Some day in the future, Matt Campbell will reflect on his team’s successful trip to Ireland.
But Campbell and No. 22 Iowa State are not dwelling on Dublin, where they held on for a 24-21 win over No. 17 Kansas State last weekend. The Cyclones (1-0) have turned their attention to their home opener against South Dakota (0-0) on Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.
“There has got to be great growth between Week 1 and Week 2,” Campbell said. “I still think this football team — you’ve got no idea who we are and what we’re about.
“I think we grew (against Kansas State). You saw us grow from quarter to quarter. But, boy, how do you respond? How do you continue to move yourself forward?”
The Cyclones will try to answer that question against South Dakota, a talented group from the FCS-level Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Coyotes finished 11-3 last season, including a 7-1 mark in conference play.
South Dakota quarterback Aidan Bouman will return to familiar territory when he faces Iowa State. Bouman started his college career as a backup with the Cyclones before transferring in 2022 to South Dakota, where he has blossomed as a full-time starter.
Bouman passed for 2,958 yards, 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.
“I am very excited, don’t get me wrong,” Bouman said. “It’s going to be nostalgic. That’s a place I was at, and they have a great game-day atmosphere.
“But I say this all the time about every game I have ever played in: It’s just another game, that’s all it is. You prepare the exact same, you go out there, you do your job and you can’t make it bigger than it is.”
The Cyclones also feature a veteran signal-caller in Rocco Becht, who completed 14 of 28 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns last week. Becht also rushed for 18 yards and a touchdown.
Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III provide a one-two punch on the ground for Iowa State. Hansen had 16 carries for 71 yards in the opener — most of it in the fourth quarter — and Sama finished with 14 carries for 43 yards.
The Cyclones continue to wait for one or more players to step forward at wide receiver. There is a significant void to fill at the position after former wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel were drafted by the Houston Texans last spring in the second round and third round, respectively.
Campbell explained what he is looking for among the wide receiver group.
“Who are your ‘A’ players, ‘A’ moments?” he said. “You saw some guys make ‘A’ moment plays on Saturday, which were huge. I just think, as the confidence grows, we have a lot of confidence in these players. They’ve got to have confidence in themselves to make critical plays in the moment.”
The Cyclones are 9-0 all-time against South Dakota, but the teams have not met since 1959. Their inaugural matchup took place in 1899 in Sioux City, Iowa, when Iowa State won 11-6.
