Coming up in just a couple of weeks and entries are rolling in.

Right now, Carr is the only entry for Cyclone RTC. Man, his performance at the Open looms large. 74kg looks pretty stacked. Both guys who just beat Carr are there. PJ Duke is registered. Evan Wick is dropping down after having a lot of success at 79. Jayden James is also registered who is young, but really good.

JFC. All in. I knew this cast was stacked but holy hell. John Leguizamo is basically unrecognizable unless you're looking for him.

Matt Damon
Tom Holland
Charlize Theron
Anne Hathaway
Robert Pattinson
Zendaya
Samantha Morton
Lupita N'yongo
Logan Marshall Green
Jon Bernthal
Mia Goth
Eliot Page
James Remar

Login to view embedded media

ESPN article on how teams "revamped" their squad this off-season. They rank us dead last in that regard in the Big 12.

16. Iowa State Cyclones​

Key additions: QB Jaylen Raynor, DE Isaac Terrell, DT Bryson Lamb

Key departures: QB Rocco Becht, DT Domonique Orange, RB Carson Hansen

Top incoming recruits: WR Jeffrey Roberts, WR Malcolm Watkins, OT Benji Makelela

Biggest coaching move: Matt Campbell's historic ISU tenure ended on Dec. 5, and hours later the Cyclones had a new coach in Washington State's Jimmy Rogers. The former South Dakota State player and coach brought over several of his assistants, including defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit. He hired Tyler Roehl, who coached ISU's running backs in 2024 and spent last season coaching tight ends for the Detroit Lions, as offensive coordinator. Roehl and Rogers opposed each other in the Dakotas rivalry as Roehl was OC for North Dakota State and Rogers the DC for South Dakota State.

What went wrong: Campbell took his coaches and 24 players with him to Happy Valley, including 14 starters. A total of 50 scholarship players moved on via the portal during the coaching transition, leaving Rogers and his coaches with a massive rebuilding project. Rogers and his staff had already experienced a similar roster flip last year in Pullman and did a nice job of adding to the roster in a short period, but ISU will still be undergoing a serious reset after a decade of consistency under Campbell.

What went right: Roehl was a key contributor to the Cyclones' offensive success during its run to the Big 12 title game in 2024, so bringing him back to Ames was a smart move. Raynor, a three-year starter at Arkansas State who put up more than 9,800 total yards, gives this offense a proven QB1 who will be able to replace Becht. He's coming in to lead a team that features more than 80 newcomers. The Cyclones' rebuilt receiving corps has good talent and could prove to be a strength. Bobbit was able to bring in several starters from his Washington State defense between Terrell, Lamb, Sullivan Schlimgen and Max Baloun and held onto five Cyclones with starting experience.

Please provide a critique of the Carolina Hurricane pregame siren.

Login to view embedded media

Has anyone heard anything about this?

Login to view embedded media

I made a fairly random and probably poorly made crossword surrounding Iowa State Football. Enjoy.
Link to Crossword Labs - ISU Football Crossword​

Answers

​

​

ACROSS​	DOWN
1. Many called for its end after this upset in 2011.	2. A large‑scale, intense rotating air mass.
5. The team that was beaten in 2011.	3. Bowl game with a mascot sacrifice.
6. Big 12 rivalry nickname (Corn vs Wheat).	4. Don’t mess with him in October.
8. Pre‑game, food, drinks, fun.	5. Two‑time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champ as a rookie with the Ravens.
9. All‑time interceptions leader for Iowa State.	7. “The Run.”
10. Single‑season sack leader, or a national favorite fast‑food brand.	11. NFL speedster known for kick‑return TDs.
13. Player with 3,096 career receiving yards, 2nd most all‑time at ISU.	12. First Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm coach with no football losses.
15. “I will!”	14. Alternative, not so family friendly Cy‑Hawk nickname.
18. Five touchdowns in a single game for this QB/LB.	16. Scored 87 points against this smaller Iowa foe in 1904.
19. Two receivers’ landing spots in the 2025 NFL Draft.	17. New head coach.

Jake Brend and Jackson Pence dive into another mailbag episode for all things Iowa State Athletics. What type of recruiting success can Jimmy Rogers have in-state going forward? Who are the best NFL prospects on the 2026 roster? What type of fit could high-priority prospect Donovan Davis be in T.J. Otzelberger’s system? All of that and more in the Northwest Bank Studios, presented by Mechdyne.

Is there a bonafide movie star or A-lister that is or has been incredibly popular making many movies that made bank at the box office that you just don't like at all? This is mainly for leading roles.

Independence Day is on right now and man is it not good after a few decades. I honestly can't think of a blockbuster movie that I love that Will Smith is in. He CAN be good in dramatic roles but for the most part I think he's a pretty horrible actor.

