Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State Cyclones represent Iowa State University, competing in the Big 12 Conference from Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, named for the program's first Black player who died from injuries in 1923. The Cyclones embody underdog spirit and resilience, with a program that has experienced dramatic improvement under Matt Campbell. Iowa State has cultivated a physical, disciplined identity that has produced conference championship game appearances. The program competes in the Big 12 with the Cy-Hawk rivalry against Iowa defining the non-conference schedule. Cyclone fans pack Jack Trice and have celebrated the program's rise from perennial loser to consistent contender.

Iowa State football began in 1892, and the program spent much of its history in the shadow of Iowa and other regional powers. Jack Trice's legacy lends the stadium and program deep meaning. Matt Campbell's arrival in 2016 transformed the Cyclones into a Big 12 force. Brock Purdy emerged as a star before his NFL success. The rivalry with Iowa—for the Cy-Hawk Trophy—divides the state. Iowa State's 2020 season included a Fiesta Bowl victory and near-College Football Playoff berth. The Cyclones' identity as a program that can compete when given the right leadership has been firmly established.