-high five picks earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Greg Eisworth might be the Big 12’s best safety and Will McDonald might be the Big 12’s best pass rusher, but Rose is the star of the defense that’s going to be fantastic again.
2. S Greg Eisworth, Sr.
3. DE Will McDonald, Jr.
4. LB Jake Hummel, Sr.
5. DT Eyioma Uwazurike, Sr.
Top Incoming Iowa State Cyclones Transfer
S Jaquan Amos, Sr.
It’s not like the Iowa State secondary needed more help – especially at safety – but it’s about to get it from a grad transfer from Iowa State to add even more playmaking ability to the group. He’s got the 6-1, 190-pound size, three years of experience, and he’s got the stats, coming up with eight picks and and 109 tackles for Villanova before making the trip to Ames.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Analysis
NEXT: Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Iowa State Cyclones Biggest Key: Offense
Limit the turnovers. The skill parts are fantastic, the line is great, and the team knows how to control and dominate the tempo by owning the time of possession battle.
But it can all be done by turnovers.
Of course everyone cares about turning the ball over, but they derailed the Cyclones at times last year. They lost to Louisiana with two turnovers and gave it up three times in the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma – the team was -5 in turnover margin in the only two defeats.
They turned it over a season-high four times against Baylor and only won 38-31 against a vastly inferior team. Outside of the games against the Ragin’ Cajuns, Sooners (the second time around) and Bears, Iowa State turned it over just five times total in the other nine games.
Going back to the Alamo Bowl loss to Washington State to end the 2018 season, Iowa State is 2-7 when turning it over two times or more, and it’s 14-3 when it doesn’t.
Iowa State Cyclones Biggest Key: Defense
Find a pass rusher on the other side of Will McDonald. Generating a pass rush hasn’t been a massive problem over the last few years, and McDonald is a star with 16.5 sacks in his last two seasons, but he’s going to need help.
JaQuan Bailey signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after finishing second on the team with seven sacks, and Latrell Bankston took off for the Houston Cougars after ended up with 3.5 sacks.
The pressure will come from other spots, and there’s a decent group of ends to work into the rotation, but it has to happen fast or offenses will load up on McDonald.
Iowa State Cyclones Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Brock Purdy, Sr.
He has had a great career, he led the team to a Big 12 Championship appearance, and he’s put up big numbers over the last three seasons.
Now he needs to be better – and more consistent.
Fantastic as a sophomore, he threw for close to 4,000 yards averaging 8.4 yards per pass with 27 touchdowns and just nine picks – and three coming in one game. However, when he failed to connect and struggled to complete 65% of his throws, Iowa State usually lost.
Last year he averaged almost a yard less per attempt, threw for 2,759 yards in one less game than in 2019, and he hit 67% of his throws. He was hardly bad, but if he’s just a wee bit stronger, that could be the difference between another outstanding season and something truly special.
Iowa State Cyclones Key Game To The 2021 Season
at Oklahoma, Nov. 20
It might be the first of two meetings – just like last year – and it comes late in the year to potentially decide the Big 12 Championship matchup in some way. It’s also the first and only time this season that Iowa State is the underdog.
The Iowa game is at home, and so are the key Big 12 matchups against Oklahoma State, Texas and TCU. The road trips are all manageable, so if the Cyclones can just win the games they’re supposed to – and own everything in Ames – the date in Norman might be a colossal showdown.
– Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2020 Iowa State Cyclones Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: 58 – 2nd Quarter Scoring 144
– Time of Possession: Iowa State 33:05 – Opponents 26:55
– 3rd Down Conversions: Iowa State 45% – Opponents 33%
NEXT: Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: What Will Happen, Season Prediction
Iowa State Cyclones College Football Preview 2021: What Will Happen, Season Prediction
Think about what America is going to ask of the 2021 Iowa State football program.
It’s going to ask for a Big 12 Championship – but the school has never won an outright conference title, and can only brag about its back-to-back Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-championships in 1911 and 1912.
It’s going to ask for a huge ranking – but the ninth spot in the final 2020 AP Poll is the best final ranking by a mile. The program has only finished ranked in the AP top 25 three times.
It’s going to ask for at least ten wins – but the program has never won more than nine games in a season.
It’s going to ask for a giant bowl appearance and possibly a push into the College Football Playoff – but last year’s Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon was by far the biggest bowl appearance, much less a victory.
America is going to ask for this 2021 team that returns loaded with 19 starters to be the best team in the best in the history of Iowa State football, and that’s after the 2020 team had the best season in the history of Iowa State football.
So if you think this win total line is a tad low, remember, you’re asking for something that’s never happened before.
Set The Iowa State Cyclones Regular Season Win Total At … 9.5
It’s a good enough team to set the bar at Big 12 Championship or Bust, but Oklahoma might be the No. 1 team in the country, or at least in the top five.
Four of the biggest games – Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma State and TCU are at home – but the Kansas State game on the road will be dangerous, Texas Tech is going to be a problem this year, West Virginia is better, and then there’s the Oklahoma game in Norman.
So yeah, “just” a ten-win regular season might be seen as disappointing, nine wins might feel lousy, and less than that will be a major catastrophe for jacked up Cyclone fans who finally get to enjoy the fun of big-time realistic expectations.
There will be one loss somewhere – likely Oklahoma – and there will be one game against an improved Big 12 when things don’t quite work.
Then it’s a question of whether or not you think the 2021 Iowa State team really does have everything in place to be historically amazing.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Analysis
