Iowa State Cyclones face massive rebuild after Matt Campbell exodus to Penn State
In a stunning turn of events that has reshaped Iowa State football, the Cyclones are entering the 2026 season with a near-total roster overhaul after legendary coach Matt Campbell departed for Penn State, taking 23 players and three assistant coaches with him. New head coach Jimmy Rogers now faces one of the toughest rebuilds in college football, tasked with proving that Iowa State's recent success wasn't solely tied to Campbell.
What happened to Iowa State football under Matt Campbell?
Campbell transformed the Cyclones from a perennial doormat into a powerhouse. When he arrived in 2016, Iowa State hadn't won 10 games in a season since 2000. By 2024, Campbell led the team to an 11-3 record and a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory, setting the program record for wins in a season. He became the winningest head coach in Iowa State history, with eight winning seasons in nine years after his initial 3-9 campaign.
But in October 2025, Penn State fired longtime coach James Franklin, setting off a high-profile coaching search. After BYU's Kalani Sitake turned down the job, the Nittany Lions landed Campbell, who took offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, and safeties coach Deon Broomfield with him to State College.
How many players transferred from Iowa State to Penn State?
The exodus was staggering. According to On3, 103 Iowa State players transferred out, while 50 transferred in. Quarterback Rocco Becht and tight end Ben Brahmer were among the 23 players who followed Campbell to Penn State. The roster turnover left the Cyclones with just a handful of returning players.
Who is new Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers?
Rogers came to Ames after a 6-6 season at Washington State. Before that, he led South Dakota State to an FCS national championship in 2023, capping a perfect 15-0 season. He brings a reputation for toughness and discipline, but his task is monumental.
Rogers brought in Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor, who threw for 3,361 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions last season with a 66.5% completion rate. Raynor will lead an offense with an entirely new offensive line and a receiving corps led by Cody Jackson (799 yards, 6 TD at Tarleton State), Omari Hayes (515 yards, 1 TD at Tulane), and Dominic Overby, one of the few holdovers from last year's Cyclones team. Running back Aiden Flora also returns after contributing 58 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus 380 return yards.
Rogers praised Raynor's leadership:
“The most impressive thing about Jaylen is he's extremely talented. You can see that throughout his career. He's been a three-year starter. He took over at starter position three games into his freshman year. He isn't one to ever become complacent, but he's an unbelievable leader. People naturally gravitate to him. In a roster of what is 84 new players, but 125 new players to him, the ability to be one week into a program and learn every player's name and create a nickname for them and those players to naturally gravitate toward his spirit and who he is and what he's about has been extremely impactful for us as a staff to have a guy like that that people want to be around, people want to listen to, and they're inspired by how he works.”
What does the Iowa State defense look like in 2026?
The defense is in better shape than the offense. Returning players include defensive tackle Zaimir Hawk, linebacker Carson Willich, and cornerback David Coffey. Rogers also brought defensive tackle Bryson Lamb, defensive end Isaac Terrell, and safety Duhron Goodman from Washington State. Defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit, who helped Washington State rank No. 15 nationally in yards allowed per game last season, will run the defense.
Can Jimmy Rogers rebuild Iowa State football?
Most college football prognosticators have the Cyclones at the bottom of the 16-team Big 12 this season. But Rogers is focused on establishing a new identity.
“Toughness. Toughness. A team that will buy into one another. A team that will be united when they step on the field together and that they have precise clarity what their intention is to accomplish something that they said that they were passionate about, and then having an unfaltering focus to finish, to be their best and to give their best to their teammates,” Rogers said.
The big question: Was Iowa State's success solely due to Campbell, or can another coach have sustained success in Ames? Time will tell, but Rogers has a multiyear rebuild on his hands.
2026 Iowa State Cyclones at a glance
- 2025 record: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)
- Key losses: QB Rocco Becht, TE Ben Brahmer, 23 players to Penn State
- Key additions: QB Jaylen Raynor (Arkansas State), multiple Washington State transfers
- Returning starters: Few, but includes DT Zaimir Hawk, LB Carson Willich, CB David Coffey, RB Aiden Flora