***Official portal tracker thread***

[t-noah]

With 2 and 3 TE formations, there is a need for big, physical TE's to block. So Burkle's size and hands have a growing role in NFL.

Plus, team could also develop him into an O-lineman.

Oh snap, that'll be good for the knees,

On the other hand NFL money can wait for lighter knees later.

And I'm still waiting for weight limitations by position, btw, Ha

 

[isucy86]

Circa has national champion odds out. Here's the Big 12 order.

1. Texas Tech (+1400)
2. Utah (+8000)
3. BYU (+9000)
4. Arizona State (+15000)
5. Houston (+20000)
T-6. Baylor, K-State (+30000)
T-8. Iowa State, Cincinnati, OK State, TCU (+40000)
12. Arizona (+60000)
T-13. Kansas, UCF (+80000)
T-15. Colorado, WVU (+100000)

It's not exactly a predicted order of finish, but it's probably a pretty good proxy for a way-too-early look at how the conference is viewed.

Only glaring adjustments I would make are Utah down, fighting among Houston & ASU.

Also surprised they have Arizona that low. With QB returning, I would have them in the Utah, ASU & Houston grouping.

Okie State has some upside too with new coach bringing his QB and a lot of roster. But I understand Vegas has them in ISU grouping because OSU has been horrible last two years. And sometimes roster overhauls aren't a straight road to respectability.

 

[isucy86]

Well, now that we know the schedule...
vs SE Mo win
at Iowa is a probable loss
vs Bowling Green win
vs Utah loss
vs West Virginia win
at BYU loss
at Arizona loss
vs Oklahoma St win
at Baylor loss
vs Cincinnati probable loss
at UCF probable win
vs Kansas St probable win

Puts us at 6-6. Cinci and Baylor are possible wins..
Do we live with 6-6 or 7-5?

I'm optimistic about Iowa since they will be going with a QB with limited snaps.

Also, I would put likelihood of ISU beating Cincy at home pretty high. Higher than OSU or KSU. The KSU winner might come down to which team has bowl berth at stake.

 

[Marcelason78]

The key to next year will obviously be how Raynor performs. Can’t wait to see how our OC forces defenses to play 11 on 11 (as the Professor puts it). We’ve got an experienced, athletic QB who can do it.

 

[isucy86]

The key to next year will obviously be how Raynor performs. Can’t wait to see how our OC forces defenses to play 11 on 11 (as the Professor puts it). We’ve got an experienced, athletic QB who can do it.

I look at in tiers:

1. For the Cyclones to be a 5/6 win team our defense will need to gel early and be a defense that gives up <20ppg consistently.
2. For the Cyclones to win 7+ games, then Raynor and offense will need to be efficient and score 28+ppg during 2nd half of season.

But it is a big plus for Clones to have Raynor in place to start game 1 vs relying on Moberly/Flores.

 

[Texbudman]

IMO Gabe Burkle, Brett Eskildsen and Marcus Neal will be the transfers that hurt the most. They all have 2 or more years left, and I think they will be NFL players someday.

I believe the rest of the starters we lost have only 1 year left at their new school. So while ISU will likely take a hit in 2026 vs what we could have done if Campbell had stayed, we should be in better shape for 2027 and beyond. We were going to lose a lot of starters at the end of 2026. It would have been a lot like the 2021 season (Purdy's last year) in terms of expectations.

Agree on Burke and Neal, not sure Eskildsen has the hands to be NFL worthy but he definitely has time to improve. Really wish we could have kept Neal

 

[BCClone]

Colorado, ok state, and Colorado all had massive turnovers as well. Personally i would put Colorado at last they are swirling down the drain.

Colorado had massive over 2x this year? That’s rough. .

 

[CyBlitz]

Colorado had massive over 2x this year? That’s rough. .

Sorry west virginia.

 

[twojman]

Trying to W/L our schedule is insane.

If ISU make a bowl game, CJFR is borderline Big 12 coach of the year. I could make the case for 2 wins or 11 wins. 2026 is going to be a fun season. Enjoy it.

 

[Clonedogg]

Trying to W/L our schedule is insane.

If ISU make a bowl game, CJFR is borderline Big 12 coach of the year. I could make the case for 2 wins or 11 wins. 2026 is going to be a fun season. Enjoy it.

Or infuriating, I could see lots of close losses.

 

[qwerty]

 

[DrClone]

Trying to W/L our schedule is insane.

If ISU make a bowl game, CJFR is borderline Big 12 coach of the year. I could make the case for 2 wins or 11 wins. 2026 is going to be a fun season. Enjoy it.

Not if they win 2 games.

 

[qwerty]

Not if they win 2 games.

Oh, they will win 2 games. And then another 2 games, and then another 2 games, and hopefully another 2 games.

 

[intrepid27]

Just got a message from my bro in law…my nephew is a big time basketball player in Wichita. He was saying TE commit Drake Debaun is killing them on the court. Obviously a real multi-sport talent.

Does your nephew like the water in Ames?

 

[RagingCloner]

Not if they win 2 games.

They’ll have won 2 games before week 3

 

[acoustimac]

Does your nephew like the water in Ames?

He has some basketball offers but has already decided to give up sports and focus on academics in college.

 

[t-noah]

View attachment 166753

Cameron 'Dexter Green' Pettaway. One can hope!

 

[Die4Cy]

Where would we rank Dexter Green on the list of greatest ISU tailbacks? Fourth? Lower?

 

[FLYINGCYCLONE]

2 time 1st team all big 8, I think. During a time when team ran a lot more then passed.

 

[CyLyte2]

Former signee Owen Winder committed to UConn.