Did we lose too much?

[Pope]

The "experts" who say ISU will take a step back because they lost Higgins and Noel are the same experts who never expected Higgins and Noel to become NFL draft picks in the first place.

In other words, they act like they're experts, but they don't know jack. Nobody really knows until after the season begins. If you want proof, just compare the preseason rankings to the final rankings every year.

 

[CycloneErik]

Sounds like it's all.over.

 

[CloneLawman]

Sounds like it's all.over.

Might as well just win the conference.

 

[madguy30]

Which national podcasts? What was their rationale?

Was it the guy who would have a clip of Grayson Allen tripping someone and saying 'Nope, didn't see anything' and move on a few years ago?

 

[OscarBerkshire]

First game is only 10 days away, folks...

 

[CysFive]

As others have mentioned, we lost 2 NFL WRs and significant pieces on defense. Factor in that ISU won pretty much every close game we were in last year and it’s not crazy to think regression to the mean is possible

Schedule is probably harder this year, too. But as Williams & Blum alluded to, no one nationally realizes every single linebacker was hurt, with a similar story at tight end. We've added to the roster just by getting guys healthy.

 

[madguy30]

Sounds like it's all.over.

I'd move on to basketball, but that's toast too since they probably won't win a Natty again.

Shucks.

 

[ClubCy]

ISU football is ranked 5th nationally (power conf. teams) in # of returning starters for 2025 season:

College football teams with most returning starters in 2025, ranked

Which college football teams are primed for success with the most returning starters from last season?

247sports.com

Returning production is a better data point than just using returning starters, in my opinion.

For example: if Miss St returns 19 of 22 starters from a 2-10 team or whatever they were doesn’t mean should vault them up the preseason SEC rankings.

Bill Connelly SP+ has us at 41st (61%) returning production fwiw.

 

[MartyFine]

Schedule is probably harder this year, too. But as Williams & Blum alluded to, no one nationally realizes every single linebacker was hurt, with a similar story at tight end. We've added to the roster just by getting guys healthy.

We thought last year's schedule was difficult at this time last year, especially the trip to Salt Lake City...

 

[BMWallace]

Higgins and Noel were a huge portion of the offensive production last year. Nearly 1200 yards each and 9 and 8 TDs respectively. They each accounted for basically 1/3 of our receiving yards and TDs. We cannot expect that two new receivers replicate that performance, but if we get similar production in the aggregate that is fine. I fully expect the TEs to have a larger TD share, and the yardage will be spread around to more targets. It doesn't matter how the job gets done, so long as it happens.

One of the less talked about aspects of the offense is Rocco's room for growth, particularly in his accuracy. He struggled with throws to his left last year. I can recall quite a few that he either sailed or dirted on quicker throws to the left outside the numbers.

 

[RagingCloner]

Schedule is probably harder this year, too. But as Williams & Blum alluded to, no one nationally realizes every single linebacker was hurt, with a similar story at tight end. We've added to the roster just by getting guys healthy.

I feel like this is hard to say at this point

 

[RagingCloner]

The national podcasts I listen to are basically dismissing ISU as a conference contender because we “lost too much “. Does anyone actually agree with that? I just don’t see us taking that big of a step back. Not over a couple players.

Here is where im confused. IMO ASU losing Skattebo hurts them just as much if not more than ISU losing Higgins and Noel, but ASU is still being picked by many as one of the favorites along with KSU

 

[Dgilbertson]

The national podcasts I listen to are basically dismissing ISU as a conference contender because we “lost too much “. Does anyone actually agree with that? I just don’t see us taking that big of a step back. Not over a couple players.

Receiver talent abundance or shortage is rarely cause for teams dropping off. It’s not to say their talent wasn’t immense, but I’ve long thought “we lost too much” when it comes to receivers both for ISU and NFL teams. And rarely are those fears founded.

No Lazard and Butler, what will we do? As one example.

Getting offensive line and front 7 on D to gel is A much more difficult task and the loss of a key component/capt/multi year starter is often times more to overcome and less talked about.

Skill positions sells tickets, trenches is the harder field to till.

 

[Billups06]

Here is where im confused. IMO ASU losing Skattebo hurts them just as much if not more than ISU losing Higgins and Noel, but ASU is still being picked by many as one of the favorites along with KSU

To be fair, they do return more starters than we do, including 10 of 11 on defense.

I think the other part is their transfer class; they signed 10+ transfers from other P4 programs. Doesn't mean those transfers will be good, but setting up like another good season for them.

Edit: @1SEIACLONE beat me to it. ASU made the playoffs last year and should have won that game. Perception.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

ISU still suffers from people thinking that what Campbell is doing is a fluke, and will not continue forward. So we do not get the benefit of the doubt that teams that have won for years get. To erase that doubt ISU has to break through and win the championship, thereby making it into the playoffs.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Pretty much everyone loses a lot every year, but we certainly lost our only 2 productive receivers, and some key pieces on defense. We'll find out pretty soon if it was too much or not.

The problem I have with this statement is that just because we had 2 really productive receivers doesn't mean we don't have more ready to step up. With our TE usage and 2 NFL receivers we didn't need other WR's to be productive. This staff has proven time and time again they are able to recruit the WR position, just saying welp they lost 2 guys to the NFL is just lazy reporting IMO.

 

[Cyhig]

Denny Green quote: "What's great about America is everyone can have their own opinion. Do you know what else is great about America? You don't have to listen to them"

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I wonder how many of those close wins last year wouldn't have been so close with even semi-healthy LBs?

How much better our run D and our pass rush would have been at even 75% strength?

These "experts" don't have a clue what we dealt with last year.

Yep and with a healthy LB core we probably win both the KU and Texas Tech games. It goes both ways.

 

[3TrueFans]

The problem I have with this statement is that just because we had 2 really productive receivers doesn't mean we don't have more ready to step up. With our TE usage and 2 NFL receivers we didn't need other WR's to be productive. This staff has proven time and time again they are able to recruit the WR position, just saying welp they lost 2 guys to the NFL is just lazy reporting IMO.

There's no way for anyone to know if others are ready to step up at this point, it's just an opinion. It's not unreasonable to look at a team losing two NFL receivers and thinking the production won't be as good, just like it's not unreasonable to think the opposite given our history at the position.

 

[EnkAMania]

We thought last year's schedule was difficult at this time last year, especially the trip to Salt Lake City...

We were crying foul because we had to play Utah and Kansas State back to back.