PETE: Matt Campbell's best-ever team? The needle points that direction, so far

Memo to Iowa State fans: Don’t fall into the same trap I was headed toward after watching the Cyclones play a mostly flawless first half Saturday against a non-conference opponent that wasn’t so good.

After the interceptions, the special teams play, the running backs (all of them) showing me something, the receivers (including potential NFL tight end Ben Brahmer), and quarterback Rocco Becht doing what they do so well  . . .

I scribbled the following words in a notebook:

Best team under CMC?

Maybe by season’s end, that will become reality, and yes, I know there were great players on the nine-win 2020 team that played in the Big 12 title game, and then beat Oregon in the New Year’s Six Fiesta Bowl. But for now . . .

Is Becht the second coming of Brock Purdy? Not yet, and maybe never.

Is there a match to Breece Hall? Heck no.

To Charlie Kolar? Brahmer can get there eventually.

To kick returner Kene Nwangwu? Jaylin Noel is very good, but not as fast as a healthy Kene.

To Mike Rose and that team’s other linebackers, Jake Hummel and O’Rien Vance? No way, although that position is playing pretty darn good – without some players (so far) expected to be starters.

For 30 or so minutes, though, of the 52-7 victory against Arkansas State, Iowa State at least got me thinking that if Campbell’s team can win the games in which they’d now likely be favored (which would be the next seven), before season-ending highest-stakes opponents at Utah and at home against Kansas State, then 2024 surpasses 2020 and all Iowa State teams before it.

Maybe I’m getting out over the boat’s bow, but this program is darn good, and it looks good for a number of seasons to come. That’s exactly what CMC told me, when we chatted privately last spring.

This program is that good, because:

**Departing players on past teams left it that way.

**Because of somewhat recent coaches Dan McCarney and Paul Rhoads.  

** Because facilities have been upgraded, because of an administration that truly cares, because of the fans – and yes, because of Matt Campbell and his staff.

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

And speaking of staff, the more I see the plays first-time offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser calls, the more I like the aggressiveness of the 33-year-old who grew up with a hockey stick in his hands. Third-and-one from the Arkansas State 47-yard line, Iowa State leading 17-zip late in the first quarter.

Becht goes to the line of scrimmage, and this time he doesn’t revert to shot-gun formation. This time, the short-yardage situation originates with a quarterback under center Jarrod Hufford. Becht faked the quarterback sneak everyone in the stadium and watching at home expected. Instead, he backpedaled, then threw 24 yards downfield to Brahmer, whose spectacular diving, one-handed catch was a highlight reel moment.

“When coach Mouser called that, there was this brief moment when I paused,” said Campbell afterwards, who has play-calling veto power. “This is why it’s nice to have young guys calling plays sometimes -- because the old guys almost shiver in their spine.”

Old guys? At 44 years old, the ninth-season coach isn’t exactly old, but he does have some old-school in him.

Will we see more plays like that, from this new edition of the offensive playbook? Remember the first two plays this season – 54-yard pass to Jaylin Noel, followed by a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins?

Mouser Ball?

Again, let’s not get ahead of ourselves after just three games. Heck, 18th-ranked Iowa State’s Big 12 season doesn’t even start until Saturday’s 6 p.m. (FS1), game at newcomer Houston.

All that stuff, and more, nonetheless, ran through my mind while watching Saturday’s TV broadcast and listening to John and Eric.

Eight seniors started; the rest were freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Accurate and strong-legged place-kicker Kyle Konrardy is a freshman. The top five tacklers consisted of three juniors, a sophomore and a senior. A junior intercepted a pass. The backup quarterback was a true freshman.

“There’s competition,” Campbell told reporters after the game. “You better come to practice, and you better play to what your capability is, (because) when you don’t, somebody else is going to take your spot.” 

Get the picture?

There’s talented youth throughout the roster, but let’s not forget -- there’s still nine regular-season games in which bad stuff can happen.

The 2022 team started 3-0, too, and then lost against Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas and Oklahoma. It beat West Virginia, then wrapped up a disappointing 4-8 season with losses against Oklahoma, Texas Tech and TCU.

For sure, this Iowa State team is good. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t remain at least some semblance of good throughout the regular season.

Best-ever of the nine Campbell has coached during a spectacular Cyclones career, in which he’s one victory from breaking McCarney’s career coaching wins record?

The needle is pointing in that direction.