The Cyclones competed as members of the Big 12 Conference and were led by fifth-year head coach Matt Campbell.

Despite falling to Oklahoma, Iowa State was given a bid to the Fiesta Bowl, the Cyclones first ever appearance in a New Year's Six Bowl Game, where they defeated the Oregon Ducks, and due to the COVID 19 shortened season, became one of only eleven teams in the nation to have at least nine wins.

On May 26, 2020, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard announced that single-game tickets would not be sold for Iowa State football games for the 2020 season and that only the 30,000 season ticket holders would be permitted to attend games, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[6] The Cyclones added Ball State to the schedule to replace in-state rival Iowa.

[8] The Cyclones announced a reconfigured schedule on August 12, 2020, with the addition of Louisiana as their non-conference opponent.