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AMES, Iowa -- Coming off the best 10-year period in its football history, Iowa State is starting over under Jimmy Rogers after Matt Campbell left for Penn State and took two dozen players with him.
The 39-year-old Rogers understands the new version of the Cyclones will take some getting used to for the fans who in 2025 set a school attendance record at Jack Trice Stadium.
"I know there's a lot of people that are skeptical and maybe hurt by the exodus of players," Rogers said Wednesday at the team's media day. "The reality is they were coming to Iowa State to support Iowa State and they want a football team that's extremely competitive and wants to play and represent something bigger than themselves. We're all in this together. I'm not saying it's going to be an easy road throughout the season."
Iowa State has no returning starters and leads the Football Bowl Subdivision with 82 newcomers, including 15 who came with Rogers from Washington State. Only nine of the new players transferred from Power Four schools, the same number who came from the second-tier Football Championship Subdivision. Mixed in are a half-dozen players from the Division II and NAIA ranks.
Rogers, who signed a six-year contract with a starting salary of $3 million per year, has done all he can to convince his players he believes in them. He acknowledged two weeks ago that he picked Iowa State to win the Big 12 championship in an On3 survey of conference coaches.
Las Vegas, however, has set the over-under for Iowa State wins at 4.5 and an unofficial media poll picked the Cyclones last in the Big 12.
"You don't want to focus too much on it because it can become a distraction if you allow it to," quarterback Jaylen Raynor said. "It's something we've addressed. It's not something we'll use as fuel or motivation. But it does put a chip on your shoulder as a team. A lot of people don't expect us to do certain things. We're not too worried about that. We're worried about our own expectations and proving ourselves right rather than proving people wrong."
Running back Aiden Flora, among 22 returning letter winners, said Campbell's departure had him feeling felt the same apprehension he did as an incoming freshman. Though he had been in the program for two years, Flora had to learn a lot of names and get comfortable with new teammates.
"I think we're going to be very good," Flora said. "We're ready to go out and play some football and be brothers on the field. Our connection is unbelievable right now, how close we are as a team."
Sanders subpoenaed
A deputy with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office showed up at the University of Colorado campus last week to serve civil papers to Deion Sanders while the football coach was at an open practice and inaccessible.
The officer was informed the Buffaloes coach was "unavailable at the time to receive receipt of the papers," according to a spokesperson with the department. Sanders is being subpoenaed to testify as part of a bankruptcy trial involving his son Shilo that begins on Aug. 31, according to USA Today.
Becht on watch list
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Penn State redshirt senior quarterback Rocco Becht was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List on Wednesday.
The Golden Arm Award continues to honor excellence both on and off the field. The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation in partnership with A.O. Smith Corporation, whose mission aligns with the foundation's commitment to advancing the game of football while promoting character, leadership and academic achievement among young athletes.
Juniata picked No. 7
The Landmark Conference released its 2026 preseason football poll on Wednesday.
Juniata is picked to finish seventh in the conference behind Moravian.
Susquehanna comes in at No. 1 in the poll, while Lycoming is picked as the runner-up. Wilkes, Western Connecticut, and Catholic rounded out the top five.