After a loss at Cincinnati, Campbell’s Cyclones turn toward Boulder with focus, respect, and resolve.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell applauds Deion Sanders for reshaping Colorado’s identity originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There’s a steadiness to Matt Campbell’s voice. It’s calm in tone, confident in message, and never swayed by the noise around him. But this week, as Iowa State turns the page from its 38–30 loss at Cincinnati, the Cyclones’ head coach couldn’t help but take note of the energy surrounding his next opponent.
“I think what he’s done is impressive,” Campbell said of Deion Sanders. “You’re talking about a program that was on tough times, and what he has given that program is life. Hope, belief, and conviction, I think you see that in this Colorado program right now, and that’s a tribute to him and his staff.”
Campbell’s respect carried weight. He pointed out that the Buffaloes, still a young roster, “were up 14–0 on the road at TCU last week” and “right there to win the game in the fourth quarter.” The Cyclones know they’ll face elite skill and tempo Saturday in Boulder. “They’ve got great talent,” he said. “They play really hard, and they’re really skilled.”
More: Deion Sanders says he's ‘trying to find light in a dark tunnel’ after latest loss
Quarterback Kaidon Salter, the Liberty transfer who fuels Colorado’s offense, fits the prototype Campbell’s defense has faced repeatedly this season. “He’s very skilled maneuvering through the pocket, his ability to get outside and make plays,” Campbell said. “You’re talking about a guy that’s got a lot of experience, not just at Colorado.”
And while much of the outside talk focuses on altitude and atmosphere, Campbell won’t let that narrative breathe. “We’ve tried not to make a big deal about it,” he said. “The biggest challenge is post-game recovery, not the game itself.”
Still, the tone in Ames this week has been accountability. Campbell admitted last week’s loss came down to precision, not passion. “It wasn’t an effort deal. It wasn’t an attitude deal,” he said of Cincinnati. “It was just an execution deal that we’ve got to be better at, and there’s only one way to attack that, and that’s work.”
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