The 2020 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented Iowa State University as a member of Big 12 Conference during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Matt Campbell, the Cyclones compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 8–1 in conference play, placing first in the Big 12. Iowa State advanced to the Big 12 Championship Game. In their first conference title game appearance, the Cyclones lost to Oklahoma. Iowa State earned the program's first bid to a New Year's Six bowl game. The Cyclones defeated Oregon in Fiesta Bowl. The team played home games at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
Breece Hall became the first unanimous All-American in school history.
Schedule Iowa State released its 2020 schedule on October 22, 2019. On July 9, 2020, it was announced that the Big Ten Conference would only play games against conference teams, leading to the cancellation of the September 12 game between Iowa State and Iowa."Big Ten Statement on 2020–21 Fall Season". Big Ten Conference. July 9, 2020. The Cyclones added Ball State to the schedule to replace in-state rival Iowa. On August 6, 2020, Iowa State's game against UNLV was canceled and rescheduled for the 2030 season. The Cyclones announced a reconfigured schedule on August 12, 2020, with the addition of Louisiana as their non-conference opponent.
Rankings
Preseason Spring game The Cyclones announced they would cancel spring practice in March and April 2020 and would not hold a spring game due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seating plans On May 26, 2020, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard announced that single-game tickets would not be sold for Iowa State football games for the 2020 season and that only the 30,000 season ticket holders would be permitted to attend games, as a result of the pandemic.
Big 12 media days The Big 12 media days were held on July 21–22, 2020 in a virtual format due to the pandemic. In the Big 12 preseason media poll, Iowa State was picked to finish fourth in the conference.
Game summaries Vs. Louisiana
Statistics LA ISU First downs 14 18 Total yards 272 303 Rushes/yards 35–118 36–158 Passing yards 154 145 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–21–0 16–35–1 Time of possession 27:41 32:19 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 13–21, 154 yds, 1 TD Rushing Trey Ragas 14 CAR, 49 yds, 1 TD Receiving Peter LeBlanc 5 REC, 82 yds, 1 TDIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 16–35, 145 yds, 1 INT Rushing Breece Hall 20 CAR, 103 yds, 1 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 4 REC, 43 yds
At TCU
Statistics ISU TCU First downs 14 27 Total yards 423498 Rushes/yards 28–212 44–99 Passing yards 211399 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–23–0 27–40–1 Time of possession 26:58 33:02 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 18–23, 211 yds, TD Rushing Breece Hall 18 CAR, 154 yds, 3 TD Receiving Landen Akers 2 REC, 60 ydsTCU Passing Max Duggan 16–19, 241 yds, 3 TD, INT Rushing Emari Demercado 8 CAR, 39 yds Receiving Taye Barber 5 REC, 82 yds, TD
Vs. No. 18 Oklahoma
Statistics OKLA ISU First downs 22 23 Total yards 414417 Rushes/yards 33–114 31–135 Passing yards 300282 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–36–1 13–25–0 Time of possession 33:34 26:26 Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Passing Spencer Rattler 25–36, 300 yds, 2 TD, INT Rushing Seth McGowan 12 car, 47 yds Receiving Austin Stogner 5 car, 74 ydsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 12–24, 254 yds, TD Rushing Breece Hall 28 car, 139 yds, 2 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 3 rec, 83 yds, TD
Vs. Texas Tech
Statistics TTU ISU First downs 15 29 Total yards 270516 Rushes/yards 22–58 43–214 Passing yards 212302 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–34–0 32–43–0 Time of possession 19:09 40:41 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Tech Passing Henry Colombi 10–12, 115 yds, TD Rushing Xavier White 7 car, 21 yds Receiving Erik Ezukanma 5 rec, 61 yds, TDIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 32–43, 302 yds, 2 TD Rushing Breece Hall 27 car, 135 yds, 2 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 9 rec, 77 yds
At No. 6 Oklahoma State
