Where is Iowa State football predicted in Big 12?

Matt Campbell has built a program in Ames, as the head coach put Iowa State football in uncharted territory last year. Now, the task at hand is doing it all again in a loaded Big 12 Conference.

The Cyclones set a program record by winning 11 games a year ago, including a bowl victory over Miami. They reached the conference title game, falling to Arizona State.

With quarterback Rocco Becht among the key returning pieces, Athlon Sports has slotted Iowa State into the No. 4 spot in preseason Big 12 rankings. The Cyclones are behind Kansas State, Arizona State and Texas Tech.

Here are some of the key items the outlet noted about Iowa State:

• Iowa State returns 12 starters including quarterback Rocco Becht
• The No. 15 Associated Press final ranking was the second-highest in school history
• Jon Heacock's defense boasts Caleb Bacon and Domonique Orange back in the fold
• The Cyclones averaged over 30 points per game
• Transfers Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend will be counted on to replace NFL Draft selections Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel
• Running backs Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III are both back

Iowa State opens the season with a conference matchup in Ireland, as they take on frontrunner Kansas State. That game could set the tone for the season for either or both teams, as the league saw four finish at 7-2 last year and three more at 6-3.

Here is how Athlon Sports projects the Big 12 Conference standings in 2025:

1. Kansas State
2. Arizona State
3. Texas Tech
4. Iowa State
5. Baylor
6. Utah
7. BYU
8. Kansas
9. TCU
10. Colorado
11. Houston
12. Cincinnati
13. Oklahoma State
14. West Virginia
15. Arizona
16. UCF