Seven years of struggling to stay above water in the high-powered Big 12 caught up to coach Paul Rhoads, fired at Iowa State in November after he failed for a sixth straight season to post a winning record. The Cyclones turned to Toledo’s Matt Campbell, hired on his 36th birthday.
He has a tall task at hand as ISU searches for the formula to post its first winning season in Big 12 play since 2000.
Our Iowa State season preview:
Key losses: OG Daniel Burton, OT Brock Dagel, OG Oni Omoile, C Jamison Lalk, WR Quenton Bundrage, TE Ben Boesen, DE Dale Pierson, S Qujuan Floyd