The Cyclones were predicted to do poorly and have no returning starters after many players left when Rogers was hired to replace Matt Campbell.

Rogers said he thinks the Cyclones can make it to the Big 12 championship game, which he admitted in an anonymous poll.

Rogers said, 'If I didn’t vote for us, you’d wonder why I’m the coach. I was hired to win. We’re not signing up for second place. I was hired to create a winning program.'

Rogers believes the players must trust him, and he must act on his beliefs. He thinks they can win.

Rogers is replacing a coach who won many games at Iowa State. The team played in many bowls and was in the Big 12 championship game in 2020.

The players are not surprised by Rogers' confidence, which comes from his past successes as a coach.

A player said Rogers helps the team focus on their goals, not what others say about them on social media.

The Associated Press reported this.