With a loss in the Big 12 title game last year, Iowa State fell just short of ending its decades-long quest for a conference championship.

As the Cyclones prepare for the 2025 season, though, they are very much in the hunt to land on top.

This summer, BuffZone is previewing each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2025 season and in this installment we look at Iowa State, which will visit the Buffs in Boulder on Oct. 11.

Last year, Iowa State reached the Big 12 title game for the second time in the past five years but was thumped by Arizona State, 45-19.

Although the Cyclones are still seeking their first conference title since they were Missouri Valley co-champs in 1912 (and 1911), last year was a banner season. They set a program record with 11 wins (previous mark was nine) and head coach Matt Campbell continues to put his team in a position to win.

Despite losing several key players from last year’s run to the title game, Iowa State returns quarterback Rocco Becht, several starters on the offensive line and six starters from a defense that was solid.

Top receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins are now in the NFL (both drafted by the Houston Texans). That duo combined for 167 catches and 2,377 yards, so they’ll be tough to replace.

However, Becht is entering his third season as the starting quarterback, and he has some new weapons. Transfers Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend highlight the receiving corps, while there is a deep group of tight ends.

Top two rushers Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III are both back. Hansen rushed for 752 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Sama rushed for 587 yards and two scores.

A year ago, the Cyclones averaged 31.1 points per game (seventh in the Big 12). With Becht at the helm, it’s a good bet they’ll continue to be able to score around 30 points per game.Defensively, the Cyclones gave up just 22.9 points per game (fourth in the Big 12), but were torched late, in the loss to ASU and in a 42-41 win against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Linebackers were hit hard by injury last year, but Iowa State will get Caleb Bacon back. He was injured in the opener and missed the rest of the year. Kooper Ebel (69 tackles) returns after finishing third on the team in tackles.

Up front, Iowa State was able to hold onto nose tackle Dominique Orange, but it’ll rely on some transfers to bolster that group.

Iowa State was No. 1 in the country last year in pass defense, allowing just 165.6 yards per game. Although there are holes to fill, cornerback Jontez Williams and safety Jeremiah Cooper return.

Certainly, there are question marks going into this year, and it won’t be easy to replace their dynamic duo at receiver. Campbell has built a confident program, though.

Iowa State has been playing football since 1892 and had won nine games in a season just twice before 2020 (in 1906 and 2000). They’ve now hit that mark twice in the past five years, and the Cyclones could be a preseason top-25 team that will contend for the Big 12 title.