Perkins helped ISU to record-setting year

AMES, Iowa — Victory never tasted sweeter. In what has become one of the more silly, yet entertaining traditions of the college bowl season, the Iowa State University football team was ready to eat. The Cyclones had just survived the University of Miami in a 42-41 thriller to win the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. And what better way to celebrate the best season in program history? By eating Pop-Tarts from a giant slab after an "edible mascot" was lowered into a giant toaster on the field and presented for the winning team to eat after the game as an edible replica. "It was great," said starting punter Tyler Perkins, a 2022 St. Paul graduate. "it was like a cake and Pop-Tarts combined … it tasted pretty good." The wild back-and-forth victory over the Hurricanes (10-3) capped a historic season for the Cyclones. They won their 10th game in a season for the first time in the 133-year history of the program and played in the Big 12 championship game this season. Iowa State finished at No. 15 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll, released on Jan. 21. "It was definitely emotional after beating Miami," Perkins said of the win on Dec. 28. "Everyone was really excited, because we knew it wasn't going to be easy going into that game. "Miami just barely missed the playoffs like us, and we didn't know if (quarterback) Cam Ward was going to play or not. But it was a lot of fun to be a part of it. and to watch us trade scores with them." And though Perkins was called on to punt just three times, he still had a key role in the finish. Kyle Konrardy kicked six extra points in the bowl win, including the final and game-winning point with 56 seconds left in the game. Perkins, a junior, also served as his holder all season, which also included a 54-yard field goal with six seconds left in a 20-19 win at rival Iowa on Sept. 7. "At that point, you just have to let muscle memory take over," Perkins said of being the place holder in such a critical spot. "We had been there with the game-winning field goal at Iowa. It was a bigger moment, just because it was so much further and the crowd was louder." Iowa State won its first seven games of the 2024 season before a last-minute loss to Texas Tech, 23-22, on Nov. 2. The Cyclones then lost the next week at Kansas, 45-36, before winning three straight games. The last of those three wins was a 29-21 win over Kansas State at home to send the Cyclones to the Big 12 title game. Arizona State capitalized on ISU turnovers in the 45-19 win in Dallas on Dec. 7 to advance to the 12-team College Football Playoff. But the thrilling bowl win over the Hurricanes — a game that saw Perkins punt three times for 112 yards — was a big morale boost to end the season. "It was great obviously to set the record for most wins in school history and play for a conference title," Perkins said. "It's a blessing, honestly. It's something to put in the history books and tell your family you were part of the best team in Iowa State history. "And hopefully when the record gets broken, we can still say we were the first team." For the season, Perkins finished with his best net average yet. He punted 37 times for 1,642 yards, good for 44.4 yards per kick. His season-best punt traveled 57 yards. Called on to punt a season-high six times in a 38-35 win over Central Florida on Oct. 19, Perkins averaged 49.5 yards per punt. "The year started off slow, but it felt like I heated up halfway through the season," Perkins said. "The season didn't finish how I wanted it to, but that just adds more fuel to the fire and motivates me for next year." Still, his 43.6-yard average through three seasons is on pace to be the highest career average in program history. "And I'm looking to keep that up," the former All-Ohio punter for the Flyers said. "It was a confidence thing, and sometimes I was getting in my own head. "I'd hit a good punt, then try to outdo myself on the next one, and I got myself in trouble a few times." After coming home following the bowl win, Perkins returned to the Ames, Iowa campus on Jan. 13. After about two months of winter workouts and spring break, the Cyclones will go through spring practices in March and April. Perkins will then look to finish on the Dean's List as an accounting major, which he did during the season. After the Memorial Day holiday, he'll resume workouts in preparation for his final season at Iowa State. The Cyclones will open the 2025 season against Kansas State on Aug. 23 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. And though the Big 12 schedule isn't finalized yet, at some point after their fourth game, the Cyclones will play at Cincinnati. That will give Perkins one more opportunity to perform in his home state. "Consistency is my No. 1 goal," Perkins said. "And then catching the eyes of NFL scouts if I haven't already, then breaking more school records and helping my team win even more games."