College Football Playoff Rankings 2018: Selection Sunday Top 25 projections
By Zach Bigalke
Iowa State will fall a couple of spots in the College Football Playoff Top 25 after struggling to put away FCS Drake in their regular-season finale in Ames on Saturday afternoon. The Cyclones were outgained by the Bulldogs on offense, and they needed a touchdown late in the third quarter to take a lead they managed to hold to the end of the game.
Even with the struggles, though, a second straight eight-win season is notable for head coach Matt Campbell. Iowa State has not posted back-to-back eight-win campaigns since a three-year run between 1976 and 1978, making this win a big confidence boost heading into the postseason. It is a testament to a solid year from quarterback Brock Purdy after he stepped up as the starter at midseason, and the big-game ability of running back David Montgomery.
It was an ugly victory against an opponent that was overmatched in talent, but it won’t be enough to completely tumble the Cyclones out of the Top 25. They will slot in just above the cut line thanks to the attrition in other locales around the college football landscape on championship Saturday.