Locked On Cyclones - Daily Podcast on Iowa State Cyclones Football & Basketball

The annual "Farmageddon" rivalry between Iowa State and Kansas State has just become the must-see college football game of Week 0. This year, the fierce Big 12 contest is moving from the heart of the Midwest to an international stage in Dublin, Ireland. More than just a unique venue, this matchup elevates an already compelling rivalry to a new level of prestige. Both teams enter the season ranked,...

Big 12 football faces an uphill battle for respect. Can the conference overcome media bias and scheduling challenges to earn a spot among college football's elite? Drake and the squad dissect the USA Today coaches poll, questioning Big 12 team rankings and omissions. The panel debates SEC quarterback talent, analyzes Big 12 perception problems, and proposes strategies for boosting the conference's...

The decision of Iowa State and the Big 12 Conference to schedule non-conference football games should prioritize strategic advantage over perceived prestige. A less challenging early-season schedule is, in fact, the most prudent approach for the conference and its teams, offering four distinct benefits. Firstly, the College Football Playoff committee often downplays the significance of early-seaso...

The upcoming Iowa State football season holds immense promise, largely due to the foundational strengths highlighted by Head Coach Matt Campbell. His assessment points to a team poised for significant success, built on both impressive positional depth and an unwavering commitment to intensity. Campbell has consistently emphasized the robust depth across key positions, specifically mentioning lineb...

The preseason coaches poll, a traditional measure of expectations, has delivered a clear message to the Iowa State Cyclones: you are not getting the respect you deserve. The team’s ranking at No. 21 is a complete oversight, a slight that dismisses their recent success and the overall strength of the Big 12 Conference. Coming off an impressive 11-3 season and a significant bowl victory, the Cyclone...

In an era of unprecedented change and financial flux in college football, Matt Campbell's recent contract extension with Iowa State stands as a testament to a different kind of success—one built on culture and shared purpose. While he received a substantial raise, reports indicate Campbell took a "discount" to ensure a greater portion of the university's resources could be allocated to his coachin...

The annual "Farmageddon" rivalry between Iowa State and Kansas State has a rich history, but its ranking at 63rd on a recent list of the top college football rivalries was a collective slap in the face to both programs. Such a low position suggests a lack of national respect, diminishing the passion of a series that has produced classic games and dramatic finishes. This ranking undermines the prid...

Conference realignment shakes up college football landscape. North Carolina eyes SEC move, Miami ponders Big 12 jump. What's next for the ACC? Drake and the Big 12 Squad break down potential conference shifts, analyzing financial motivations and brand impacts. The hosts explore ACC teams as expansion targets, weighing geographic fit and rivalries. Deion Sanders' dramatic health journey and coachin...

While the departure of top wide receivers might seem like a setback for Iowa State, it presents a unique opportunity for quarterback Rocco Becht to elevate his game and, in turn, propel the Cyclones into the Big 12 Championship race. Last season, Becht put up impressive numbers, throwing for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns. However, a significant portion of that production went to now-departed NFL-b...

Iowa State's upcoming football season hinges significantly on the prowess of its defense, which appears poised to carry the team to more victories than the offense. While the offense boasts returning talent, the defensive unit, particularly the defensive line and linebackers, has undergone a transformative improvement from last year. The defensive line, often a cornerstone of Jon Heacock's scheme,...

The recent announcements of Rocco Becht's inclusion on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list, alongside the recognition of two Iowa State defensive backs, Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams , on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, serve as powerful testaments to a growing trust in the Iowa State football program. These prestigious nominations are not merely individual accolades; they collectively s...

The recent decision to cancel the Hilton Coliseum renovation project casts a dark shadow over the future of Iowa State athletics, strongly suggesting that the financial concerns voiced by Athletic Director Jamie Pollard earlier this year are far more serious than initially perceived. This halt in a crucial infrastructure upgrade is not merely a postponement but a stark indicator of significant bud...

The Iowa State Cyclones' linebacker room is poised to be the decisive factor in their season-opening clash against Kansas State. Heading into the new campaign, the unit boasts an exceptional blend of returning talent from injury and battle-tested depth, creating a formidable defensive core that could swing the momentum in Iowa State's favor. Last season saw key linebackers like Caleb Bacon, John K...