Statistics ISU OKST First downs 18 24 Total yards 389 461 Rushes/yards 227 226 Passing yards 162 235 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–34–1 20–29–2 Time of possession 29:56 30:04 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 19–34, 162 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Breece Hall 20 CAR, 185 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 8 REC, 68 YDS, 1 TDOklahoma State Passing Spencer Sanders 20–29, 235 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Chuba Hubbard 25 CAR, 139 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Tylan Wallace 5 REC, 76 YDS
At Kansas
Statistics ISU KAN First downs 26 15 Total yards 552 240 Rushes/yards 35–258 34–73 Passing yards 294 167 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–36–1 18–33–1 Time of possession 31:13 28:47 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 23–34, 239 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Breece Hall 21 CAR, 185 YDS, 2 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 5 REC, 87 YDS, 1 TDKansas Passing Jalon Daniels 16–29, 165 YDS, 1 INT Rushing Jalon Daniels 16 CAR, 36 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Kwamie Lassiter II 5 REC, 66 YDS
Vs. Baylor
Statistics BAY ISU First downs 17 23 Total yards 366362 Rushes/yards 27–71 41–198 Passing yards 295164 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–33–02 15–24–3 Time of possession 26:55 33:05 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Charlie Brewer 22–33, 295 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Charlie Brewer 10 car, 29 yds Receiving R.J. Sneed 6 rec, 93 yds, TDIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 32–43, 302 yds, 2 TD Rushing Breece Hall 27 car, 135 yds, 2 TD Receiving Charlie Kolar 3 rec, 45 yds, TD
Vs. Kansas State
Statistics KSU ISU First downs 9 26 Total yards 149539 Rushes/yards 28–73 44–240 Passing yards 76299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–19–1 19–25–0 Time of possession 23:05 36:55 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Nick Ast 6–10, 44 yds Rushing Deuce Vaughn 7 car, 44 yds Receiving Chabastin Taylor 2 rec, 37 ydsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 16–20, 236 yds, 3 TD Rushing Breece Hall 15 car, 135 yds, 2 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 6 rec, 111 yds, TD
At No. 17 Texas
Statistics ISU TEX First downs 25 21 Total yards 433 448 Rushes/yards 33-121 35-145 Passing yards 312 303 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–36–0 18–30–0 Time of possession 32:57 27:03 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 25–36, 312 YDS, TD Rushing Breece Hall 20 CAR, 91 YDS, TD Receiving Charlie Kolar 6 REC, 131 YDSTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 17–29, 298 YDS, TD Rushing Sam Ehlinger 15 CAR, 65 YDS, TD Receiving Brennan Eagles 5 REC, 142 YDS
Vs. West Virginia
Statistics WVU ISU First downs 16 26 Total yards 263 483 Rushes/yards 25-54 44-236 Passing yards 209 247 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-41-0 20-23-0 Time of possession 28:09 31:51 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 21–44, 209 YDS Rushing Leddie Brown 14 CAR, 48 YDS Receiving Sean Ryan 5 REC, 79 YDSIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 20–23, 247 YDS, 3 TD Rushing Breece Hall 22 CAR, 97 YDS, TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 8 REC, 89 YDS
Vs. No. 10 Oklahoma—Big 12 Championship game
Statistics OU ISU First downs 20 20 Total yards 392 435 Rushes/yards 120 113 Passing yards 272 322 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-34-0 27-40-3 Time of possession 27:48 32:12 Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Passing Spencer Rattler 22–27, 272 YDS, 1 TD Rushing Rhamondre Stevenson 18 CAR, 97 YDS Receiving Marvin Mims 7 REC, 101 YDS, 1 TDIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 27–40, 322 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT Rushing Breece Hall 23 CAR, 79 YDS, 2 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 10 REC, 114 YDS
Vs. No. 25 Oregon—Fiesta Bowl
