After what has seemed like months of speculation the Big XII finally released the 2012 football schedule yesterday morning. There were a number of surprises in there that contradicted the purported "leaks" from Texas Tech and West Virginia.

For starters, Tech was slated to visit Ames on October 27th according to the leak and the actual date is now September 29th. Also, Iowa State's two bye weeks come before Big XII conference play (September 22nd) and after Big XII Conference play (December 1st). This a huge drawback for a team with less depth than most of the conference but is not foreign territory for the program.

Since 2005 Iowa State has only played twice on the final week of the regular season. A 24-21 loss to Kansas in 2005 (ugh) and a 30-23 loss to Kansas State in 2011.

The bye week notwithstanding, the schedule sets up for a favorable start for the Cyclones and the potential for a breakout season. So jump on with me to the breakdown of the 2012 schedule and how the Cyclones will fare.

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National Signing Day for Iowa State SHOULD be fairly uneventful. It appears only 2 or 3 more will be added to this class, and all current commits seem fairly strong. The only one up in the air is Damein Lawry, who recently took a visit to Mizzou.

Note: We'll be moving commits to the signed category as they sign all day, so check back on this page for updates.

The Iowa State Cyclones defeat #5 Kansas in front of a standing room only crowd. Hilton Magic lives, Fred looks dreamier than ever and Royce White transforms from airball to clutch.

And the peasants rejoice!

Other than the first drive and select tidbits, Iowa State was incredibly flat on offense (especially the passing game), and Rutgers was more than happy to take advantage, bringing massive amounts of pressure. If it wasn't for Iowa State's defense holding up passably well, Rutgers would have ran away with this game. In the end though, Rutgers did the expected and took advantage of their receivers' size advantage over Jeremy Reeves and Leonard Johnson.

Either Tom Herman mailed it in tonight, or Ohio State has some serious buyers remorse right now. But what playcalling could save a team that couldn't complete a simple 5 yard dump pass? Tonight, the Cyclones were equal parts lack of execution and a poor gameplan.

Steele Jantz replaced Jared Barnett after a hard hit and had small flashes of the Jantz we saw against Iowa, but didn't do much to reassert himself as the starter going into next season. Paul Rhoads seems to be fine starting a QB controversy by stating it post game, and Jared Barnett confirmed that he was banged up, but still able to play.

Thanks to all the seniors this year, including Leonard Johnson and Ter'ran Benton, some who dealt with not one, but TWO coaching changes. Best of luck to all of them, whether it be in the NFL or other endeavors.

It's never good to end the season on a sour note, but here's what we have to look forward to in 2012.

• Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year AJ Klein and AP Big 12 First Teamer Jake Knott will return to make the Cyclones' LB corps the class of the Big 12.
• QB controversy or not, Jared Barnett and Steele Jantz will be another year wiser.
• Jarvis West returning kicks.
• Albert Gary (hopefully still with the team) will try to replicate his performance against Oklahoma State over an entire season
• The possible return of Shontrelle Johnson from neck surgery, adding the speed dimension to the Iowa State running attack that's been missing.
• PAUL FREAKIN' RHOADS.

Based on Iowa State representation in ESPN's Bowl Week Promo Commercials, the country should be most excited for this game. Going for win number 7!

An Emergency Lattimer Alert has been issued for the greater New York City area from now until 6:30 EST tonight. Tracking shows that Lattimer is on his way to Yankee Stadium later this morning with his eyes set on the Rutgers' quarterbacks.

Scarlet Knights players, coaches and fans should be aware that Lattimer is extremely dangerous and should not be engaged in hand to hand combat. This is a SEVERE WARNING, which means Rutgers is 100%, unequivocally fucked at 3:20 EST.

2011 Bowl Game: Iowa State vs Rutgers

2:20 PM, Friday, December 30^th

Well here we are, just a little over 24 hours away from the second bowl game in Paul Rhoads’ tenure and what will hopefully be a great cap to an up and down roller coaster of a season. The season has been a great one to watch with the exciting wins over UNI and Iowa, the thrashing of another ranked team on the road and the upset that sent the BCS into chaos and hopefully moved us one step closer to a playoff.

Let me say this though, if the Cyclones fail to win on Friday there will be a hollow feeling about this season.

There were steps made in the right direction with the biggest win in school history and the sense that games on the road are no longer a crapshoot (Missouri not withstanding). But make no mistake, bowl games are a way to send the seniors out with a win, validate what the program is doing and create momentum heading into the very important January workouts. This is not to take away from the accomplishments made this season, and just making a bowl game is good enough from a development stand point. But winning a bowl game gives the returning players even more incentive to perform well off the field.

Rutgers will be no easy foe in this one. Even though they went 8-4 in the Big East they bring a mix of talent and enthusiasm that is not all that much different than what we have seen in Ames under Rhoads. With that said, let’s get right to it.

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