Peterson: There could be a silver lining to Iowa State’s sports wagering investigation

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Matt Campbell knows there’s the possibility Iowa State will open the season with multiple players, perhaps even starters, unavailable to suit up.

It’s not like this sports gambling thing is going away any time too quickly.

With that in mind, my hunch is that the Cyclones are preparing for at least the first two games – Sept. 2 against Northern Iowa, and a Saturday later against Iowa – with a very good idea of just who might not be available. It’s the only way to go. Practice with players you at least know will be available more intently than the ones you suspect won't. It’s the correct “team” thing to do.

How fair would it be if Player A went into the final week of fall camp knowing he was the starter at Position B, and then suddenly – boom.

The NCAA ruled them ineligible, and now the Cyclones are in scramble mode.

And what if that situation is reversed – what if an under-suspicion player starts, then suddenly is ruled ineligible during the season? And let’s say Iowa State won games in which the investigated player actually played. That’s a big fat forfeit, possibly, and it goes back to the “team” thing Campbell stressed Thursday at Big 12 Media Days.

“No matter what we’re doing, I’m not going to jeopardize the team,” Campbell said. “What we’ll do, is what’s in the best interest of the team.

Translated: No one’s playing unless that player has been cleared by both Iowa State and the NCAA.

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Campbell didn’t specifically come out and say that during 15 or so minutes with reporters away from the podium at Big 12 Media Days. He couldn’t. But he didn’t do a very good job masking his insinuation.

Rightfully, he didn’t publicly implicate anyone, because as we’ve heard repeatedly since early May “It’s still an open investigation.”

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That’s not coach speak. It’s reality. The DCI is still looking into allegations that an undisclosed number of players wagered illegally on games. Once they’re done, it’s Iowa State’s turn to process the information and from there, it goes to the NCAA’s potential penalty phase.

We all know how long that organization can take to pass out its findings.

And you expect the same returning players on the field at the start of the Northern Iowa game, that started last season? Dream on. If you’re in that group, you’re assuming that even without the investigation those players were going to start.

That’s a big leap. Campbell essentially blew up his offensive coaching staff from the past few seasons, most notably moving Nate Scheelhaase into Tom Manning’s coordinator position.

There’s a new quarterbacks coach. There’s a new offensive line coach.  There will be tweaks of plays that were so predictable that everyone knew what was coming on third-and-short.

So, in a weird way, maybe the aftershock from the ill-advised sports wagering won’t be as bad as it could be.

Here’s a thought: What if the sports wagering investigation that’s going with a handful of Iowa State football players, some presumed starters, actually becomes a positive?

In a weird way, what if the months-long probe has a silver lining?

What if backups were better than players who might miss games, if that’s what the DCI, Iowa State and ultimately the NCAA determine?

We all thought Mike Warren would be RB-1 for a while, but David Montgomery beat him out and ended up being one of the Cyclones’ finest, before heading off to the Bears and now the Lions.

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We thought Kyle Kempt and Zeb Noland would be ahead of Brock Purdy, but we all know how that turned out.

Later on, we figured Jirehl Brock would start ahead of another running back in that recruiting class – Breece Hall. No explanation needed on that one.

Unplanned starters happen all the time, especially in a developmental program like Campbell’s.

So, what if there’s somehow a similar silver lining to the sports wagering situation? What if Campbell’s team somehow rebounds from last season’s disaster, to somehow play in a bowl game, despite playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules?

Don’t bet against it.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, and on Twitter @RandyPete

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Peterson: There may be a silver lining to Iowa State’s gambling probe