With Purdy leading way, Cyclones look to make some history

FILE - Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, center, walks off the field with quarterback Brock... — FILE - Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, center, walks off the field with quarterback Brock Purdy after the Camping World Bowl NCAA college football game against Notre Dame Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. Iowa State enters this season off its second-best three-year stretch in program history and with its sights set on doing something it's never done — make the Big 12 championship game.(Phelan M. Ebenhack | AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

By ERIC OLSON, Associated Press

Published: Sep. 1, 2020 at 1:56 PM CDT

AMES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa State enters this season coming off its second-best three-year stretch in program history.

It has its sights set on making the Big 12 championship game for the first time.

The Cyclones bring back nine starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that finished 7-6. Brock Purdy is poised to go down as the best quarterback to play at Iowa State. They also bring back high-profile players in running back Breece Hall, tight end Charlie Kolar, defensive end JaQuan Bailey and defensive back Greg Eisworth.

The Cyclones open Sept. 12 against Louisiana-Lafayette.

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