Did the Big 12 Conference make a mistake turning down the Memphis Tigers from joining the conference? What value would they add to the conference? The Big 12 Squad debates how the move would have helped or hurt the BYU Cougars, Arizona Sun Devils, Colorado Buffaloes, Houston Cougars, Utah Utes, Arizona Wildcats, Baylor Bears, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Cincinnati Bearcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Iow...

The ongoing evolution of the College Football Playoff (CFP) format has sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding its implications for various conferences. Commissioner Tony Petitti's proposed 4-4-2-2-1 model, while seemingly offering a guaranteed pathway for more leagues, presents a nuanced disadvantage for conferences like the Big 12, and by extension, teams such as Iowa State. Under th...

The recent news of Marcus Zelee's decommitment from Iowa State basketball might, at first glance, appear to be a setback. However, a deeper look reveals that this development, paradoxically, underscores the burgeoning strength and premier status of the Iowa State program. Rather than a negative reflection, Zelee's initial swift decision speaks volumes about the appeal of Ames. Consider the timelin...

The Big 12 Conference's decision to not extend an invitation to Memphis, despite their persistent efforts, was a strategic move that ultimately benefits both the league as a whole and its existing members, particularly Iowa State. While expansion often brings new markets, this particular rejection underscored a commitment to quality over quantity, solidifying the conference's post-realignment iden...

As the 2025 college football season approaches, optimism abounds in Ames, Iowa, and much of that hope rests squarely on the shoulders of the Iowa State Cyclones' formidable linebacker corps. This unit, poised to be one of the nation's elite, will undoubtedly be the driving force behind a highly successful campaign, culminating in a pivotal victory over rival Kansas State. The strength of Iowa Stat...

SEC's fear of Big 12 dominance? Conference rivalries heat up as scheduling debates intensify. Is the SEC's late-season "cupcake" strategy a sign of weakness? Jake Hatch and the Big 12 Squad dissect the growing tension between conferences, analyzing Brett Yormark's playoff model impact and Greg Sankey's response. The hosts explore how NIL deals are reshaping recruiting landscapes and team rankings....

The 12-team College Football Playoff format presents a mixed bag for Iowa State football, offering both advantages and disadvantages, largely due to ongoing disagreements among conference leaders. A stable 12-team playoff provides Iowa State a more achievable path to the postseason. The expanded field means a strong 9-3 or 10-2 season, particularly within the competitive Big 12, could realisticall...

The Big 12 Conference, spearheaded by Commissioner Brett Yormark, is a fervent proponent of the 5+11 College Football Playoff format, a structure widely supported by its coaches as the optimal path forward. This proposed 16-team playoff model allocates automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions, with the remaining eleven berths awarded as at-large selections. This approach fund...

Big 12 Media Days Shake Up College Football Landscape. Is a new era of NIL deals and conference realignment on the horizon? Parker Ainsworth, Jake Hatch, and JT Worcestershill break down the biggest stories from Frisco, Texas. The hosts analyze Joey Maguire's call for player contracts, Brett Yormark's firm stance on playoff formats, and the debate over Big 12's depth. Key topics include the enforc...

Kenny Dillingham's assertion that "recruiting is dead, retention is alive" encapsulates a growing sentiment in college football, emphasizing the importance of player development and loyalty in the transfer portal era. While retention is undeniably crucial, this perspective doesn't necessarily diminish the importance of recruiting for every program, especially one like Iowa State. For the Cyclones,...

The recent Big 12 Media Days revealed a significant point of contention among coaches: widespread confusion surrounding the evolving rules of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and college football recruiting. Instead of focusing solely on on-field strategies, many coaches voiced bewilderment over the shifting landscape of player compensation, third-party deals, and compliance, particularly in the wa...

Iowa State's path back to the Big 12 Championship game this season hinges squarely on the shoulders of its formidable defense. Under Coach Matt Campbell, the Cyclones have consistently built a reputation for defensive tenacity, and this year's squad appears poised to continue that tradition, perhaps even elevating it. The preseason Big 12 All-Conference team selections underscore this defensive st...