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Matt Campbell Calls Iowa State Cyclones Defender Best in Big 12 Right Now

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Matt Campbell Calls Iowa State Cyclones Defender Best in Big 12 Right Now


The Iowa State Cyclones were mired in a brutal slump over the last few weeks. After starting the season 5-0, they had lost four consecutive games, sending their season into an ugly spiral.

Heading into their Week 11 matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs, expectations were very low. It is hard to blame any fans who weren’t bullish on their chances of winning, especially with their recent form.

However, the Cyclones overcame the odds, picking up an impressive come-from-behind victory. Trailing 20-6 in the fourth quarter with 13:30 remaining in the game, Iowa State scored the final two touchdowns of the game to win 20-17.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Cyclones ultimately ended their four-game losing streak, becoming bowl eligible in the process. There were a few standout performers in the game, but linebacker Kooper Ebel really stood out.

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Kooper Ebe

Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

One of the best players on the team, head coach Matt Campbell had nothing but praise for his junior linebacker’s performance against TCU.

“If you’d been missing Kooper Ebel the last four weeks, I don’t know if there’s a better defensive player in the Big 12 right now than him,” Campbell said, via Alec Busse of Cyclone Alert, part of the 247Sports Network (subscription required). “He’s playing with an elite accelerated vision. He’s playing with unbelievable toughness. He leads. He never comes out of the game. When you need to make a play, that guy is there to make a play.”

Ebel led the team with 11 combined tackles on Saturday afternoon, including one tackle for loss. He helps set the tone for the Iowa State defense, being all over the field, making plays, whether it is against the run or the pass.

There are a lot of great defensive players in the Big 12, so Campbell’s calling his linebacker the best player on that side of the ball in the conference is major praise.

Kooper Ebe

Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In the nine games heading into the matchup with the Horned Frogs, Ebel had recorded 51 total tackles, 4.0 of which were for a loss, with 1.0 sacks and one pass defended.

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He is second on the team in tackles, behind only safety Marcus Neal, who has 70. His 5.0 tackles for loss are the third most, behind only Neal, with 9.0, and fellow linebacker Caleb Bacon, who has 6.5.

Ebel is one of seven players with at least one full sack for the Cyclones’ defense this year, and one of six with a forced fumble, as well.

That kind of production has been crucial to Iowa State’s success on that side of the ball this year.



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Iowa State basketball, Tamin Lipsey, Dom Nelson pregame update

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Iowa State basketball, Tamin Lipsey, Dom Nelson pregame update


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Iowa State basketball guard Tamin Lipsey is expected to play and Dominick Nelson will be suited up for the Cyclones’ game against No. 1 Purdue on Saturday on Dec. 6, an Iowa State spokesperson said.

Both players are both fully participating in pregame warmups ahead of Saturday’s contest against the Boilermakers.

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They each sustained groin injuries. Lipsey has missed three games since leaving in the closing minutes of the Cyclones’ 83-82 victory over St. John’s on Nov. 24. Nelson only missed one game and sat out for the Cyclones’ 132-68 win over Alcorn State on Dec. 3.

Through five games, Lipsey is averaging 18.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game, while shooting 50.7% overall.

Nelson has appeared in seven contests off the bench, averaging 7.4 points and 1.0 steals over 14.4 minutes per game.

Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT. The game will be available on CBS.

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Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger talks health of Tamin Lipsey, Dom Nelson

Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger talks health of Tamin Lipsey, Dom Nelson

This story has been updated with new information.

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.





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Iowa State hires Jimmy Rogers as coach after Matt Campbell leaves for Penn State

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Iowa State hires Jimmy Rogers as coach after Matt Campbell leaves for Penn State


AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State wasted no time finding a replacement for Matt Campbell, hiring Washington State’s Jimmy Rogers as its football coach on Friday night.

The Cyclones moved quickly after Campbell left to take over for the fired James Franklin at Penn State on Friday. They agreed to a six-year deal with Rogers, who led Washington State to a 6-6 record in his lone season after a two-season run at South Dakota State that included an FCS championship.

“Jimmy Rogers is a rising star in college athletics who has very strong ties to the Midwest both as a player and as a coach,” Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said in a statement. “He has been on my short list ever since the first time I met him. He immediately impressed me with his interest in Iowa State University and told me during our first visit several years ago that he wanted to be the next head coach at Iowa State.

“Since our initial meeting, I have stayed in close contact with him and have been very impressed with his work ethic and understanding of what it takes to be successful at Iowa State,” he added. “He is a proven winner who has demonstrated throughout his career that he will fit our culture.”

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Rogers is 33-9 in three years as a head coach. He is one of four Washington State coaches to lead the Cougars to a bowl game in their first season.

“Iowa State has been one of the nation’s top programs for the last decade and we look forward to building upon its upward trajectory,” Rogers said. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that Jamie Pollard has given me to lead the Cyclones.”

Rogers spent most of the past two decades as a player or on the staff at South Dakota State. He led the Jackrabbits to a 27-3 record in two seasons as head coach, including an FCS championship repeat in 2023 and a semifinal appearance in 2024.

A linebacker at South Dakota State from 2006 to 2009, Rogers was a graduate assistant there in 2010 and 2011 before spending a year at Florida Atlantic. He returned in 2013 as linebackers coach and eventually become defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach when longtime coach John Stiegelmeier retired after leading the Jackrabbits to their first national title.

He replaces Iowa State’s winningest coach. Campbell went 72-55 in 10 seasons.

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Iowa man braving frigid cold temperatures in car with his dog gets help

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Iowa man braving frigid cold temperatures in car with his dog gets help


An Iowa man who spoke to CBS News about sleeping in his car with his dog during the frigid winter temperatures is now receiving support from his community. CBS News’ Tom Hanson has more, and meteorologist John Elliott has the latest weather forecast.



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