As Texas and Oklahoma flee the SEC, rumors are flying that other Big XII Schools could follow suit, including joining Penn State in the Big Ten
Conference realignment rumors are running wild, and there’s a chance Iowa State could join Penn State in the Big Ten as part of the fallout
With rumors of Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC, speculation is swirling that the Big Ten Conference could pick from the Big 12 carcass, and one name could change the landscape of the Big Ten Conference basketball for Penn State Basketball and the rest of the conference.
The rumor is the Iowa State Cyclones (along with the Kansas Jayhawks) would join the Big Ten, which geographically makes sense. Obviously in-state rival Iowa Hawkeyes are already members of the Big Ten. But how would the potenital addition of the Cyclones affect the Nittany Lions?
Football
The 61,500 seat Jack Trice Stadium would certainly pale in comparison to the Beaver and Ohio Stadiums of the world, but unlike Kansas, Iowa State has shown some promise on the gridiron.
Finishing No. 9 in the AP Poll just last year, behind NFL prospect Brock Purdy, the Cyclones have high expectations again this year.
While they haven’t won a confernce title in over a century, Iowa State would have a decent shot to complete well with Wisconsin and Iowa in the far inferior Western Division in the Big Ten Conference.
Basketball
As is the case with most programs across the nation, the Cyclone Men’s Basketball program is frankly in a class above the Nittany Lions.
Iowa State won the Big 12 Conference tournament in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019 and has earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament seven of the last nine years. That includes two Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2014 and 2016.
Similarly, the Cyclone Women’s Basketball program has seen a significant amount of recent success. They have made the NCAA Tournament 12 of the last 14 years and made two Sweet Sixteens in 2009 and 2010. Their head coach, Bill Fennelly has been at the helm since 1996!
It’s safe to say both the Men’s and Women’s programs are looking up at the Cyclone basketball teams if they were to join the Big Ten Conference.
Iowa State’s impact on wrestling, other sports
Perhaps the sport of most interest to Nittany Lions fans, Iowa State has a historically strong wrestling program.
Featuring 70 National Champions and over 300 All-Americans, the Cyclones are one of only a handful of programs on that could compete with the Nittany Lions on the nation stage (along with their in-state rival, Iowa).
The Cyclones have also appeared in 52 Track and Field NCAA Tournaments and also field teams in Women’s Volleyball, Tennis, Swimming and Diving, Softball, Soccer, Gymnastics, Golf and Cross Country and Men’s Golf and Cross Country.