It must really be summer if the college football preview magazines are coming out.

Phil Steele’s College Football Preview calls the Iowa State Cyclones a dark horse in the Big 12 race. ISU has 16 starters back from last year’s team that finished 8-5 after a loss to Washington State in the Alamo Bowl, making the Cyclones one of the nation’s most experienced teams.

Steele says Cyclone hopes for a trip to the Big-12 Championship game may come down to home games against Texas and T-C-U.

The Cyclones open August 31st against Northern Iowa.