Since earning a season-ending No. 9 final ranking in 2020, Iowa State has sputtered to an 18-20 record over the past three seasons.
The Cyclones are hoping to resurface this season. They begin the quest on Saturday when they battle FCS program North Dakota in Ames, Iowa.
The Fighting Hawks are ranked 22nd in the FCS Coaches Poll so Iowa State (7-6 in 2023) is aware the club isn’t a pushover. Then again, Cyclones coach Matt Campbell sees a schedule full of tough games, including Big 12 play.
“We’ll be tested,” Campbell said. “We’ll see if we can handle the ups and downs of a season and with results, both good and bad.”
Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht is expecting bigger things after setting school freshman records for passing yardage (3,120) and touchdowns (23) last season while earning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.
“I think my confidence has tremendously risen in a way that I didn’t expect,” Becht said. “I feel like that comes from the respect I get from my teammates and the trust that the coaches have in me.”
Top receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel return. Higgins had a team-best 983 yards while catching 53 passes, six for touchdowns. Neal led in receptions (66) and receiving scores (seven) while accumulating 820 yards.
Defensively, Beau Freyler (team-high 107 tackles) and fellow safety Jeremiah Cooper (team-best five interceptions) are back.
North Dakota went 7-5 last season and qualified for the FCS playoffs before losing 42-35 to Sacramento State in the first round.
However, star quarterback Tommy Schuster transferred to Michigan State following the season. Schuster is the school record holder in passing yards (9,075) and touchdown passes (63).
Junior Simon Romfo, who threw two passes last season, was named the starter on Aug. 19 after beating out redshirt freshman Jerry Kaminski in fall camp.
“I think there’s going to be some nerves, but I think mostly just excitement,” Romfo said of starting against the Cyclones. “Obviously, it’ll be just a really big deal, and excitement would probably be the word that I’d use.”
The presence of standout receiver Bo Belquist will help. Belquist has 206 career receptions, 10 behind program leader Greg Hardin.
Defensively, Wyatt Pedigo had a team-high 73 tackles and led the FCS with four fumble recoveries in 2023. Fellow inside linebacker Malachi McNeal was second on the squad with 68 stops.
North Dakota hasn’t beaten an FBS opponent since scoring a 24-13 win at Wyoming to open the 2015 season.
This is the first meeting between the schools.
