Phil Steele gives forecast for Iowa State in 2023

In recent years under Matt Campbell, Iowa State has been a program that hangs around the area of Big 12 contention, making the title game in 2020. Last season was the Cyclones’ first losing record since 2016, winning just one conference game. Hosting West Virginia saved them from going winless in the Big 12.

Members of the media expect improvement from Iowa State but not too much. They were picked 10th in the Big 12 preseason poll, sitting ahead of three new conference members and the aforementioned West Virginia. Nobody believes the Cyclones have a chance at competing for a spot in Arlington.

College football expert Phil Steele feels the same way, for the most part. A few of his projections are all over the place for Iowa State, with the majority calling for a losing season in Ames. But there is one of them that feels like a historic season could be on the horizon and one the fan base would be pretty pumped up about.

“While my main set of power ratings calls for a losing season, I have seven that call for bowl eligibility,” Steele said. “And one that calls for 10-2.”

In a world where Iowa State goes 10-2, it would be the most wins in one season in program history. Just three times have they earned nine. The 2020 season with the Big 12 Championship game was one of them thanks to a Fiesta Bowl win against Clemson.

However, the more realistic scenario is some struggles for the Cyclones. Campbell’s team really struggled to run the ball last season, averaging just over 100 yards per game. An even scarier stat is an average of 3.3 yards per carry. Jirehl Brock was the leading rusher on the season for 445 yards and just three touchdowns.

The status of quarterback Hunter Dekkers is in question as well, currently being involved in the gambling scandal surrounding the program. Campbell was asked directly about Dekkers’ status while attending Big 12 Media Days but bounced around the question.

If Iowa State is going to be closer to the 10-2 side of the scale compared to a losing season, some offensive questions are going to have to be answered. You have to once again go back to 2016 to find the last time the Cyclones fell below .500 in consecutive seasons.

A huge season ahead in Ames to carry momentum into the new look Big 12.