Iowa State endured its sixth consecutive losing season and third straight year with fewer than four victories. But coach Matt Campbell pointed the Cyclones in a positive direction in his first season. A review of ISU in 2016:
What went right: The Cyclones improved dramatically. There’s not even a debate. Campbell’s team stared straight ahead at a long climb in September. It looked so bleak, in fact, that at least one pundit picked Iowa State to lose in Week 4 against San Jose State. It won 44-10, then beat Kansas seven weeks later and stomped Texas Tech 66-10 in Week 12.