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

Iowa State Cyclones dominate Syracuse, but miss out on major prize money due to a controversial tournament format—did the Players Era Festival unfairly snub one of college basketball’s hottest teams? Nick Marovets breaks down the Cyclones’ commanding 95-64 win, powered by Milan Momcilovic’s breakout performance and Killian Torre’s rapid rise as a potential NBA prospect. Key discussion points inclu...

The Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team has launched its season as an undeniable national contender, quickly erasing any preseason doubts about their roster turnover. Now ranked No. 15, the 6-0 Cyclones have demonstrated elite two-way capability, highlighted by an outstanding run in the Players Era tournament. Their gutsy 83-82 victory over No. 14 St. John’s was a critical test, proving they...

Iowa State’s convincing 38-14 victory over Kansas serves as a compelling case study that Offensive Coordinator Taylor Mouser has, at last, finalized the blueprint for this Cyclone attack. The win was less about explosiveness and more about methodical, clock-controlling execution, anchored by a dominant commitment to the run game. Iowa State rushed the ball a staggering 50 times for 221 yards, a co...

Iowa State's commanding 38-14 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks this past weekend was a defining moment of their season, securing the Cyclones' seventh win and demonstrating their full potential. The win, which snapped a three-game skid against Kansas, was fueled by a return to form from the offense, anchored by quarterback Rocco Becht, and a stout performance from a defense that suffocated the Kan...

The upcoming clash between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas Jayhawks at Jack Trice Stadium is a high-stakes Big 12 affair, pitting Iowa State's defensive discipline against Kansas's offensive dynamism. Under head coach Matt Campbell, the Cyclones are known for their staunch defense and grind-it-out mentality. This approach is anchored by quarterback Rocco Becht, who, despite recent struggles...

Utah and BYU deserve College Football Playoff spots over Notre Dame and Alabama. Is the committee finally ready to respect Big 12 football? Drake and the Locked On Big 12 Squad break down the latest CFP rankings controversy, with JT Worcestershill defending Utah's dominant 35-point average margin of victory against critics who favor traditional powers. The panel analyzes Texas dropping seven spots...

The upcoming clash between Head Coach Matt Campbell's Iowa State Cyclones and Lance Leipold's Kansas Jayhawks hinges on the Cyclones' ability to execute a precise game plan on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the primary objective is neutralizing the dual-threat capability of quarterback Jalon Daniels. This task falls heavily on defensive tackle Dominique Orange up front to generate interior p...

The Iowa State Cyclones’ offense has been characterized by frustrating inconsistency this season, often failing to sustain momentum despite possessing proven Big 12 talent. As the team prepares for a pivotal late-season matchup against Kansas, immediate and aggressive tactical adjustments are necessary to unlock their unit’s full potential. The required shift is not centered on personnel, but on t...

As the Iowa State football season enters its final weeks, the team's offensive strategy requires a critical adjustment: a renewed commitment to the ground game. While quarterback Rocco Becht has shown flashes of brilliance during the team's winning streaks, his recent stretch, marked by inconsistency and a concerning turnover rate—including seven interceptions in recent games—suggests the passing...

Iowa State men's basketball is poised for a significant uplift this season, fueled not just by the expected veteran leadership but by an incoming class of newcomers, both transfers and freshmen, who are projected to make a more immediate and profound contribution than many across the national landscape. While established stars like point guard Tamin Lipsey, who guides the defensive tone, and forwa...

Iowa State’s bowl bid is more than a reward for a successful season; it’s a high-stakes opportunity to reshape the national college football hierarchy. As bowl projections solidify, the Cyclones are likely to draw a foe from the perceived power duo of the SEC or Big Ten. This matchup carries an outsized importance, serving as a direct referendum on the Big 12’s standing against its wealthier count...

  The argument that BYU and Utah are undervalued by the College Football Playoff Committee often centers on a deep-seated institutional and brand bias that favors traditional powerhouses. Despite both teams—especially after joining the new P4 conference—amassing solid resumes, the committee’s ranking logic appears inconsistent when compared to peer teams from the SEC or Big Ten. For BYU, the under...