Statistics UO ISU First downs 17 25 Total yards 312 384 Rushes/yards 86 228 Passing yards 226 156 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-28-1 20-29-0 Time of possession 17:12 42:48 Team Category Player StatisticsOregon Passing Anthony Brown 12–19, 147 YDS Rushing Travis Dye 8 CAR, 52 YDS Receiving Johnny Johnson III 4 REC, 41 YDSIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 20–29, 156 YDS, 1 TD Rushing Breece Hall 34 CAR, 136 YDS, 2 TD Receiving Charlie Kolar 5 REC, 53 YDS, 1 TD
Personnel Coaching staff Matt Campbell Head coach 5th Toledo (HC) Jon Heacock DC 5th Toledo (DC) Tom Manning OC/TE 4th Indianapolis Colts (TE) Nathan Scheelhaase WR 3rd Illinois (offensive analyst) Joel Gordon Passing game coordinator/QB 5th Ferrum (OC) D.K. McDonald Defensive passing game coordinator/SAF 5th Toledo (CB) Eli Rasheed DL 5th Toledo (DL) Tyson Veidt AHC/LB 5th Toledo (LB) Jeff Myers OL 5th Toledo (graduate assistant) Matt Caponi CB 2nd West Virginia (DB) Mick McCall RB 1st Northwestern (OC/QB)
Roster 2020 Iowa State Cyclones FootballQuarterback 10 Blake Clark - Sophomore (6'2", 199) 12 Hunter Dekkers - Freshman (6’3”, 234) 14 Aidan Bouman - Freshman (6’6”, 242) 15 Brock Purdy - Junior (6'1", 212) 18 Devin Larsen - Freshman (6’4”, 243) 20 Hayes Gibson - Freshman (6’1”, 193)
Running back 3 Kene Nwangwu - Senior (6'1", 210) 4 Johnnie Lang - Junior (5'8", 185) 6 Rory Walling - Junior (5'11", 189) 21 Jirehl Brock - Freshman (6’0”, 200) 28 Breece Hall - Sophomore (6’1", 215) 34 Blaze Doxzon - Freshman (5’9”, 190) 35 Tyler Moen - Freshman (5’11”, 185)
Wide receiver 1 Tarique Milton - Junior (5’10", 185)’’' 2 Sean Shaw Jr. - Sophomore (6’6”, 212) 8 Xavier Hutchinson - Junior (6’3”, 207) 9 Joseph Scates - Sophomore (6'2", 191) 10 Darien Porter - Freshman (6’4”, 180) 16 Daniel Jackson - Freshman (6’2”, 210) 17 Darren Wilson - Junior (6’3”, 206) 19 Beau Coberley - Sophomore (5'11", 175) 23 Parker Rickert - Junior (5'11", 193) 26 Michael Tweten - Freshman (5'11", 174) 81 D’Shayne James - Freshman (6’3”, 224) 82 Landen Akers - Senior (6'0", 191) 84 Ezeriah Anderson - Freshman (6’5”, 208) 85 Aidan Bitter - Freshman (6’2”, 182) 87 Ryan Pritchard - Freshman (6’3”, 200)
Placekicker 90 Alex Probert - Senior (5’9”, 188) 93 Eddie Ogamaba - Junior (6’1”, 200) 94 Cameron Shook - Sophomore (6’3”, 185) 96 Connor Assalley - Senior (6'0", 195) 97 Drake Nettles - Freshman (5’11”, 181) Tight end 11 Chase Allen - Senior (6'7", 240) 40 Will Zahradnik - Freshman (6’6”, 206) 43 Jared Rus - Sophomore (6’2”, 232) 44 Dan Sichterman - Junior (6’3”, 260) 80 Skylar Loving-Black - Freshman (6’3”, 231) 83 DeShawn Hanika - Freshman (6’6”, 236) 86 Jacob Hillman - Sophomore (6’2”, 220) 87 Easton Dean - Freshman (6’6”, 251) 88 Charlie Kolar - Junior (6'6", 257) 89 Dylan Soehner - Senior (6'7", 272)
Offensive Lineman 52 Trevor Downing - Sophomore (6’4”, 314) 54 Jarrod Hufford - Freshman (6’5”, 308) 55 Darrell Simmons Jr. - Freshman (6’3”, 306) 56 Anthony Smith - Freshman (6’3”, 282) 57 Colin Newell - Junior (6'4", 304) 59 Jack Hester - Freshman (6’4”, 249) 60 Owen Terwilliger - Freshman (6’5”, 303) 61 Evan Kilstrom - Freshman (6’5”, 302) 62 Noah Juergensen - Senior (6'4", 309) 64 Derek Schweiger - Junior (6'3", 311) 65 Sam Rengert - Freshman (6’7”, 295) 66 Tyler Miller - Freshman (6’9”, 317) 67 Grant Treiber - Freshman (6’6”, 323) 68 Zach Ross - Sophomore (6’2”, 297) 70 Joe Lilienthal - Freshman (6’6”, 306) 72 Jake Remsburg - Freshman (6'6", 315) 73 Brady Petersen - Freshman (6’5”, 290) 74 Hayden Pauls - Freshman (6’5”, 288) 75 Sean Foster - Senior (6'8", 318) 76 Joey Ramos - Sophomore (6’5”, 303) 77 Robert Hudson - Junior (6’7”, 360) 78 Nick Lawler - Freshman (6’3”, 338)
Defensive Lineman 3 JaQuan Bailey - Senior (6’2”, 261) 8 Cordarrius Bailey - Junior (6’3”, 253) 9 Will McDonald IV - Sophomore (6’4”, 230) 44 Johnny Wilson - Freshman (6’2”, 272) 45 Corey Suttle - Freshman (6’4”, 247) 55 Zach Petersen - Junior (6’5”, 267) 56 Latrell Bankston - Junior (6’0”, 301) 58 Eyioma Uwazurike - Senior (6'6", 310) 71 Alex Kleinow - Junior (6’6”, 317) 90 Joshua Bailey - Senior (6’2”, 288) 91 Blake Peterson - Freshman (6’4”, 255) 92 Matt Seres - Sophomore (6’0”, 319) 93 Isaiah Lee - Sophomore (6’0”, 301) 94 Kyle Krezek - Freshman (6’3”, 248) 95 Tucker Robertson - Junior (6’3”, 296) 96 J. R. Singleton - Freshman (6’2”, 288) 97 Kaden Sutton - Freshman (6’0”, 278) 98 Seth Greiner - Freshman (6’3”, 245) Linebacker 20 Aric Horne - Freshman (6’1”, 223) 21 Cole Pedersen - Freshman (6'3", 220)