Countdown to Dublin: A History of the Iowa State Cyclones
By Simon Carroll
College football is back! The 2025 season kicks off on Saturday, with Week 0 headlined by the Aer Lingus College Classic in Dublin. In a two-part series, Simon Carroll previews the two programs taking part this year – this time focusing on the Iowa State Cyclones:
Iowa State University - True Trailblazers
One of the pioneers of the ‘land-grant movement’ in US academics, emphasising and accelerating the accessibility of higher education to all, Iowa State University is one of the oldest public seats of learning in America. Built on three revolutionary ideas, Iowa State’s main principles were college being open to everyone, regardless of pocketbook or gender; practical subjects like agriculture, science, and engineering should be taught along with the traditional classical education; and knowledge should be shared beyond the borders of campus. Opening its doors in 1869, the university had 136 students in its inaugural class, including 37 women. And at its founding ceremony, Board of Trustees President Benjamin Gue laid out this mantra for all to hear:
“It is one of the chief aims of this College to break down the barriers which belong to the darker ages of the past, and open these doors to any of God’s people, whether high or low in social circles, rich or poor, white or black, man or woman.”
Over the next 150 years, Iowa State would be recognized for several significant contributions, including the construction of the first digital computer, the establishment of the first state veterinary medicine school, and advancements in highway technology. Today, it boasts an endowment of nearly $2 billion and an enrollment of more than 30,000 students on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. It’s home to some quirky traditions; for instance, if you walk around Lake LaVerne (home to swans Lancelot & Elaine) silently three times with your beloved, you are destined to be together. A student only officially becomes an Iowa Stater when kissed under the campanile at the stroke of midnight. And in the Memorial Union’s Gold Star Hall, students, staff, faculty and alumni all sidestep the Zodiac bronze relief embedded in the floor to avoid bad luck.
Creating the ‘Clones
23 years after becoming home to Iowa State, Ames had its first official football team of the university. 1892 is the official year the Cyclones were born, although their first full season came two years later, the team boasting a 6-1 record and a 16-8 victory over the University of Iowa, who would go on to be their heated in-state rivals. Following a similar path to their opponents in Dublin on Saturday, Iowa State spent time in both the Missouri Valley and Big Eight conferences, before being enveloped by the Big 12 in 1995. They have a modest history to be proud of, including back to back MVC conference titles in 1911-12, six consensus All-Americans on their roster, and even had Pop Warner moonlighting on their coaching staff in the early days.
The Cyclone nickname is a unique one at the FBS level. It stuck after a 36-0 Iowa State football win in 1895. The Chicago Tribune wrote: “Northwestern might as well have tried to play football with an Iowa cyclone as with the Iowa team it met yesterday.” Their team mascot, ‘Cy’, was born in 1954. Since a cyclone was difficult to depict in costume, a cardinal was selected in a nod to the school colors of cardinal and gold. Those striking colors have been synonymous with Iowa State athletics since the turn of the 20th century – the team originally played in black, silver and gold but changed to cardinal primarily because it was easier to obtain sweaters in that colour.
Iowa State plays their home games in front of 61,500 fans at Jack Trice Stadium, named after the school’s first ever African-American athlete. Sadly, Trice died just three days after playing his first game for the team due to injuries sustained on the football field, having broken his collarbone and later trampled on by the opposition. It is disputed whether he was trampled on purpose or if it was an accident. A statue commemorates him outside of the stadium, and it is the only football venue in the FBS to be named after an All-American.
Long Road To Relevance
Iowa State may have a long history, but it is one notably lacking in success. Often playing in the shadow of their in-state rivals the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Cyclones have just the aforementioned two conference championships to their name, both more than 100 years and two conferences ago. They have finished the season ranked just four times in their history, and have won only four bowl games since their inception. Having worked their way through 32 head coaches, only two of them have recorded a record greater than .500 having been in charge for more than 50 games. And when it comes to individuals, Iowa State is yet to send a player to the NFL Hall of Fame. Traditionally, this is not a school that is accustomed to winning.
But all that appears to have changed with the hire of current head coach Matt Campbell. Campbell had established himself as one of the best coaches in the MAC with five years at Toledo, recording three 9-win seasons and taking the Rockets to the conference title game twice in a row. He was announced as the Cyclones’ new leader on November 29 2015, and after one season finding his feet in Ames, the football program hasn’t looked back. Campbell boasts a 64-51 record with Iowa State, already the winningest coach in the school’s history despite just nine seasons in charge. Those 9 years include seven bowl games and three wins – including the Fiesta Bowl victory over Oregon that saw the school finish 9th in the rankings, the highest position in their history.
Campbell has proven to be a hot commodity in each year’s coaching merry-go-round, both at the college and NFL level. And yet, to date, he has resisted overtures to remain with the Cyclones, instead signing a lucrative contract extension earlier this month. His longevity with the program bodes well ahead of 2025, where Iowa State are expected to compete in a wide open Big 12 Conference.
2025: Season of the Cyclones?
The Cyclones should have every confidence at making a conference run in 2025 after making it to the title game last season. Campbell led his team to 11 wins, two more than the Cyclones had ever recorded in a campaign. This was largely down to an explosive offense led by quarterback Rocco Becht, who had now-NFL duo Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to target. Becht is back and his dual threat abilities will help Iowa State win games, of that there is no doubt. But has Campbell recruited well enough to replace the weapons at his disposal? Transfer receivers Xavier Townsend (UCF) and Chase Sowell (ECU) will need to hit the ground running; speaking of running, a breakout campaign for ball carrier Carson Hansen is a possibility after a 13 touchdown season in 2024.
Where this team should dominate in 2025 is on the other side of the ball. They have legitimate NFL-calibre stars on their roster, including defensive tackle Domonique Orange and corner Jontez Williams, who made four interceptions in his sophomore year. Also giving the Cyclones a boost on defense is the return of linebacker Caleb Bacon, who looked like a superstar in the making in 2023 before a knee injury derailed last year. This is a depth chart that might boast the most talent Campbell has had to work with in his decade in Ames, and it all begins in Dublin on Saturday.
Iowa State always has tough starts to the season, as their non-conference rivalry with Iowa routinely lands in Week 2. The trip to Ireland means a fast start is imperative for their ambitions for 2025, which shouldn’t be limited to just the Big 12 – the Cyclones have the ability not to just get to the playoffs, but make an impact in them too. ‘Farmageddon’ narrowly favours Iowa State, who edge a 54-50-4 historical record. The Wildcats have gone 26-9 in the series since 1989, but the Cyclones have taken five of the last seven. With the two teams so evenly matched, the shootout on the Emerald Isle could go either way, and is a game not to be missed.
SIMON CARROLL
LEAD WRITER/HEAD OF CONTENT
PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST, AND COVERS THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FOR SB NATION.
A huge thank you to Bryce for taking the time to talk to us. Everyone at The Touchown wishes him well in his future career.