PETE: Inside Rocco Becht’s promise, and why I believe it can come true for Iowa State

Let’s look a bit at these from-the-heart words by Rocco Becht, after Saturday’s Big 12 championship game loss against an Arizona State outfit that 24 hours later, rightfully earned a College Football Playoffs first-round bye.

“I told everybody coming out of that tunnel, the ones that are coming back, remember this feeling. We will be back in this game next year, I promise you that.”

That’s Rocco, who absorbed what ABC announcers called the most vicious hit they’d seen this season, got checked out in the locker room – and threw a touchdown pass, shortly after being granted permission to return to the game, his teammates and the staff that helped make him what he is today.

“We will be back in this game next year, I promise you that.”

I’ve never doubted Becht. No one should doubt Rocco, so when he promised to lead his team back to Arlington, Texas for the 2025 Big 12 title game – it’s worth a refresher course of just who will stand in the path of the Cyclones second straight conference championship game.

We don’t know the schedule dates, but at least we know who comprises one of the toughest schedules of any of the 16 teams in the Big 12. The transfer portal comes to mind as I write those words, so I guess we really don’t know how good anyone will be, until after college football’s version of free agency.

But here’s the nine conference opponents Becht and Co. must go through for another visit to JerryWorld.

AT HOME

BYU (7-2, 10-2): Facing Colorado in the 2024 Alamo Bowl, after tying for first in the Big 12 standings.

Kansas (4-5, 5-7): Defeated Iowa State this season at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.

Arizona (2-7, 4-8): The second-worst team in the Big 12.

Arizona State (7-2, 11-2): Earned a first-round CFP bye after beating the Cyclones. Cam Scattebo was a senior in 2024.

ON THE ROAD

Cincinnati (3-6, 5-7): Cyclones have beaten the Bearcats the past two seasons.

Colorado (7-2, 9-3): Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are early-entering the NFL Draft.

Oklahoma State (0-9, 3-9): Coach Mike Gundy took a pay cut to keep his job. Rebuilding the team could be a long process.

TCU (6-3, 8-4): Facing Louisiana in the Dec. 28 New Mexico Bowl.

IN DUBLIN, IRELAND

Kansas State (5-4, 8-4): Facing Rutgers in the Dec. 26 Rate Bowl.

“We will be back in this game next year, I promise you that.”

There’s those words again, and who’s to doubt Iowa State’s quarterback, leader and heart of the offense?

Five who started on offense Saturday have eligibility remaining. Eight on defense. Place-kicker Kyle Konrardy and punter Tyler Perkins make 15.  Ten other underclassmen started at least one game.

The Pop Tarts Bowl Dec. 28 in Orlando against Miami is next. Significant players said publicly they’ll play. They’re not taking the opt-out path of skipping the game in order to prepare for the NFL Draft, which is the last weekend of April.

Good for them. There’s unfinished business in what’s been the most successful football season in Iowa State history.

Need more? This team is so tight, that the seniors proclaimed on Saturday’s

Shocked? Not me. Sure. Everyone has bowl-game optouts – T.J., Tampa sat out the last Liberty Bowl, and Mike Rose and Breece Hall are among others who decided to end college careers before what became their final seasons were finished. It happens, and so will jumping into the transfer portal, which officially opens on Monday.

But a successful season, even after Saturday’s 26-point loss against the Sun Devils?

Heckya it’s successful. Seven-for-seven to start. A school-record 10 wins, including Cy-Hawk on the road. Big 12 Conference championship and play-in game for the College Football Playoff participant.  Seventh bowl appearance in Campbell’s nine seasons.

Yes there were some failures, like the third quarter Saturday. But not enough during 13 games for people to think Campbell’s ninth season was anything other than a success.

So, how long the hurt of Saturday last? If Iowa State football can learn from the turnovers, from all the missed tackles and inconsistent play in the back end, Saturday can be one of those learning from failure situations Campbell talks about.

His team followed the 2020 Big 12 title game loss against Oklahoma, with a stunning 34-17 win against Oregon in the New Year’s Six Fiesta Bowl. Anything is possible, and that includes turning 15-minute third-quarter meltdown against the Sun Devils, into 60 minutes of their best ball of the season against a Miami Hurricanes team that nearly made the CFP.

It’s up to the team’s leaders. It’s up to the coaches. And remember these words from the quarterback:

“We will be back in this game next year, I promise you that.”