The 2018 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented Iowa State University as a member of Big 12 Conference during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Matt Campbell, the Cyclones compiled an overall record of 8âÂÂ5 with a mark of 6âÂÂ3 in conference play, placing third in the Big 12. Iowa State was invited to the Alamo Bowl, where the Cyclones lost to Washington State. The team played home games at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
The six conference wins were the most in a season in program history
Iowa State announced their 2018 football schedule on October 26, 2017. The schedule consisted of seven home games and five away games in the regular season.
Originally, Iowa State planned to play South Dakota State on September 1 to open the season, however, the game was canceled shortly after kickoff due to bad weather. Iowa State was to host Incarnate Word on December 1, but Incarnate Word was not able to play after qualifying for the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. Incarnate Word was replaced with Drake.
The Big 12 media poll was released on July 12, 2018, with the Cyclones predicted to finish in seventh place.
Iowa State's Freshman Brock Purdy replaced Zeb Noland at quarterback and passed 18-for-23 for 318 yards and produced four touchdowns. He then ran for another 84 yards and another score. The final score was a loss for the Cowboys at 48âÂÂ42.
At the beginning of the second half, Baylor's Chris Miller got a flag for a late hit against Iowa State running back David Montgomery, pushing him into a Gatorade cooler, escalating tensions. Later, Baylor linebacker Greg Roberts threw a punch at Montgomery and he responded with another punch. Both were ejected from the second half of the game and Montgomery was ejected from the first half of the Texas game the following week.
After a slow start, Kansas State held a solid lead for most of the game. Kansas State had racked up a 17-point lead with only 12 minutes remaining in the game. From there, Iowa State's Mike Rose grabbed a loose ball for a touchdown and the Cyclones controlled the game to rally with 21 unanswered points. The final score was an Iowa State victory, 41âÂÂ38. The Cyclones broke the 9 year losing streak against the Wildcats. This game was also the last game Kansas State coach Bill Snyder coached before retiring.
The Cyclones were scheduled to take on the Incarnate Word Cardinals as a replacement for their cancelled South Dakota State game from Week 1, however, the Cardinals qualified for the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, requiring a different opponent.
All totals via Sports Media Watch. Streaming numbers not included. â - Data not available.