© NIrmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Randy Peterson
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September 26, 2024
One game among many that Matt Campbell coached while making Iowa State football nationally relevant, sticks out. It’s probably not the one most people expect – and I’m open to debate.
The popular favorite of CMC’s 56 Iowa State wins, is that 2017 Oklahoma shocker at Norman, and that’s one of mine, as well. The most significant, in my mind, is what happened a season later in the same state:
Iowa State 48, Oklahoma State 42 in front of what became the quietest (except for Cy fans) Boone Pickens Stadium crowd of the 13 games I covered in Stillwater.
That game, the Cyclones’ version of A Star of Born, is the one I think had the most long-term impact, while reflecting on a Campbell Iowa State career that hasn’t been matched.Campbell heads to Houston (Saturday 6 p.m. FS1) just one success shy of breaking the record legendary coach Dan McCarney teams won between 1995 and 2006. That was bound to happen, once it became evident the Cyclones’ coach wasn’t just blowing smoke, when talking about Bill Snyder’s Kansas State success someday possibly being part of Iowa State’s history.
So, with Saturday’s record-setting background on the table, I revisited every CMC Iowa State win.
Sure, the 38-31 victory at No. 3 Oklahoma – with third-team quarterback Kyle Kempt -- is huge on Campbell’s second-to-none Iowa State resume. The backstory to that one – the starting quarterback being left back Ames, Joel Lanning playing both linebacker and quarterback, and the Cyclones beating Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, was as masterful as the game plan. Biggest victory since Campbell became the coach in 2016, you’re probably saying?
To me, the one with the most lasting impact happened on that October afternoon, 30 games into CMC’s Iowa State career, when a little-known true freshman from Arizona became a star. That guy with the fancy ball-fakes, the savvy of a veteran, and with a football IQ to match, took charge of a program so well, that he led it to what at the time was the school’s most prestigious bowl – the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
After losing three of the first four games that season, and not playing well on that day in front of the usual raucous 53,000, Campbell had seen enough. He turned to rookie Brock Purdy to jump start not just a team, but also a program that eventually would build a foundation so solid, that what followed was more consistent winning and better recruiting classes than the school had experienced. In seasons following Purdy’s breakout that included completing 17 of 23 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns, and adding another 84 yards and a touchdown on 19 rushes, Campbell’s program beat nine ranked opponents, and sent 11 players to the pros via the draft. Iowa State won 30 of the next 47 games, with Purdy at the throttle. The Cyclones reached bowl games each of his four seasons. He’s now tearing it up for the 49ers in the NFL – while the program he jump-started seven seasons ago is 3-0 and ranked No. 18 heading to Houston.That’s why I pick 2018 at Oklahoma State as the most significant of Campbell’s 56 wins. Here’s nine others (by date) on my list of games that helped put the Cyclones not only Big 12 championship game conversation, but also among the 12 teams mentioned as possibilities for the College Football Playoffs:
** Iowa State 66, Texas Tech 10 (2016) – Quarterback Joel Lanning had five rushing touchdowns while helping the Cyclones score their most points against a conference opponent. Red Raiders QB Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 36 passes for 219 yards. The now-Kansas City Chiefs star also was intercepted twice.
** Iowa State 38, No. 3 Oklahoma 31 (2017) – Third-team QB Kyle Kempt completed 18 of 24 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns. QB/LB Lanning recovered a Baker Mayfield fumble, and also sacked the former Heisman winner.
** No. 25 Iowa State 14, #4 TCU 7 (2017) – Clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012, while moving into a first-place Big 12 tie.
** Iowa State 21, #20 Memphis 20 (2017) -- Allen Lazard ended his wonderful Cyclones career with 10 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown.
** Iowa State 30, No. 6 West Virginia 14 (2018) –JaQuan Bailey had two sacks for a defense that held the Mountaineers to just 152 yards – 370-something below their average.
