Season Review

Season Highlights

-Iowa State ended the 2016 campaign with a 3-9 overall mark and a 2-7 record in Big 12 play.
-Five of ISU's nine losses were by 10 points or less and seven of the nine losses were teams which qualified for a bowl game.
-ISU also held double-digit fourth quarter leads in two of its losses (Baylor, Oklahoma State), both to teams who qualified for a bowl game.
-Iowa State averaged 52,557 fans in seven home games, the fifth-best season attendance total in school history. ISU ranked 37th nationally in attendance and extended its record of having over 50,000 fans in attendance at Jack Trice Stadium to 39 games.
-Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell finished his first season with the Cyclones by showing gradual improvement throughout the season. ISU won two of its final three game, winning back-to-back Big 12 games for the first time since 2013.
-The Cyclones were competitive with a team consisting of 57 combined starts from former or current walk-ons and eight freshmen combining for 38 starts.
-The Iowa State offense thrived under Campbell and OC Tom Manning. The Cyclones ranked 60th nationally in total offense at 421.6, the fifth-best season total in school history.
-In conference action, the Cyclones set school marks in points per game (29.4) and total offense (439.8) in the Big 12 era (1996-present).
-Behind the dual-QB system of Jacob Park and Joel Lanning, the Cyclones broke the school record for passing yards per game at 258.8.
-ISU committed 16 turnovers during the season to rank 27th nationally and tie for the third-fewest in school history.
-The Cyclones were efficient in the red zone, leading the Big 12 and ranking eighth nationally at 92.7 percent, converting 38-of-41 opportunities.
-Iowa State broke a number of school records in its 66-10 win over Texas Tech: Points vs. a conference opponent (66), margin of victory vs. a conference opponent (56) and points in a quarter (31 in second quarter).
-On defense, the Cyclones ranked 36th nationally in TFL (80). ISU held five of its last seven opponents to below their season scoring average, including one of the nation's best offensive teams, Texas Tech, to season lows in points (10) and total offense (309).
-PK Cole Netten ended his career as Iowa State's all-time career scoring leader (300 points) and the school's most accurate kicker (79.4 pct.; 54-of-68). Netten led the Big 12, ranked third in the nation and broke the school record in FG pct. (94.1 pct.), hitting 16-of-17 attempts this season and 24-of-his-last-25. He was named First-Team All-Big 12.
-WR Allen Lazard was one of the premier receivers in the Big 12, ranking fifth in the Big 12 and 29th nationally in receiving yards per game (84.8). Lazard led the team in receptions (69), receiving yards (1,018) and receiving TDs (7), ranking second and third, respectively, on ISU's season reception and receiving yard lists. Lazard broke the school record for 100-yard receiving games with six and ended the year averaging 7.0 receptions and 114.0 yards in his last 5 games.
-QB Jacob Park took control of signal-calling duties in the last five games and responded with outstanding play. He completed 60.5 pct. of his passes, averaged 264.4 yards and had eight TDs in that span. His season 58.8 completion percentage ranks ninth in school history.
-True freshman WR Deshaunte Jones was one of the best rookie wideouts in the nation. Jones was second on the team and tied for fourth nationally among FBS freshmen in TD catches (6), the second-best total by an ISU rookie in school history. Jones had a team-high five 40+ yard receptions and his season receiving yards (536) and reception (37) totals ranked third and fourth, respectively, on ISU's freshman list
-True freshman RB David Montgomery led the team in rushing (563), the second-best total by a Cyclone rookie in school history. He had two 100-yard rushing games, including an 169-yard effort vs. Kansas, the fifth-best single-game rushing performance by an ISU freshman.
-QB Joel Lanning led the team in TDs with 11 and tied the school record for touchdowns in a game by rushing for five TDs vs. Texas Tech.

Players Mentioned

Deshaunte Jones

Joel Lanning

Allen Lazard

David Montgomery

Cole Netten

Jacob Park

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics