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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/RJEP22 on 2025-07-09 13:17:44+00:00.
WE’RE GOING THROUGH EACH P4 TEAM’S SCHEDULE AND PICKING EVERY GAME!
Today we have the Iowa State Cyclones!
2024 was a break out year for Matt Campbell and the Cyclones, but a woeful performance in the Big 12 Championship saw them fall just short of making the playoff. Now, QB Rocco Becht is returning along with 8 other returning starters on offense, including both RB’s and most of the OL.
The question marks are at receiver, where they will attempt to replace two NFL receivers through the transfer portal. On defense, they bring back a decent amount, but with only bringing in 2 defensive transfers to start, they’re going to have to lean on a good bit of development in 2025. If the receivers hit and the front 7 holds up, this team has the ceiling to return to the Big 12 Championship and maybe finish the job this time.
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
L vs* Kansas State
W vs South Dakota
L vs Iowa
W @ Arkansas State
BYE
W vs Arizona
L @ Cincinnati
W @ Colorado
BYE
W vs BYU
W vs Arizona State
L @ TCU
BYE
W vs Kansas
W vs Oklahoma State
It’s a pretty standard Big 12 schedule, but the Cy-Hawk game looms large when thinking about their At-Large playoff chances. The away team has won the 5 previous matchups, and this year the Hawkeyes come to Ames.
There isn’t a single auto-loss on the schedule, but there is probably only 3 auto-wins as well. This team had a tendency to play down to their opponents last year and if that continues, I could see them struggling in some road spots this year. The opener is Ireland is a true coin-flip, and I slightly lean KSU in that game. Are they going to lose at Cincinnati? I have no idea, but am I confident they beat Arizona State as well? Not at all.
What I am confident in is the record, just not the path to getting there. I’m happy leaning towards 9 wins over 7 but there are just so many coin-flips on the schedule and it’s not common for the ball to bounce your way 80% of the time in 2 straight seasons. I like the over for the Cyclones, but I’m not taking them to make it to Dallas again.