Iowa State Football Preview 2025: Season Prediction, Win Total, Top 10 Players, Keys to the Season

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2025 Iowa State Preview
Iowa State Offense Breakdown
Iowa State Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season 

Iowa State Key to the Season

What happened to the pass rush?
The Cyclones were a terror behind the line in 2021 33 sacks. They came up with 39 over the following two seasons.

Almost nothing worked last year after the first few games, finishing with just 16 sacks. Nine of them were generated in the first four games, and three more came against Texas Tech. Iowa State failed to come up with a sack in six games, so …

Iowa State Key Player

Vontroy Malone, EDGE Jr.
Or Tamatoa McDonough. The Cyclones have to find someone who can blast into the backfield and make opposing teams worry.

Malone made 49 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at Tulsa, and now he’ll be turned loose as a pass rushing specialist.

Iowa State Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Chase Sowell, WR Sr.
A terrific get for the Cyclones, Sowell started out his career at Colorado, left after Deion Sanders came in, and he became a player for East Carolina with 81 catches for 1,300 yards and four scores in two years. He’ll be an instant No. 1 for the Iowa State passing attack.

Top Transfer Out: Tyler Onyedim, DT Sr.
A great-sized tweener who can play inside or out, he turned into a great part of the Cyclone line with 75 tackles and ten tackles for loss over the last two years. He’ll be great in the Texas A&M rotation.

Iowa State Key Game

Kansas State, Aug. 23
It really, really stinks to have the first game of the season - and the Big 12 opener - on August 23rd in Dublin, Ireland, but that’s the deal.

The 29-21 win over the Wildcats last year got the Cyclones into the Big 12 Championship. In such a deep and even conference, there can’t be a loss in Week 0, or hopes to go back to the title game might be gone before the season gets going.
- 2025 Iowa State Schedule Breakdown

Iowa State Top 10 Players

1. Rocco Becht, QB Jr.
2. Jeremiah Cooper, S Sr.
3. Domonique Orange, DT Sr.
4. Jontez Williams, CB Jr.
5. Carson Hansen, RB Jr.
6. Benjamin Brahmer, TE Jr.
7. Chase Sowell, WR Jr.
8. Gabe Berkle, TE Jr.
9. Caleb Bacon, LB Sr.
10. Kyle Konrady, PK Soph.

Iowa State 2024 Fun Stats

- 4th Down Conversions: Iowa State 20-of-25 (80%), Opponents 12-of-22 (55%)

- 4th Quarter Scoring: Iowa State 139, Opponents 58

- Penalties: Opponents 92 for 789 yards, Iowa State 53 for 392 yards

Iowa State 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

Like last season, for good and for bad, Iowa State doesn’t have any one game that it can’t win. Why is that bad?

EVERY game is a toss-up, including the letdown date - coming off the Iowa showdown - at Arkansas State. That’s put into the win column because Iowa State should be far better, but even that should be a fight.

The Cyclones might be even better, but the Big 12 is stronger, too. Oklahoma State and Arizona will be back to form, and road games at Cincinnati, Colorado, and TCU won’t be a breeze.

There’s no Texas Tech and Utah to deal with - that's a massive break - and not having to play Baylor is a good thing. However, not playing rebuilding UCF and West Virginia teams will sting.

Set The Iowa State Win Total At … 6.5

Likely Wins: at Arkansas State

50/50 Games: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, at Cincinnati, at Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State (in Dublin), at Oklahoma State, at TCU

Likely Losses: No sure-thing projected losses

2025 Iowa State Preview
Iowa State Offense Breakdown
Iowa State Defense Breakdown