Iowa State football opens its season on Sept. 5, hosting Southeast Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium with a 12 m. CT kickoff on ESPN+. The game marks the debut of coach Jimmy Rogers, who was hired in December 2025, and the first opportunity for a roster filled with newcomers to show what they can do.

Rogers Defines Winning Start

Rogers, when asked what a successful first game would look like, emphasized discipline and execution. "That you can see that we won up front, that there's zero pre-snap penalties, that there's zero substitution errors, that we've created explosive plays on both sides of the ball and on special teams," Rogers said. "Will we be perfect? We won't be; I don't expect them to be. But…I know the guys are ready to cut it loose and play somebody else."

The Cyclones enter the game with low external expectations, having been predicted to finish last in the Big 12. Despite that, the team projects confidence, a sentiment echoed by quarterback Jaylen Raynor. "Confidence is built through competence," Raynor said. "The competence is where you're putting in the work, the hours that people don't see behind closed doors."

Rogers credited the team's belief to the shared challenges of the offseason. "Their confidence comes from suffering together with one another," he said, according to the Ames Tribune.

Southeast Missouri's Early Edge

The Redhawks have already played a game, defeating Indiana State 23-21 on Aug. 29. SEMO is also navigating a transition with a new head coach and over 50 new players on its roster. Rogers acknowledged that playing a game before facing Iowa State could benefit SEMO.

"You learn a lot in the first week," Rogers said. "So, I think that SEMO will be significantly better. For them, with 53 new players themselves…seeing how the puzzle fits for them, it helped to play. It surely helps to see the film, because they're looking at a roster of 80-some new players and they don't know who's who. But I do think that the reps inside of games matter."

Key Players to Watch

Jaylen Raynor, a 6-foot-1 senior who transferred from Arkansas State, is expected to lead the offense. Last season, he completed 66% of his passes for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding seven rushing touchdowns. Jake Taylor, a transfer from Oklahoma, is set to start at left tackle.

On defense, cornerback David Coffey is one of the few experienced holdovers. Rogers also provided updates on several players: Ryver Peppers may still be a couple weeks away, Gavin Proudfoot will be out this week, and Jordyn Bailey will be out for an extensive period of time. Additionally, safety Braden Awls and running back Salahadin Allah will miss the season.

Looking Ahead

The Cyclones' untested roster will face its first real challenge Saturday. With a mix of transfers and newcomers, Rogers and his team aim to establish a new identity, starting with a disciplined performance against SEMO.