After a long eight months away from Iowa State football, it is finally back as the Cyclones get ready to open up their season at home against North Dakota on Saturday. A lot of buzz has surrounded this Iowa State team based on the potential they have after returning 19 starters from its 7-5 finish last season with a bowl game appearance.
One of those returning starters is redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht, who has been preparing himself to reach new heights in his second full season being the starting quarterback for the Cyclones.
“I do think I have engaged myself deeper in the playbook to understand every type of look that we can get to prepare leading up to Saturday,” Becht said.
Coming off of his first full season as a starter, Becht undoubtedly became Iowa State’s quarterback of the future, as he set multiple Cyclone freshman records in completions (231), passing yards (3,120), and touchdowns (23) whilst leading the team to an above .500 record and an appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
This season, Becht starts by facing a Fighting Hawks defense that has not looked the best at times but can still cause some trouble down the stretch of the game.
North Dakota enters this season after finishing with a 7-5 record in the Missouri Valley Conference last season, eager to start a new season on the right note with a new quarterback at the helm.
Junior Simon Romfo will be the Fighting Hawks’ starting quarterback on Saturday, and will make his first collegiate start after only throwing two passes last season for 11 yards.
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is looking forward to seeing how his defense goes out on the field Saturday to compete with a team like North Dakota, which has proven to be a tough team to beat at times.
“I think the group that we’re playing is mentally and physically tough which will make it a great challenge for our guys,” Heacock said.
One of those guys who can make it tough on the Cyclones’ defense is North Dakota’s fifth-year wide receiver, Bo Belquist, who was considered one of the better receivers in the Missouri Valley Conference as he finished with 66 catches for 772 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Now heading into his ninth season as the Cyclones’ head coach, Matt Campbell is preparing his team to take on a program that has never faced Iowa State in its history and will surely be looking to make a statement come Saturday.
“[North Dakota] is going to challenge us from the very start of the game,” Campbell said. “They’re going to play tough no matter who or where they play and you respect that.”
The season opener for the Cyclones kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium against North Dakota. The game will be televised on FS1.
