US EditionWhy Iowa State declined bowl invitation, and what it will cost ISU
Players voted out due to lack of healthy roster after Matt Campbell's departure; Big 12 fined Iowa State $500,000 for declining postseason bowl bid.
- On Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, Iowa State University football program notified the Big 12 Conference that it would not play a postseason bowl game.
- Iowa State players voted to forgo a bowl game after meeting with administrators and coaches, citing insufficient healthy players to safely practice and play following Matt Campbell's departure and Jimmy Rogers' hiring.
- Finishing 8-4 this season, the Iowa State Cyclones reached milestones under Matt Campbell's decade-long tenure, who is the program's winningest coach with 72 victories and seven bowl appearances.
- The Big 12 fined Iowa State $500,000 for declining a bowl bid, costing the team a potential ninth win and prompting transfer-portal disruption with Quentin Taylor Jr. entering.
- With open bowl slots, replacements will be chosen from 5-7 teams with the highest Academic Progress Rates, while Kansas State Wildcats replaced former K-State coach Chris Klieman with Collin Klein.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Big 12 fines schools for opting out of bowl games
The Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats paid the price for deciding to opt out of a college football bowl game on Sunday.The Big 12 Conference announced it fined the two schools $500,000 each for their decisions.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"The Big 12 Conference is issuing a $500,000 institutional fine to Iowa State and Kansas State for opting out of their participation in the Conference’s bowl pool," the conferen…
Iowa State Football Players Refuse Bowl Game Triggering 6-Figure Fine For School They Plan To Leave
Iowa State football helmet The Iowa State football team went 8-4 in the regular season with strong wins over Iowa and TCU. The Cyclones will not play in a bowl game. Players refused a postseason invite following a team vote. It triggered a six-figure fine from the Big 12. “The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players decision. Our student-athletes have had an incredible season and we are grateful for their leadership as w…
$1M Punishment Announced as Kansas State Joins ISU in Bowl Game Decision
After concluding their regular season with more than four losses, the Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State headed towards bowl games. Owing to program instability and a head coach in transition, both the Wildcats and the Cyclones have opted out of bowl games. However, this decision has resulted in a $1 million fine. “The Big 12 Conference is issuing a $500,000 institutional fine to Iowa State and Kansas State for opting out of their participatio…
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