Iowa State (5-0 straight up, 3-1-1 against the spread) is atop the Big 12 standings and in contention for the program’s first berth into the College Football Playoff.
However, the Cyclones’ path to winning the Big 12 and going to the CFP became much more difficult when head coach Matt Campbell announced season-ending injuries to two of their best players earlier this week.
CBs Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper will miss the remainder of the year due to knee injuries. Williams went down with three minutes remaining in last week’s 39-14 home win over Arizona.
Williams was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2024 when he recorded 46 tackles, five passes broken up, four interceptions and two tackles for loss. In five games this year, he had 15 tackles, three PBU, 1.5 TFL’s and one interception for a 42-yard return.
Williams has started 19 times in 32 career games since arriving in Ames in 2023.
“So that’s a situation that really stinks for the kid,” Campbell said. “But man, just how he’s handled it has been uber impressive. And a great human. He’ll be back ready to rock and roll next year.”
Cooper has made 36 career starts for the Cyclones, who were 1.5-point road underdogs for Saturday’s game at Cincinnati as of early Friday afternoon. In 2023, he was a first-team All-Big 12 choice after producing 45 tackles, 10 PBU, five interceptions for 88 return yards and one touchdown, 1.5 TFL’s and one forced fumble.
Cooper had 48 tackles, eight PBU, two interceptions and one TFL last season. He moved to cornerback this year and had nine tackles, three PBU, 1.5 TFL’s and one interception for 24 return yards.
Since Cooper played in only four games this season, he can apply for a medical redshirt and return to the Cyclones in 2026 if that’s what he wants to do.
Tre Bell made his first start for Iowa St. in place of Cooper vs. Arizona last week. The transfer from Lindenwood recorded four tackles and one TFL against the Wildcats. In five games this year, Bell has 14 tackles, 2.5 TFL’s and one interception.
Redshirt freshman Quentin Taylor is expected to make his first career start against the Bearcats. He has four tackles and one PBU this year.
These injuries hurt my chances of cashing the 13/1 ticket I purchased on Iowa St. to win the Big 12 Championship Game back in August. FanDuel currently has the Cyclones with the third-shortest odds (+700 or 7/1) on the board.
Texas Tech is the +160 ‘chalk’ to win the league at FanDuel. Arizona St. (+500) has the next-shortest odds, while Utah (10/1), Cincinnati (11/1), BYU (11/1) and TCU (14/1) are also in the mix.