Arizona faces its toughest challenge of the season when the Wildcats trek to Ames, Iowa, to face the 14th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones for their Big 12 opener at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.
The Cyclones are off to their second 4-0 start in as many years with wins over Kansas State, South Dakota, Iowa and Arkansas State.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said Iowa State’s defense is “really good at attacking the football.” The Cyclones have the fifth-best passing defense in the Big 12, surrendering 176 yards per game, and are tied for third in the league with four interceptions; the UA is higher in both categories.
“They do a hell of a job that way,” Brennan said of Iowa State. “They do a hell of a job attacking the ball.”
Besides its defensive secondary’s pass coverage, Iowa State doesn’t do anything that jumps off the stat sheet. The Cyclones have the 13th-best offense and eighth-best defense in the Big 12, and the Wildcats are statistically better in a plethora of offensive and defensive categories.
However, the Cyclones are disciplined and efficient. Iowa State ranks in the top half of the conference in offensive and defensive efficiency, and it leads the Big 12 in punt return average (39.3 yards), which contributes to field position. Iowa State is also fourth in the Big 12 in third-down conversions — first in fourth-down conversions, while also having the third-best fourth-down defense in the conference.
Iowa State also has the fewest penalty yards in the Big 12 this season, while the Wildcats are third-to-last. Arizona (25) has more than double the amount of penalties Iowa State (12) has compiled this season — in one fewer game.
The Cyclones are led by 10th-year head coach Matt Campbell, who is 68-51 all-time at Iowa State with seven postseason appearances and two appearances in the Big 12 championship. The heart and soul of the ISU football program at the moment is junior quarterback Rocco Becht, who is statistically one of Iowa State’s best quarterbacks in program history.
To get a closer evaluation of the Cyclones, we spoke to Des Moines Register columnist and Iowa State insider Travis Hines this week. Here’s part of that interview:
Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, left, celebrates with his trophy as teammate defensive lineman J.R. Singleton (58) cheers after Iowa State defeated Miami in Orlando, Fla.
How did Iowa State become successful under Campbell?
A: “There’s lots of variables that go into that. But I think the thing that is consistent over the course of 10 years has been that they haven’t skipped any steps. There hasn’t been a flash in the pan that they were able to build on. They had a huge year in 2020, where they went out to your neck of the woods and won the Fiesta Bowl.
“They weren’t able to immediately build on that success, but a couple of years later, they’re back to seven wins. Last year, they had 11 wins, which is a program record. This year, they’re 4-0 for the second time in as many years. They’ve been able to slowly build and build and build to where the good years — before Campbell — would’ve been the best years in program history.
“Now, the best years under Campbell are the best years in program history and are nationally relevant. It’s really just been a slow and consistent build over a decade.”
Campbell has been approached by other colleges and NFL teams, like the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, for their head coaching vacancies. Why do you think Campbell has been so loyal to Iowa State over the last decade?
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell reacts during the first half against West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va., Oct. 12, 2024.
A: “I think he’s got most of everything that he wants from a job in Ames and at Iowa State, where he’s able to run a program the way that he wants to, which is a slow build, a developmental program, where they can be a relationship program rather than a transactional one, which is what you’re seeing at high-level programs across the country.
“Iowa State is able to do it a different way and I think it’s more true to the way Campbell wants to run and build the program. He’s making $5 million a year here. He can certainly double that at some places, but has decided to stay at a place where he can feel like he can win at a high level consistently. We’ll see if that continues for the next 10 years, but Campbell has made it pretty well known that he’s a loyal guy and he’s backed that up with his actions.”
When it’s all said and done, how do you see Becht placing in the hierarchy of all-time quarterbacks at Iowa State?
A: “He’s climbing the ladder. I think Brock Purdy is most people’s No. 1. There’s an argument for Seneca Wallace, though Seneca was only at Iowa State for two years. Sage Rosenfels had a nice run in the late ’90s and early 2000s before a long NFL career. I think Rocco Becht, at the end of this year, assuming he stays healthy and has a productive season, he’ll be in the top three of every Iowa State quarterback statistic.
“He’s very reminiscent of Brock Purdy. Everything begins with his leadership. The way that he leads the team, the way that he leads the offense, the way he leads a huddle, it’s really his superpower because he doesn’t overwhelm you with physical traits.
“Nothing jumps off the page at you and he’s not at the top of anyone’s draft boards, but when the moment gets big and the stakes get high, he’s at his best. That’s exactly what Brock Purdy was for Iowa State as a four-year starter, and that’s what Rocco has done in his third year with Iowa State.”
Three of Iowa State’s top five receivers are tight ends. Has the tight end position been a key part of ISU’s fabric as a program?
A: “They’ve always loved using a tight end. They never shied away from using two or three tight ends at the same time, and it’s really gotten super-charged over the last year and a half. Taylor Mouser, Iowa State’s offensive coordinator, just so happens to be the current tight ends coach. They are very much a part of the offense. It’s not a desire for Iowa State, but they’re utilizing their talent. ... It’s not a preference thing, it’s just maximizing their talent and they’ve been able to field some good talent.”
Iowa State defensive back Jeremiah Cooper looks on after a play during the Big 12 Conference championship between Arizona State and Iowa State, in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 7, 2024. Arizona State won 45-19.
Iowa State cornerback Jeremiah Cooper, the younger brother of former Arizona safety Tristan Cooper, is one of the Cyclones’ top playmakers in that talented defensive secondary. How has he impacted the defense?
A: “Jeremiah Cooper has been one of Iowa State’s best defensive backs for years now. He moved over from safety — where he led the country interceptions two years ago — over to cornerback. They think Jeremiah can be a super effective cornerback where his NFL future lies. It’s also because they really like the young guys on the back end of the secondary.
“Marcus Neal Jr. has maybe been one of their best defenders all season long. They also love freshman Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman. Moving Cooper to corner has allowed those guys to get on the field. They’re young in the secondary, but they’re really talented there. ... It’ll probably be tested on Saturday in a way that it hasn’t been all year — at least since the (Kansas State) opener.”
How is the environment at Jack Trice Stadium for game days?
A young Iowa State fan cheers on the team during a game against Texas Tech, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.
A: “The first thing I’ll say to Arizona fans is just be happy this game is in September and not November, so it’s not quite the climate shock as it otherwise would be. Jack Trice Stadium holds 60,000, and it’s surrounded by parking lots, which means it’s surrounded by tailgating.
“It’s one of the better tailgating setups in the Big 12 and nationally. ... It’s really one of the best environments in the Big 12. It’s friendly and there isn’t a ton of animosity for visiting fans, so nobody has to worry about that, but it does get rowdy, it gets loud and it’s tough for opposing teams to win.”
