Iowa State has high expectations for 2019, but the Cyclones are not in position to look down on any opponents just yet.
The No. 21 Cyclones kick off the season at home against perennial FCS standout Northern Iowa on Saturday at Ames, Iowa.
Following a second straight eight-win season that resulted in a tie for third place in the Big 12 and a preseason ranking in the Associated Press Top 25, Iowa State has reason to be excited this year. That’s also because some key contributors return to help the Cyclones potentially contend for their first Big 12 title.
“It’s going to be huge to get off to a great start in the beginning,” sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy said. “(We’re) not going to try to think too far in the future with anything. … I think we can do amazing things.”
Though offensive stars in running back David Montgomery (1,216 rushing yards) and receiver Hakeem Butler (1,318 receiving yards) are gone, Purdy offers stability to the unit. As a freshman, Purdy went 7-2 as a starter while completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 2,250 yards with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2018. He also ran for 308 yards and five scores.
While Purdy and the offense look to make progress with some new faces, the strength of coach Matt Campbell’s squad should again be on defense.
Defensive end JaQuan Bailey (eight sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss in 2018), safety Greg Eisworth (87 tackles), and linebackers Marcel Spears Jr. and Mike Rose, who combined for 144 tackles last season, return from a unit that allowed a Big 12-best 22.9 points per game and 349.2 yards.
That makes for an optimistic outlook for the Cyclones, but the immediate priority is on Northern Iowa. Though Iowa State is 22-6-3 all-time against UNI, two of those losses to the Panthers came over the previous six seasons. Most recently, 25-20 at Ames in 2016.
“You better be ready to play football,” Campbell said.
“We know the challenge at hand. … (And) I think our football team has great focus right now.”
Northern Iowa enters this season ranked 18th in the STATS FCS Poll, and returns 16 starters from a team that went 7-6 and made the FCS playoffs. Tight end Briley Moore was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection after leading the team with 39 receptions, 536 yards and four touchdowns in 2018.
Meanwhile, redshirt freshman quarterback Will McElvain, who almost walked on at Iowa State, takes over for three-year starter Eli Dunne.
Defensive back Xavior Williams, another all-conference first-teamer, is back after recording four interceptions and 42 tackles from a unit that held four opponents to fewer than 10 points and posted three shutouts last season.
This will be the first Top 25 opponent UNI has faced since losing 26-21 at No. 12 Wisconsin in 2012. It’s an obviously difficult task added to the fact the Panthers play in what is arguably the toughest conference on the FCS level.
“Iowa State is tremendous. They’re as good as I’ve ever seen them,” longtime Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley, who is one shy of his 150th victory, told the program’s official website. “With us, it’s moreso the challenge of the schedule. The objective in our (sub)division is to find your way into the final 16 teams.”