Ranking the Big 12: #8 (article by Chris Flanagan)

[HornSports Staff]

submitted Today, 11:09 AM in Texas Longhorns Football By Chris Flanagan
 
In anticipation of the 2015 football season, Horn Sports will rank all ten teams in the Big 12 based on where the schools will finish the season.

#8: Iowa State Cyclones

Location: Ames, IA

Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (capacity 55,000)

2015 Recruiting rankings:
70th nationally, 9th Big 12 (247Sports)
102nd nationally, 10th Big 12.(Rivals)

Returning starters: 14 (8 offense / 6 defense)

Preview
Iowa State has good fan support but rarely elite football success. Cyclone supporters seem content with bowl eligibility. If that's the case, ISU should make fans happy with what projects as a bowl eligible team.

Sam Richardson is back at quarterback in his 6th year of eligibility for the Cyclones. ISU has to replace their two best running backs from last season; however, OC Mark Mangino loves to throw the ball and he has a good group of wide receivers to pair with Richardson.

With 46 letterwinners returning and a senior at signal caller, this season should land the Cyclone in their first bowl game since the 2005 Houston Bowl..

Predicted record: 6-6 (3-6 Big 12)

 

[Matt Cotcher]

ISU's nonconference is at home against Northern Iowa, then Iowa (Hawkeyes). Then they play at Toledo.

None of those games are pushovers, but they're all winnable. If the Cyclones manage to go 3-0 and keep Richardson healthy, they're going to be a thorn in the conference's side throughout the season.

They open league play with Kansas & Tech (in Lubbock). At 2-0 in the Big 12, their final 7 games against the top of the conference get interesting.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Northern Iowa, ISU's season opener, is ranked #10 in the preseason FCS poll. Hugely important game for Rhoads & Co.

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[MikeV73]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) https://twitter.com/ChuckCarltonDMN/status/630096018424492032" data-datetime="2011-11-07T20:21:07+00:00">November 7, 2011

Did he bolt OU today? Did some research, he was referring to the ARRIVAL of Mayfield to Hole U.

 

[Juan]

Did he bolt OU today? Did some research, he was referring to the ARRIVAL of Mayfield to Hole U.

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011