and the only titles they have won in the modern era are when the Big 10 did not have a championship game, and they tied for the title. Oh, and most of the time they did not play the team the tied, so they were co-champs.
Cyclones a contender in 2024
- Thread starter Cyintex
- Start date
People forget how bad we used to be consistently. I remember Campbell got like 4 wins that first year and that was a highly successful season. A lot of younger people that have basically grown up as a cyclone fan with Campbell as a coach seem to not appreciate these 7-6 seasons like we all do. With that said, I do remember the season after the fiesta bowl and our insanely high projections and the disappointment of going 7-6. That was a tough one and I refuse to let myself give unfair expectations like that season. A lot of returning young talent and 7 wins should be very attainable but will be very disappointing for a lot of people
As I look at 2024, it can be a great year. I am thinking 8-4 is out there. It would be nice to start the non conf strong and start 3-0. That is such a struggle for us some years. I am significantly more worried about the defense than the offese this year, here is why:
1) The offense has a top 3 QB in the league in Rocco. We have above avg running backs in Sama, Hansen, and the new guy from Arizona Dylan Lee is supposed to be a stud. The WRs are excellent with Higgins and Noel. The TE position is set with a future pro in Brahmer. OL should be improved as well
2) Depending on analytics site you use, our total defense last year ranged from #45 to #50 overall: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2023-team-defense.html
So if you assess the power 5 is about 65 teams, being ranked about 45 is bottom half to bottom third. That isn't the type of defense that allows you to win conference titles.
I like Tyler Onyedim on the edge, he's a future pro. Our safeties in Verdon and Cooper are also future pros and all conference caliber. Who outside of these guys strikes fear into the opponent though?
I feel pretty good about Purchase and Jontez Williams at CB. The LBers and D line have a ways to go for me (outside of Oneydim).
I also fear that opposing teams in the league have figured out our rush 3 drop 8 scheme. It worked early on because it was so unique. Now - a lot of teams have copied this. We also don't have a Will McDonald anymore to beat double teams when we rush 3. Our sack numbers were abysmal in '23.
I would love to be proven wrong this year but I fear the defense could hold us back. I seriously hope we get some development in scheme (can we use Zachery Lovett more in a pure speed edge rushing role, he's good at that), or can we use more blitzers off the edge more. We need to get more creative on D I feel.
I also want to see certain guys on D take the next step. Dom Orange, Will McClaughlin, we need both of them to up their game in a big way, they're talented athlets and have that potential. Also, can transfer Kenard Snyder from Louisiana make a difference in the pass rush game?
Long story longer, I have many more questions on the defense than the offense. I feel the offense is going to thrive in most games. Two toughest games will be at Iowa and at Utah. This is a good year that we get to skip Colorado as they will be kinda stacked.
1) The offense has a top 3 QB in the league in Rocco. We have above avg running backs in Sama, Hansen, and the new guy from Arizona Dylan Lee is supposed to be a stud. The WRs are excellent with Higgins and Noel. The TE position is set with a future pro in Brahmer. OL should be improved as well
2) Depending on analytics site you use, our total defense last year ranged from #45 to #50 overall: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2023-team-defense.html
So if you assess the power 5 is about 65 teams, being ranked about 45 is bottom half to bottom third. That isn't the type of defense that allows you to win conference titles.
I like Tyler Onyedim on the edge, he's a future pro. Our safeties in Verdon and Cooper are also future pros and all conference caliber. Who outside of these guys strikes fear into the opponent though?
I feel pretty good about Purchase and Jontez Williams at CB. The LBers and D line have a ways to go for me (outside of Oneydim).
I also fear that opposing teams in the league have figured out our rush 3 drop 8 scheme. It worked early on because it was so unique. Now - a lot of teams have copied this. We also don't have a Will McDonald anymore to beat double teams when we rush 3. Our sack numbers were abysmal in '23.
I would love to be proven wrong this year but I fear the defense could hold us back. I seriously hope we get some development in scheme (can we use Zachery Lovett more in a pure speed edge rushing role, he's good at that), or can we use more blitzers off the edge more. We need to get more creative on D I feel.
I also want to see certain guys on D take the next step. Dom Orange, Will McClaughlin, we need both of them to up their game in a big way, they're talented athlets and have that potential. Also, can transfer Kenard Snyder from Louisiana make a difference in the pass rush game?
Long story longer, I have many more questions on the defense than the offense. I feel the offense is going to thrive in most games. Two toughest games will be at Iowa and at Utah. This is a good year that we get to skip Colorado as they will be kinda stacked.
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My spring assessment is 8-4. I'd hope to make that the floor for this season's expectation.
