ESPN: How each top 25 college football team wins next season's national title
16. Iowa State Cyclones
Win the close ones this time. ISU's five regular-season losses came by an average of just 3.6 points; the Cyclones were 2-5 in one-score finishes. Baylor surged to within an OT period of the CFP because the Bears won those games. If a more experienced backfield (QB Brock Purdy, RB Breece Hall) and a continuously innovative defense can just make one or two more plays in these tight games, the Cyclones could easily get to 12-1 or so. They'd have to pull a couple of upsets in the CFP, but their defense might give them a shot. --Connelly
16. Iowa State Cyclones
Win the close ones this time. ISU's five regular-season losses came by an average of just 3.6 points; the Cyclones were 2-5 in one-score finishes. Baylor surged to within an OT period of the CFP because the Bears won those games. If a more experienced backfield (QB Brock Purdy, RB Breece Hall) and a continuously innovative defense can just make one or two more plays in these tight games, the Cyclones could easily get to 12-1 or so. They'd have to pull a couple of upsets in the CFP, but their defense might give them a shot. --Connelly
