Mike Rose
FILE - Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney watches as his team plays against Pittsburgh during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 27-17. Clemson and Iowa State are scheduled to play in the Cheez-It Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Clemson, Iowa State close down seasons in Cheez-It Bowl

By John Denton Dec. 28, 2021 12:15 PM EST

FILE - Baylor coach Dave Aranda watches from the sideline during the team's NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Waco, Texas, Nov. 13, 2021. Aranda got 15 of the 20 votes for coach of the year in balloting for The Associated Press' All-Big 12 team and awards. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin, File)
Cyclones RB Hall, Bears' Aranda, Pitre win AP Big 12 honors

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 09, 2021 11:51 AM EST

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas heads to Iowa St looking to avoid 4-game losing streak

By Eric Olson Nov. 04, 2021 03:10 AM EDT

West Virginia tight end T.J. Banks (85) is defended by Iowa State linebacker O'Rien Vance (34) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)
Doege, Brown lead West Virginia over No. 22 Iowa State 38-31

By John Raby Oct. 30, 2021 06:03 PM EDT

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell celebrates with running back Breece Hall (28) after Hall's 4-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 24-21. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Purdy, No. 22 Iowa State look for 4th straight win over WVU

By The Associated Press Oct. 28, 2021 04:29 PM EDT

Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) catches a 9-yard touchdown pass ahead of Oklahoma State cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse (24) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 24-21. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
WVU looks to avoid another loss to Purdy, No. 22 Cyclones

By John Raby Oct. 28, 2021 11:36 AM EDT

Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (22) gets past Iowa State defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. (26) for a first down during the first quarter of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Iowa State at Kansas State 10/16/2021

Oct. 16, 2021 09:33 PM EDT

Iowa State running back Breece Hall (28) runs in for a touchdown against UNLV during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Iowa State at UNLV 9/18/2021

Sep. 18, 2021 10:57 PM EDT

Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy (15) greets fans along the spirit walk before an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Iowa at Iowa State 9/11/2021

Sep. 11, 2021 03:23 PM EDT

The North end zone scoreboard is shown at Jack Trice Stadium, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. No. 9 Iowa State is preparing to play what is undeniably the biggest home game in the 129-year history of the program. The top-10 matchup with rival Iowa on Saturday drew ESPN’s popular pregame show, “College GameDay.” (AP Photo/Ralph Russo)
Column: Iowa St's moment a joy and all too rare in the game

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 09, 2021 01:14 PM EDT

Nebraska fans, from left, Cindy Menke, her daughter Jerzie, 9, and husband Jarod of Carroll, Iowa, walk through a sparse parking lot of tailgaters with less than two hours until kickoff between Nebraska and Fordham NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Northern Iowa at Iowa State 9/4/2021

Sep. 04, 2021 10:55 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2020, file photo, Iowa State running back Breece Hall runs the ball during a NCAA college football game against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/ Matthew Putney, File)
No. 7 Cyclones open season of high expectations against UNI

By The Associated Press Sep. 02, 2021 03:11 PM EDT

FILE - Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) throws a pass during an NCAA college football game against Iowa State for the Big 12 Conference championship, in Arlington, Texas, in this Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, file photo. Rattler was selected to The Associated Press Preseason All-America first team offense, Monday Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter, File)
Awkward future for Big 12 even with Oklahoma favored again

By Stephen Hawkins Aug. 27, 2021 03:10 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) intercepts a throw to Georgia wide receiver George Pickens (1) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game in Atlanta. Stingley was selected to The Associated Press Preseason All-America first team defense, Monday Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
AP 2021 Preseason 2021 All-America Team

By The Associated Press Aug. 23, 2021 11:58 AM EDT

FILE - Alabama defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (92) and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) celebrate after a missed Notre Dame field goal attempt in the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, in this Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, file photo. Anderson was selected to The Associated Press Preseason All-America first team defense, Monday Aug. 23, 2021.(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Iowa State, Notre Dame highlight AP preseason All-Americans

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 23, 2021 11:58 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose plays in the team's NCAA college football game against Baylor in Ames, Iowa. Rose was an afterthought for most major-college recruiters when he was coming out of high school, and now he might be the best linebacker in the Big 12. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney, File)
Veteran Cyclones staying level-headed amid high expectations

By Eric Olson Aug. 20, 2021 01:02 PM EDT

AP Top 25: Quick look at rankings from Alabama to Arizona St

By The Associated Press Aug. 16, 2021 02:55 PM EDT
AP preseason Top 25 capsules: —- No. 1 ALABAMA Coach: Nick Saban, 15th season. ...

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose plays in the team's NCAA college football game against Baylor in Ames, Iowa. Rose was an afterthought for most major-college recruiters when he was coming out of high school, and now he might be the best linebacker in the Big 12. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney, File)
Cyclone watch: Rising Iowa St done with 'ghosts of the past'

By Eric Olson Aug. 09, 2021 05:30 PM EDT

Oklahoma head football coach Lincoln Riley speaks from the stage with mannequins in the back ground during NCAA college football Big 12 media days Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Big 12's Bowlsby: 'Very short-sighted' to go unvaccinated

By Stephen Hawkins Jul. 14, 2021 06:59 PM EDT

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones passes against Ohio State during the second half of an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Wrapping up 2020, looking to 2021

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 12, 2021 12:29 PM EST