"Assumed" loss at Iowa. Pencil-in loss at Utah. Lose 2 vs. KU/KSU/West Virginia or go 2-1 with those, then a "shoulda" W becomes L (but not "Ohio-bad.")
"Assumed" loss at Iowa. Pencil-in loss at Utah. Lose 2 vs. KU/KSU/West Virginia or go 2-1 with those, then a "shoulda" W becomes L (but not "Ohio-bad.")
Campbells first year had three wins, and I don’t think anyone considered that a highly successful season. We’ve had fewer than 3 wins 6 times since Johnny Majors took over almost 60 years ago. Now, the team had the huge win vs TTU and Mahomes, but it was not a successful season.
Beat by UNI. Completely destroyed by Iowa. Beat terrible KU and San Jose State. It was expected, and some reason for optimism, but it was not a good season.
NoDak - W
@ Iowa - L
Ark St - W
@ Houston - W (tossup)
Baylor - W
@ WVU - L
UCF - W (tossup)
Tech - W
@ KU - L (tossup)
Cincy - W
@ Utah - L
KSU - W (tossup)
8-4, factoring in tossups anywhere from 5-7 to 9-3 is possible. We have great experience coming back, but the schedule isn’t easy. We’ll see.
@ Iowa - L
Ark St - W
@ Houston - W (tossup)
Baylor - W
@ WVU - L
UCF - W (tossup)
Tech - W
@ KU - L (tossup)
Cincy - W
@ Utah - L
KSU - W (tossup)
8-4, factoring in tossups anywhere from 5-7 to 9-3 is possible. We have great experience coming back, but the schedule isn’t easy. We’ll see.
Every road game has facets that suck and none of them are gimmes.
This is a great point, the schedule is unlike any schedule any of us have ever seen.
There are really 2 games we might be underdogs in. Iowa and Utah, and Iowa isn’t going to be much again.
Honestly they should win 9 to 10, the schedule is just way way worse vs anything we have ever seen, but I’m expecting 7.
This will anger some, and others will say "it's about time": Many posters are sounding like Iowa Cyclones/Iowa State Hawkeyes.
For sure it was worth being optimistic. There were also a couple losses like Baylor and Okie St where the team played well. The last half of the season they looked like a solid team.
Hopefully CMC can have a better record against that equivalent to a B1G West schedule than he actually had against the B1G West.
8-4 is the floor for me. While Campbell is most certainly the most successful coach ISU has ever had, This is the defining season in my mind. Slow build up to 2020, and the balloon popped in '21. '22 was a disaster, but it was a big rebuild. '23 was a nice rebound, and a bit of a surprise (especially with the gambling stuff coming out when it did). The schedule isn't easy, but it's as favorable as we've seen.
I feel like Campbell needs to take a step forward, or we are gonna be one of those "********" (his word) 6, 7 win programs. The first year of the new Big XII is so important to establish yourself as one of the top dogs, and it's all there for the taking.
Also, a lot of people have been down on the o-line (because they're smart). The run blocking was atrocious, but the pass blocking was pretty good IIRC. Rocco obviously plays a part in that, but I think there's a good foundation there. 2nd year under the line coach can't hurt either.
I'm excited, and cautiously optimistic. If nothing else it's always exciting to see how many games we lose on special teams foul-ups.
I feel like Campbell needs to take a step forward, or we are gonna be one of those "********" (his word) 6, 7 win programs. The first year of the new Big XII is so important to establish yourself as one of the top dogs, and it's all there for the taking.
Also, a lot of people have been down on the o-line (because they're smart). The run blocking was atrocious, but the pass blocking was pretty good IIRC. Rocco obviously plays a part in that, but I think there's a good foundation there. 2nd year under the line coach can't hurt either.
I'm excited, and cautiously optimistic. If nothing else it's always exciting to see how many games we lose on special teams foul-ups.
Feels a little like 2005 to me. coming off the disaster of 2003, nice rebound in 2004. Young players coming into their own. The schedule "softens" a bit in 2024 like it did in 2005.
The real question is, "Is this team ready for prime time?" Are they ready to emerge as a contender for the conference championship? Who is standing in their way? Kansas, Kansas State and Utah shouldn't force us to take a back seat to them. They may beat us, but we have everything they do and, in some cases, more.
The 2005 team let too many golden opportunities slip through their fingers. I hope this years' team is different.
Good analysis
Our LBs last year had almost no experience. Now you've got Willich, McLaughlin, Sadowski, Caleb Bacon with another year of experience, Jacob Ellis got his feet wet and Lovett as you mentioned. I think that depth and experience will help a lot. If they can't figure out a good pass rusher, I'm hoping they can work out a scheme to get more pressure. Maybe its still a 3 man front and always bringing 1-2 blitzers, but not from the same area each time.
