Iowa State Football: 3 reasons to believe Cyclones will win Big 12

AMES, IA - NOVEMBER 10: Defensive back Braxton Lewis #33 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates with teammates linebacker Willie Harvey #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones, and defensive end Spencer Benton #58 of the Iowa State Cyclones after intercepting a pass late in the second half of play against the Baylor Bears at Jack Trice Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 28-14 over the Baylor Bears. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - NOVEMBER 10: Defensive back Braxton Lewis #33 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates with teammates linebacker Willie Harvey #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones, and defensive end Spencer Benton #58 of the Iowa State Cyclones after intercepting a pass late in the second half of play against the Baylor Bears at Jack Trice Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 28-14 over the Baylor Bears. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
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A challenging road lies ahead for an Iowa State football team trending up right now, but this group has a set path to win a Big 12 Championship in 2018.

Crunch time is here for Iowa State football with a top 20 ranking in the next College Football Playoff poll right around the corner and a legitimate shot at title contention in the Big 12. Two games remain and each will not come to Iowa State football easily with the toughness of each opponent.

After a rough start to the 2018 campaign, Iowa State football was looking to make a nice recovery under head coach Matt Campbell down the stretch. No one would’ve expected what the rising star in the college football world in Campbell would be able to do with this Iowa State football squad in bringing this team back to the point of the peak of Big 12 contention.

You’d have to put Iowa State among the top contenders in the Big 12 and an emerging team in the national picture for the 2019 season. Since undergoing some difficult losses early in the 2018 campaign to the likes of the Oklahoma Sooners and Iowa Hawkeyes, the Cyclones have completely turned the corner.

Iowa State still has three games left against one FCS opponent and two from the Big 12. It faces the Texas Longhorns and Kansas State Wildcats in the next two weeks in Big 12 play. Iowa State football had to replace one FCS opponent with another since the season opener against South Dakota State was canceled this year. Incarnate Word caps it all off for the 2018 regular season.

Here’s a look at the definitive three reason to believe that the Iowa State Cyclones will win the Big 12 Championship Game in 2018 on its way to rounding out a magical season.