Iowa State Ranks Last in Missed Tackle Rate
Iowa State has the worst missed tackle rate of all 138 FBS teams through Week 10, according to PFF and tracked missed tackles.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Football
Through Week 10 of the 2026 season, Iowa State has a 19.5% missed tackle rate, ranking 138th of 138 FBS teams. The Cyclones have been credited with 125 missed tackles this season per PFF, and their only loss came against Utah.
Why it matters
Iowa State's tackling problems are a key reason its defense has struggled to finish plays, and the gap between the Cyclones and the rest of the country is wide. Iowa readers following the Cyclones heading into Week 11 have a clear view of where the defense needs to improve.
The players
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State University football program competes in the Big 12 Conference and plays its home games at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
Sullivan Schlimgen
Sullivan Schlimgen is a linebacker for Iowa State whose 20 missed tackles lead the team this season.
The details
Missed tackle rate data was shared by Cody Nagel on X, and tackling grades are reported by PFF. Iowa State's PFF tackling grade of 30.9 sits well below Florida Atlantic's 42, the next-closest team, while Oregon leads the country with a 10.2% tackle rate. Linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen has 20 missed tackles, the most on the team.
Timeline
Through Week 10 of the 2026 season: Iowa State ranks worst in missed tackle rate.
Week 11: Iowa State hosts Cincinnati at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.
Season Trajectory
Iowa State's tackling numbers place it at the extreme low end of PFF's FBS tracking, well behind even BYU at 136th and Miami at 129th. That gap is large enough to shape how the Cyclones' defense is judged against the rest of the Big 12 field.
Iowa State's 19.5% missed tackle rate affects how the defense holds up against opponents' ground and short-yardage plays in Week 11 against Cincinnati. Fantasy and betting readers tracking Cyclones defensive production should weigh Schlimgen's 20 missed tackles when projecting the team's stops.
The takeaway
Tackling efficiency is one of the most measurable parts of a defense, and Iowa State's position at the bottom of the FBS ranking makes it the first thing to watch as the Cyclones prepare for Cincinnati.
Further reading
For more on the Cyclones' season, see Iowa Football coverage across the state.
