Cyclones jump to No. 9 in latest CFP rankings

Nov 21, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell gives a thumbs up as he leaves the field after a game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa State has entered the top-10.

The Cyclones came in at No. 9 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday, jumping four spots from last week’s debut poll. This comes on the heels of Iowa State’s thrilling 23-20 come-from-behind win over Texas last Friday.

Matt Campbell’s program has spent 12 weeks in the CFP rankings since the 2017 season and now holds its highest ranking in program history, surpassing its spot at No. 13 last week. This ties the Cyclones’ highest spot in any ranking ever matching the 2002 team’s place in the AP Poll in early October that season.

The most recent rankings also set up what could end up being a top-10 showdown between Iowa State and Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game as the Sooners stayed steady at No. 11 in the ranking after not playing last week.

Oklahoma State was the only other Big 12 team in this week’s poll at No. 15.

Iowa State will square off with West Virginia in its regular season finale on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Jack Trice Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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