AMES – In 2020, the Iowa State Cyclones made the Big 12 Championship for the first time in school history. Though they lost the game, lessons were taken from it, and now Iowa State has a shot at its first Big 12 title.
“For me, or any coach, you always reflect back on the wins, but you reflect on the losses,” head coach Matt Campbell said. “Obviously that game, that moment was a great learning opportunity for all of us.”
A few players that are still on the roster experienced that game, including sixth-year defensive back Darien Porter.
“We’ve gone through all these journeys for the most part together,” Campbell said. “[Porter’s] situation is, you go back in our time, you go to Jake Hummel and some of these guys that waited their turn, Gerry Vaughn, and they just waited their turn and they kept growing and developing, wherever they could help the team during their growth process, they maximized their role and perfected their role.”
One player that was not a part of that team was senior wide receiver Jaylin Noel. His first year with the Cyclones was in 2021.
Though not on the team yet, Noel watched Iowa State in its last Big 12 Championship appearance, and this time, he wants himself and his teammates to reach the mountaintop.
“The moment can’t get too big for us,” Noel said. “We’ll be prepared and ready.”
Noel has gone through the past two seasons alongside fellow senior wide receiver Jayden Higgins. Each of them has surpassed 1,000 reception yards this season.
A win in the Big 12 Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff is within reach. But to get there and finish the job this time, the Cyclones went back to some key moments that could help them finish their story.
Oklahoma defeated Iowa State in the 2020 Big 12 Championship, but it was close. The Sooners won 27-21, and if some mistakes weren’t made throughout the game, it could have swayed in the Cyclones’ favor.
“It was kind of a crazy season,” defensive coordinator Jon Heacock said. “I felt like we were in the game and maybe didn’t play our best or get ready to play our best. I’ve tried to share some of the scars from that game of getting prepared.”
That has been the case with a few games in this season alone.
In years past, Iowa State ended up on the wrong side of wins and losses in some close games. This season, the Cyclones have capitalized on the majority of their close games and have found ways to fight back from mistakes in the middle of games.
Iowa State is 4-1 in one-possession games in 2024. Its ability to win tight games could give it an edge on Saturday.
One of the biggest moments that happened last season was the infamous loss to Ohio. That game was a turning point that got the Cyclones to where they are now.
“You know, I vividly remember that Sunday meeting and just really talking about the reality of where we are,” Campbell said. “To hear those young guys speak in that team meeting of fear of failure because they didn’t want to let the team down. I think that was a huge moment.”
As a group, the Cyclones reassessed themselves, trusted their process and are 16-6 since then. Now, they have a shot to become Big 12 champions.
“That was the goal coming into the year,” Higgins said. “We’ve been able to get here so far and just got to continue to do what we do.”
The work Campbell and his staff have put in should not go unnoticed. It takes a lot to bring up a struggling program, and throughout his nine seasons, Campbell has given Iowa State and its fans hope.
2024 has been a record-breaking season for the Cyclones, as Campbell broke the all-time Iowa State wins record, the Cyclones won 10 games for the first time in school history and Higgins and Noel became the first Iowa State wide receiver duo where each surpassed 1,000 yards.
Another thing the Cyclones have never done is win the Big 12 Championship. That opportunity lies ahead.
“There’s other teams out there not able to practice this week,” Noel said. “To be able to play the game I love for another week before the postseason means the world to me and it means the world to this team.”
