Iowa State Football: 5 Bold predictions for Cyclones in 2021

A 10-win regular season

It’s easy to focus on Hall or Purdy and the Iowa State offense, but the defense was just as responsible for the Cyclones impressive 2020 campaign and with a bunch of starters returning, including Mike Rose the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, that should continue.

The Big 12 isn’t known for having great defenses and the conference is tough. Oklahoma State is always good, plus Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and Kansas State. There really are no easy ones and I do think Iowa State will slip up in one other game besides Oklahoma.

But behind the balanced attack of Purdy and Hall, plus a stingy defense and the coaching of Campbell, the Cyclones will win at least 10 in the regular season (for the first time) and enough to reach the Big 12 title game again.

Texas and Oklahoma State have to go to Ames next season and each of those wins will help Iowa State own the tiebreaker needed to get another shot at the Sooners for the Big 12 championship.