Rob Gray

Will the Cyclones have depth at receiver? Will the offensive line be a strength? Lots of questions remain ahead of Iowa State football media day.

Kansas State expects to contend for a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The Cyclones’ ample returning production on both sides of the ball and recent success in the series will, at minimum, give them a chance to play spoiler.

The Big 12 beckoned amid last summer’s conference realignment-based tumult, and Utah appears poised to stand atop its new league from Week 0. Big 12 media members made the Utes the favorite to win the conference title — and given the star power that returns, it’s easy to see why.

Dishon Jackson’s presence and production will be crucial for the 2024-25 Iowa State men’s basketball team. T.J. Otzelberger and his staff already feel good about Jackson’s development over the past six weeks.

Change has been constant for Cincinnati football since head coach Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin and Scott Satterfield replaced his last season, but there’s enough talent — and transfer portal help — to improve from a disappointing 3-9 mark.

His football camp for the central Iowa town’s youngsters had just ended on a sultry and breezy Saturday afternoon — and Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht needed to give back one last time, in the form of a $7,500 check to benefit Perry Youth Football, Inc.

Iowa State fans hope to turn Arrowhead Stadium into a Jack Trice Stadium South of sorts on Nov. 9, but Kansas is coming off back-to-back bowl-worthy seasons for the first time since 2007-08.

Star running back Tahj Brooks and Texas Tech will likely roll into Ames on Nov. 2 as a ranked team. The Red Raiders’ 2024 slate features just one team (Arizona) that posted a winning record before they sidle into Jack Trice Stadium to face Iowa State in Week 8.

The UCF Knights flexed their NIL muscle in the offseason and will bring a deeper team with considerable star power into their Oct. 19 meeting with Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium.

West Virginia football coach Neal Brown not only saved his job, but also established goodwill after guiding the Mountaineers to their first season featuring nine wins or more since 2016. West Virginia is poised to build off of that in 2024 — and will get to face Matt Campbell’s Cyclones in Morgantown.

Just three seasons ago, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda led the Bears to a Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss But the program has been reeling ever since.

Curtis Jones establised himself as one of Iowa State head basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger’s most clutch performers — a role he’s eager to reprise this season, whether starting or coming off the bench.

The Houston Cougars football program ’s entering a new era and will face Iowa State for the first time in program history on Sept. 28 at home.

Arkansas State has been in rebuilding mode under head coach Butch Jones, but attained bowl eligibility in 2023 after suffering through four consecutive losing seasons. Unless the Cyclones turn the ball over multiple times, this should be a reasonably comfortable win after a close first half.

Iowa State hasn’t been able to get out of its own way against Iowa, and has lost six of seven meetings in the series in often gut-wrenching ways. Will the 2024 rendition of the rivalry game be any different?