The era of T.J. Otzelberger has fundamentally shifted the paradigm of Iowa State men's basketball, transforming the program from a yearly contender into a burgeoning national powerhouse. Securing another consensus top-20 recruiting class, the third in just five cycles under his leadership, is not just a momentary success; it’s a tangible confirmation of a sustainable, long-term trajectory toward a...

The blurring line between amateur and professional basketball, fueled by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funds, presents an existential threat to programs like Iowa State. While the current eligibility rules primarily allow international players and those from defunct leagues like G League Ignite to return, the hypothetical scenario of established G League players simply paying back a fraction of...

Iowa State’s dominant 96-80 victory over Mississippi State provides compelling evidence that the Cyclones are genuine contenders for the Big 12 basketball title this season. Following the departures of Keshon Gilbert and Curtis Jones, many speculated whether T.J. Otzelberger’s squad could maintain its identity and high level of play. This early-season performance against a strong SEC opponent answ...

Iowa State's dramatic 20-17 victory over TCU was more than just a win; it was a powerful statement about the team’s inherent resolve. Trailing 17-6 early in the fourth quarter, after TCU had scored 17 unanswered points, this was the moment when, traditionally, the Cyclones might have folded, letting their four-game skid continue. Instead, they answered the bell with tremendous fight, showcasing a...

The Cyclones' gritty 20-17 victory over TCU was a testament not to offensive fireworks, but to incredible resilience, particularly from a beleaguered defense. Facing the highly-touted Horned Frogs, Iowa State's success was rooted in a bend-but-don't-break mentality that limited TCU to just 17 points, despite the team missing six original defensive starters—four in the secondary alone—due to a brut...

The matchup between the Iowa State Cyclones and the TCU Horned Frogs has become a pivotal, season-defining moment, specifically for coordinator performance. While head coach Matt Campbell’s job security remains high, the pressure cooker is certainly on offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock. Mouser's offense, which has shown flashes of brilliance, has recently st...

The College Football Playoff rankings have been revealed, and now have massive implications for the Week 11 matchup between the BYU Cougars and Texas Tech Red Raiders. How does the Big 12 move forward from these rankings? Can they fit three teams in with the Utah Utes also in striking distance? All that and more on the Big 12 Squad.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNQsWmyf0LCFUKr01QZ2LQ     Lo...

The Week 11 clash between the Iowa State Cyclones and the TCU Horned Frogs is a high-stakes Big 12 Football showdown, pivotal for both programs. For Iowa State, the motivation is immense: ending a frustrating four-game losing streak and regaining momentum that saw them ranked as high as 12th earlier in the season. The Cyclones need stability from quarterback Rocco Becht , whose recent struggles ha...

The Iowa State men’s basketball season has started with a resounding statement, as the Cyclones claimed a dominant victory over Fairleigh Dickinson to move to 1-0 . The performance was stellar, hinting that a truly fun season is on the horizon if the team can maintain this intensity. The clear catalyst for the blowout was junior Milan Momcilovic , who had a career night. He led the offense, showca...

While Rocco Becht’s recent performance including four interceptions over his last three games has been frustrating, it is not the time for Iowa State to bench him for backup Alex Manske. This impatience violates a core principle of team management: the grass is not always greener. Manske, a promising true freshman and Elite 11 finalist, has minimal college experience, and inserting him now risks a...

The Iowa State Cyclones’ football season has devolved from a promising 5-0 start, which saw the team ranked in the top 15, into a severe crisis of confidence following their fourth consecutive loss, a 24-19 defeat at home to Arizona State. This latest setback, perhaps the most jarring of the four, signals a deep-seated malfunction within the Cyclone building. The team entered the game as a favorit...

This weekend's CFB Week 10 clash between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils is far more than a mid-season college football contest; it's a volatile Big 12 Championship rematch. Though both programs, currently sitting at 5-3, are likely outside the College Football Playoff picture and the immediate Big 12 standings race, the historical bad blood and high stakes for bowl eligib...

Could the Big 12 end up having three different schools in the expanded 12-team college football playoff? The BYU Cougars, Texas Tech Red Raiders and Houston Cougars all have a shot. What do we make of the Utah Utes being handed College Gameday this weekend ahead of their matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats? Is that a big win for the Big 12?   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNQsWmyf0LCFUKr01QZ2...