IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Iowa State peaked with an 11-3 finish in 2024, reaching the Big 12 Championship Game and winning the Pop-Tarts Bowl for the program's first 11-win season. The 2025 campaign fell back to 8-4 as quarterback Rocco Becht battled shoulder injuries, but four Cyclones were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft including second-round picks Jayden Higgins and Darien Porter. That success drove collector interest in Higgins and Porter cards through their breakout seasons, while Becht's value cooled after his injury-hampered 2025 and subsequent transfer to Penn State following Matt Campbell's departure.

Where they stand: Iowa State enters 2026 in complete rebuild mode under new head coach Jimmy Rogers after Campbell left for Penn State in December 2025. The roster features only 44 returnees out of over 100 players, with Becht and multiple starters following Campbell through the transfer portal. Rogers brought in 44 transfers and eight early enrollee freshmen to reshape the program. The Cyclones are in preseason preparation with their opener scheduled for September 5 against Southeast Missouri.