Iowa State 2021 Football Preview

2020 Recap

Iowa State didn’t get off to a good start in 2020. After an unpredictable and difficult off-season the first game of the season was a struggle offensively and Iowa State stumbled out of the gate with a 31 – 14 loss to Louisiana. The loss could have derailed the season, but the Cyclones came together and put together an excellent season.

The Cyclones rebounded with a shootout win over TCU and a come from behind prime-time win against Oklahoma. Iowa State reached 3 – 1 with a win over Texas Tech, but lost a close contest to Oklahoma State 24 – 21. Again, the team rebounded, this time running off five straight wins to close out the regular season and secure their first regular season Big 12 Championship.

The rematch with Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game did not go Iowa State’s way, but the Cyclones ended the season with a 34 – 17 win over Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. The season was a breakthrough for the program and provided a foundation for the team to build on in 2021.

2020 Leaders

Projected Starters

Reasons For Optimism

Returning Talent on Offense

The Cyclones return as much talent as any team in the country in 2021. The team was very successful in 2020 and will bring back almost all of the key contributors from last season. Quarterback Brock Purdy is back to lead the offense and will have superstar running back, Breece Hall, beside him in the backfield. Iowa State has their top two receiving weapons back as well with Charlie Kolar at tight end and Xavier Hutchinson at wide receiver. In fact, four of the Cyclones five leading receivers in 2020 are back in 2021. Up front the offensive line returns seven players with starting experience and has the talent and depth to control games at the line of scrimmage. The offense is set-up to be even better in 2021 than it was in 2020 which will be a big problem for opposing defenses.

Defensive Stars All Over

Not to be overshadowed by the offense, Iowa State’s defense also has plenty of firepower returning in 2021. Upfront, Will McDonald is an excellent pass rusher and will create good pressure on opposing quarterbacks. At linebacker, Mike Rose was phenomenal in 2020 and returns as the best player at his position heading into 2021. In the secondary, Greg Eisworth and Isheem Young are two of the best safeties in college football. They are joined by Anthony Johnson, who is one of the best cornerbacks in the conference. The defense has impact players returning at each level and will be difficult to consistently move the ball against.

Matt Campbell’s Extension

The biggest reason for Iowa State fans to be optimistic in 2021 and beyond is the extension that Matt Campbell signed this off season. He has elevated the program to new heights and was mentioned as a target in several head coaching searches this year, but instead committed to continuing to build the Iowa State program. Campbell has proven he is an excellent leader, who evaluates talent and develops players at a high level. The Iowa State program should continue to build under Campbell’s leadership and will be a force in the Big 12 as long as he is at the helm.

Causes For Concern

Can Purdy Eliminate the Bad Games?

Obviously the quarterback position impacts the game more than any other in college football. Despite, Brock Purdy’s success at Iowa State he has had some poor performances that were out of character and cost his team in key games. Against Louisiana, Purdy averaged just 4.1 yards per pass attempt and passed for just 145 yards in a 31 – 14 loss. Against Oklahoma State he managed just 4.8 yards per pass attempt and passed for 162 yards in a 24 – 21 loss. In the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma he threw three interceptions including a game sealing one in Oklahoma territory in a 27 – 21 loss. These three performances were key factors in all three of the Cyclone’s losses in 2020. Purdy will need to avoid these negative performances in 2021 to maximize the potential of the team in 2021.

Replacing JaQuan Bailey.

Much of this preview has focused on the talent returning to Ames in 2021, but there is one big loss that will need to be adequately replaced this season. JaQuan Bailey was a consistent force on the defensive line over the course of his career. He recorded double digit tackles for loss three times in his career, including the 2020 season which he finished with 13 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Bailey’s presence made things easier for Will McDonald and the rest of the Cyclones defensive front. Not only could Bailey wreck an offensive game-plan (3.5 sacks against TCU), but he also made offensive coaches scheme to contain him, creating opportunities for his teammates. Will McDonald is back in 2021, but someone will have to help him on the defensive line and fill Bailey’s shoes.

2021 Schedule

Top 25 Players

2021 Projection

The two toughest games on the schedule are the rivalry game at home against Iowa and a road showdown with an Oklahoma team that also returns a plethora of talent. The Cyclones have a more talented roster and are better positioned for success than all of the other teams on their schedule in 2021. Obviously there will be tough games along the way, but the Cyclones are better than the likes of Texas, Oklahoma State, TCU and Kansas State in 2021. Assuming Iowa State wins one of two against Iowa and Oklahoma, the Cyclones are likely to win more than ten games and will probably finish the regular season 11 – 1 and play for the Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff berth.