** Iowa State 23, #19 Texas 21 (2019) – Every win against the Top 20 Longhorns is big.
** Iowa State 34, No. 15 Oregon 17 (2020) – Breece Hall rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
** Iowa State 23, No. 20 Texas 20 (2020) – “Five-star culture versus five-star players,” Hall proclaimed after the game.
** Iowa State 37, No. 18 Oklahoma 30 (2020) – Iowa State’s first win over the Sooners in Ames since 1960.
Those wins, and others went through my mind, while scanning archives. In many of those clippings, Campbell comments not only included what happened during specific games, but also about Iowa State football roots – primarily the role McCarney and former players played in building a foundation.“With coach Mac -- just knowing the longevity that he had here, knowing what he took over when he got here, and his ability to take the program from where it was to where he took it during his tenure -- was really impressive,” Campbell said Tuesday. “Not only has he been a guidepost, he’s been an unbelievable mentor.”
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IOWA STATE (3-0) at HOUSTON (1-3) - 6 p.m., TDECU Stadium, FS1
Randy Peterson: This could be the worst offense Iowa State faces, so I’m expecting another big defensive day. The Cyclones’ first 4-0 start since McCarney’s 2000 team began the season with wins against Ohio, UNLV, Iowa and Baylor could be a breeze. Iowa State 35, Houston 10.
Chris Hassel:The Cougars are unpredictable week to week and even moreso now with a 2 QB approach. Cyclones should be fine no matter what, but I’m not sure it’s the blowout many expect.Iowa State 23, Houston 10.
Keith Murphy:Only thing standing in Iowa State’s way of 4-0 is energy in Houston atmosphere. Iowa State 35, Houston 17.
Matt Van Winkle:The Cyclones open up Big 12 play with a dominant road win. The Cougars are a bit peculiar this season, getting shutout by Cincinnati, but going down to the wire against Oklahoma. Houston has one of the worst offenses in the country this season, only putting up 294 yards per game - third worst among P4 teams. I think Iowa State's defense is the difference here.Iowa State 31, Houston 6.
Chris Williams:Love the Clones here. And I’d much rather be playing Willie Fritz’ young program in September compared to November. Iowa State 27, Houston 13.
Andrew Downs:The Cyclones might be really good and Houston might be really bad. Iowa State 31, Houston 10.
Jake Brend:Did you know that dating back to 2017, Iowa State is just 2-5 in their first Big 12 road game of the season? This hasn’t been a great spot historically for Matt Campbell, but lucky for them, Houston has no identity. What do you do when a team has no identity? You take it to them. That’s what Iowa State will do in a dominant three-phase game.Iowa State 34, Houston 10.
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NEBRASKA AT PURDUE
Peterson: Nebraska 27, Purdue 16.
Hassel: Nebraska 28, Purdue 17.
Murphy:Nebraska 31, Purdue 21.
Van Winkle: Nebraska 27, Purdue 17.
Williams: Nebraska 34, Purdue 20.
Downs: Nebraska 27, Purdue 13.
Brend: Nebraska 28, Purdue 13.
**
BYU at BAYLOR
Peterson: Baylor 31, BYU 24.
Hassel: Baylor 17, BYU 13.
Murphy:Baylor 38, BYU 35.
Van Winkle: Baylor 23, BYU 21.
Williams: Baylor 27, BYU 17.
Downs: BYU 34, Baylor 30.
Brend: Baylor 20, BYU 17.
**
ILLINOIS at PENN STATE
Peterson: Penn State38, Illinois 17.
Hassel: Penn State 31, Illinois 7.
Murphy:Penn State 28, Illinois 14.
Van Winkle: Penn State 35, Illinois 28.
Williams: Penn State 41, Illinois 17.
Downs: Penn State 24, Illinois 17.
Brend: Penn State 24, Illinois 14.
**
OKLAHOMA STATE at KANSAS STATE
Peterson: Kansas State 31, Oklahoma State 28.
Hassel: Kansas State 24, Oklahoma State 10.
Murphy:Kansas State 28, Oklahoma State 14.
Van Winkle: Kansas State 21, Oklahoma State 17.
Williams: Kansas State 24, Oklahoma State 21.
Downs: Oklahoma State 28, Kansas State 24.
Brend: Kansas State 41, Oklahoma State 20.
**
COLORADO AT UCF
Peterson: UCF 38, Colorado 27.
Hassel: UCF 37, Colorado 20.
Murphy:UCF 42, Colorado 24.
Van Winkle: UCF 38, Colorado 24.
Williams: UCF 42, Colorado 28.
Downs: UCF 38, Colorado 31.
Brend: UCF 45, Colorado 35.