Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) eludes the rush of Arizona State Sun Devils defensive lineman Prince Dorbah (32) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rocco Becht stood in the AT&T Stadium tunnel and spoke. As each of the Iowa State quarterback’s teammates filed by, he shared words of support. Then the 6-1, 210-pound sophomore issued a bold, but measured declaration after Saturday’s discouraging 45-19 loss to No. 15 Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game.
“I told everybody coming out of that tunnel, the ones that are coming back, ‘Remember this feeling,’” said Becht, who learned Sunday the No. 18 Cyclones (10-3) will play No. 15 Miami (10-2) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28 in Orlando, Fla. “‘We will be back in this game next year. I promise you that.’”
But first things first.
ISU has a chance to extend its record of 10 wins in a season to 11 against a Hurricanes team that will be without dynamic and likely first-round NFL Draft pick Cam Ward, who might not play to protect his health. The Miami quarterback may be joined by several teammates who choose to opt out for the same reason, but the team’s roster remains loaded with four- and five-star athletes eager to prove themselves in a top-20 matchup.
“Our guys want to finish the right way,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said on a Zoom call after the bowl announcement.
Campbell, of course, feels the same way.
“We’re in uncharted territory for Iowa State football,” Campbell said via Zoom. “And I think any time there’s a chance to put an exclamation point on some of those things, it’s powerful.”
The Cyclones have never met the Atlantic Coast Conference school, who narrowly missed a berth in the College Football Playoff because of a 42-38 loss to Syracuse to end the regular season.
Campbell is, however, 1-0 against Cristobal. The Cyclones beat Oregon when Cristobal was at the helm, 34-17, in the 2020 Fiesta Bowl.
And ISU— even though they’ll miss out on a first-ever playoff appearance because of Saturday’s loss — will treat the Pop-Tarts Bowl seriously. It’s unclear if any Cyclones will opt of out the game, but with the transfer portal opening on Monday, it’s almost certain there will be some roster fluidity — but not in terms of the seniors.
“We have a bowl game, but we’re going to prepare for that game like it’s the playoffs,” senior cornerback Myles Purchase said. “I’m going to give my best, and I know the seniors are going to give our best in that game.”
ISU will play in Orlando in the postseason for the third time in the past six seasons. The Cyclones lost to then-No. 14 Notre Dame, 33-9, in the formerly named Camping World Bowl in 2019, and they lost to then-19th-ranked Clemson, 20-13, in the formerly named Cheez-It Bowl in 2021.
“Anything you put your hands on in life, you want to leave it better than you got it,” senior defensive tackle and captain J.R. Singleton said about his journey at ISU in general. “Really all ofus seniors, we take a lot of pride in being Cyclones and leaving this place better than how we found it.”
ISU has attained bowl eligibility in seven of the past eight seasons and is 2-4 in those games since head coach Matt Campbell took over the program. Mami opened as a 7.5-point favorite according to Las Vegas oddsmakers, but whether favorite or underdog, the Cyclones are excited to be in the postseason again — despite Saturday’s lopsided result.
ISU lost to Memphis, 36-26, in the Liberty Bowl last season.
“I know we went in last year to Memphis and obviously didn’t win that game, but this year it will be different,” senior wide receiver Jaylin Noel said.
The Hurricanes boast the nation’s most prolific scoring offense, averaging 44.2 points per game, but if Ward doesn’t play, it may not be as formidable.
The Cyclones will try to counter with the nation’s 33rd-best scoring defense— and Campbell will relish one last chance to coach up his senior leaders.
“To me it means the world to me,” said Campbell, who became ISU’s all-time winningest coach this season. “We’ve talked about (my) loyalty to this senior class and pulling us by the bootstraps out of really hard two years ago when the deck was falling against us and easily it could have imploded. These guys refused to allow it to happen. … The great thing about myself, our staff, and the young people that we have, they’ve got great humility, and they’ve got great character. We’ll show up.”