It is getting old and tired, like its owner. What next , would like to stay Apple. I run an iPad also. Thanks.
Go Cyclones

Randy’s latest looks at the Sorsby situation and how it impacts the Big 12 at a pretty critical time.

Iowa State is currently ranked 4th in the nation in the Shooty Hoops Living Top 25. This is a new website with very detailed NBA 2K type ratings. Interesting to see that they have Johnson rated as our best rated player for next year.

As a bonus, I have already gotten Iowa State up to 3rd in the nation in the Shooty Hoops game which is a basketball video game playable on web app and mobile featuring Flappy Bird style graphics. I need someone to take the torch and get us to 1st. Mississippi Valley is somehow over 16000 points higher than the next highest team.

Iowa State earned another commitment to its 2027 recruiting class in Waukee Northwest 3-star TE Joe Vinyard.


Login to view embedded media

I was doing a bit of digging on where players landed. Does anyone know if everyone found a home?

Recently, I had the opportunity to give a TEDx talk. It’s something I’ve been working toward for a while, and more importantly, something I’ve been thinking about for much longer.

The talk centers on a simple idea:
That we may have misunderstood what “calling” really is—and in doing so, we sometimes aim at the wrong things.

Here’s the link if you’d be open to watching it:
Login to view embedded media
If you do take a few minutes to watch, I’d genuinely value your perspective. Not just whether you liked it—but what resonated, what didn’t, or what felt worth thinking more about.

And if it brings someone else to mind who might find it meaningful, feel free to pass it along.

Either way, I appreciate you.

I met my wife at Iowa State.

I also have two brothers, a sister, and a niece that met their significant others in Ames.

I'm curious to hear how common this is amongst fellow CFers.

And, it's the offseason, so embarrasing stories are encouraged.

Some weekend discussion for us.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

Since there is little to go off of for production as far as college, I have linked all of our current RB room's (Senior Year/Most Recent) highlights from HUDL. While a lot has changed, it's really cool to see their different play styles in action. I'm sure a lot have already seen these highlights, but with spring ball leaving more questions than answers, it might help to see them all in one place.​

Cameron Pettaway #0 (Projected Started)​

PositionRB Academic Year R-So.Height 5' 10'' Weight 175 lbs

Cameron Pettaway Highlights

Jayden Jackson #2 or #47​

PositionRB Academic Year R-Fr.Height 5' 11'' Weight 190 lbs

Jayden Jackson Highlights

Salahadin Allah #7​

PositionRB Academic Year Jr.Height 5' 11'' Weight 222 lbs

Salahadin Allah Highlights

Aiden Flora #21 (Projected Starter)​

PositionRB Academic Year R-So.Height 6' 0'' Weight 190 lbs

Aiden Flora Highlights

Ryver Peppers #22 (Injured)​

PositionRB Academic Year R-Fr.Height 5' 11'' Weight 205 lbs

Ryver Peppers Highlights

Easton Miller #25​

PositionRB Academic Year R-Jr.Height 6' 1'' Weight 225 lbs

Easton Miller Highlights

Feel free to comment your thoughts. I tried to keep notes short and free of cons since they were high schoolers and outside of raw talent a lot has changed.

Jake Brend explains why Cyclone fans should take a page out of Aaron Rodgers' playbook and "R-E-L-A-X" about T.J. Otzelberger's buyout on his newest contract extension. Presented by Wyffles Hybrids in the Northwest Bank Studios. Login to view embedded media

Jake Brend, Rob Gray, and Ben Hutchens break down all there is to know about T.J. Otzelberger’s newest extension and what it means for Iowa State Athletics. The three discuss the impact of the $4 million buyout and where it ranks among other top coaches. Plus, they dive into Brend’s interview with OL commit Will Slagle and what it says about the future of Iowa State football. Presented by Kelderman Manufacturing.

This will pump you up.

As expected, she's leaving to "pursue a new opportunity".

Login to view embedded media

Iowa State Rugby team is in the national semi-final, Friday at 11:00am. If they win, championship is Sunday, at 12:30. Games are in Indianapolis. Iowa State finished 2nd in 2023 and 2024 and 3rd in 2025. Hopefully, they break through this year.

This week our topic is songs with the following words in title or lyrics: all variations of the word mistake, error and blunder.

“On That Note” is presented each week on Cyclone Fanatic by @MeanDean, @cyclones500 and myself.


Last Week: Throw Me An Anchor

Former player who was dismissed from the team is suing the University, former AD Alberts, and present woman’s coach Amy Williams. Seems an an Asst coach was having sexual relations with her, they told him to deny everything. His lawyer just stated that the allegations were true!