#10 Iowa State (13-0, 1-0 Big 12) at Houston (6-6, 0-1 Big 12)

Fertitta Center – Houston, Texas

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – 1:00 p.m. CT

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ESPN+ (PxP: Matt Pedersen, Analyst: Austyn Iven, Reporter: Brooke Kirchhofer)

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Cyclone Radio Network (PxP: Noah Wolf, Analyst: Jamie Steyer Johnson)

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In a unique set of circumstances currently. Need to fly back “home” to Tampa and I’m absolutely surrounded by last-minute bowl game Hok travelers… Additionally, a bunch of flights including mine were also delayed, so it’s quite chaotic at the DSM airport. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers fanatics; as if this portal szn couldn’t be any worse!

Alright everyone, now that we have less than 20 football players on the roster, can we finally acknowledge that Jamie Pollard HAS TO GO.

From Everything I have heard, Matt Campbell did not want to leave, but Pollard forced his hand and pushed him out. He even announced Jimmy Rogers as the new coach before saying anything about Campbell leaving. None of the long time football staff members stayed on, not even the behind the scenes people.

Any media member that said anything negative about Pollard completely retracted the statement in less than a week. Sounds like some threats were thrown their way by Pollard.

Pollards legacy is pushing out the three best coaches in Iowa state history because of his stubbornness. Pollards legacy is alienating 90% of the fanbase by calling them slobs. Pollards legacy is only upgrading the gameday experience for the rich and powerful.

This university is bigger than Jamie Pollard. I beg my fellow cyclones to acknowledge that.

On Tuesday's Daily Clone, T.J. Otzelberger starts his postgame press conference with a five minute statement about his team's performance in the classroom and what their GPA record means to the program, two future Cyclones (Christian Wiggins and Yusef Gray Jr.) square off in a big time high school game and Jimmy Rogers finalizes his support staff. Presented by Whiskey River in the Northwest Bank Studios. Login to view embedded media

Jimmy Rogers announces his entire support staff as Rocky Ciccone is officially hired as general manager and Jon Shaeffer is officially joining as the Chief of Staff, among others. https://cyclonefanatic.com/2025/12/jimmy-rogers-officially-announces-support-staff/

For you basketball crazies. Two future Cyclones played last night.

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Does Coach Jimmy f'n Rogers like spring games? Did he have them at previous schools? Will there be one in spring 2026?

No. 3 Iowa State advanced to 13-0 for just the second time in program history with an 89-61 win over Houston Christian on Monday.

Watch everything T.J. Otzelberger, Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson said following the win at the link below. https://cyclonefanatic.com/2025/12/...joshua-jefferson-after-houston-christian-win/

Iowa State starts 13-0 for the second time in program history with an 89-61 win over Houston Christian. https://cyclonefanatic.com/2025/12/no-3-iowa-state-beats-houston-christian-89-61/

I felt like we all needed something positive to listen to and I was not sure how many people remembered this song from 2012.

Iowa State Football song done called Comin Thru by the 816 Boyz (Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, & Makzilla), Jake McDonough (jmactracks), the Iowa State Drum Line, and Tyler Mock on the guitar.

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I hope to enroll at Iowa State in the fall 2026 semester with a major in Kinesiology/Exercise Science. I am horrible at note taking trying to write down notes and follow along with the Professor and often get lost in the mix. Do the Professors in the Kinesiology program allow you to record their lectures and us AI to transcribe the lecture into notes? If they do what are your recommendations for an app that will be able to write notes, and make flash cards?

This is what I'm calling the football facility for 2026. After a very sad beginning ... we all know it was a very happy ending.

I don't pretend to be an aficionado of the classics, but I sure do love Casablanca. What are some other great classics (pre 70s) I should check out?

On Monday's Daily Clone, Jake Brend updates the current state of the transfer portal and how Iowa State's roster could look in a month. Plus, Brend breaks down Brock Purdy's performance on Sunday Night Football, shares what T.J. Otzelberger said about his team's depth and discusses why Baylor's Scott Drew's is in the national spotlight. Presented by Fareway Meat & Grocery in the Northwest Bank Studios. Login to view embedded media

Randy Peterson is back with a new column taking a hard look at the transfer portal chaos and why the real madness might just be getting started.

Enjoy!

Get ready for the Cyclones' last non-conference game of the season against Houston Christian with my game preview. Get to know the Huskies and what to expect in tonight's matchup.

Iowa State earned another commitment to its 2026 class in cornerback Torrence "Toe" Sanders. Stay up to date with our Football Recruiting Tracker. We are tracking new commitments, recommitments, and decommitments to Iowa State Football's 2026 class.

Iowa State's roster is depleted and almost unrecognizable after the mass exodus in the last week.

Even with many fan favorites leaving, it's not the end of Cyclone football as Andrew Harrington writes in this week's Monday Musings. https://cyclonefanatic.com/2025/12/monday-musings-time-to-go-on-the-offseason-attack/

vs



Houston Christian (5-7, 1-3 SOUTHLAND)
#3 IOWA STATE (12-0, 0-0 BIG 12)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29TH 7:00 P.M. CST
HILTON COLISEUM / AMES, IA


TV: ESPN+
Talent: Zach Carlyle, pxp Derrin Hansen, analyst

Radio: Cyclone Radio Network (Varsity Network)
CRN Talent: John Walters (pxp); Eric Heft (analyst)

What creative ideas can you come up with? One less can of beer at the tailgates at $4 a can times 7 games a year could equal a million dollars right there

W&B: Chris Williams is joined by Jake Brend and Jackson Pence to discuss the rebuild ahead for Iowa State football following a mass exodus. They look ahead to a massive opportunity for the Big 12 in the CFP and more. Presented by Mechdyne. https://cyclonefanatic.com/podcasts/williams-blum-the-roster-rebuild-starts-now/

Crème has KU and Utah in the first out and BYU as the last in. Southern and BYU in playin games. The rest?
Iowa State #3
ASU #9
TCU #2
Baylor #7
WVU #8
TTech #6
OSU #7

What this tells me is the Big 12 is seen as a mid level conference with, currently, two very good teams. The strong starts by ASU and TTech are basically being seen as unsustainable. BYU isn’t a surprise as they’ve had a schedule that an NAIA school could manage. WVU has lost to anyone with a pulse, but their game one in conference is an attention grabber regardless of who they played. Baylor is falling as they should and while still dangerous, they likely won’t challenge for a conference title this year as expected. OSU is another wait and see team. The only teams with a pulse they’ve played…they lost to. And the only decent win was against 9-4 Miami.

Definitely lots of wait and see in the Big 12. If chaos breaks out then those mid-seeded teams are better than we think. More likely is seeing ISU and TCU racing towards a late February matchup in Texas for the title.

EDIT - I’ll toss in that I think ASU is a team to keep an eye on. They have th ability to jump up and bite anyone.