2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects Iowa State at #12 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +17.5 points per 100 possessions. That's roughly in line with last season's #5 finish. LangIndex classifies this roster as a national contender.
About 58% of last season's production returns, a middle-of-the-road continuity number. The incoming class is headlined by 4-star Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan, part of a 3-commit group.
Last Season (2025-26)
Iowa State finished 2025-26 at 27-7, ranked #5 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 123.8 and adjusted defense of 91.9 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates Iowa State
Iowa State's power rating of +17.5 is an adjusted efficiency margin: the points per 100 possessions the model expects them to outscore an average Division I team by, once you strip out schedule strength. It combines adjusted offensive efficiency, adjusted defensive efficiency, and pace into one number, so a rating of +17.5 means Iowa State projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 12 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
Iowa State Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. Iowa State has trended upward over the last few seasons. Their best finish in this window was #5 in 2025-26.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | +26.9 | #5 |
| 2024-25 | +19.8 | #11 |
| 2023-24 | +22.2 | #5 |
| 2022-23 | +10.2 | #56 |
| 2021-22 | +5.4 | #96 |
| 2020-21 | -17.7 | #328 |