| Year: | 1979 |
| Team: | Iowa State Cyclones |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Eight Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 8 |
| Record: | 3–8 |
| Conf Record: | 2–5 |
| Head Coach: | Donnie Duncan |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Dal Shealy |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Cylcone Stadium |
The 1979 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented Iowa State University as a member of the Big Eight Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Donnie Duncan, the Cyclones compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 2–5 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for fifth in the Big Eight. The team played its home games at Cylcone Stadium in Ames, Iowa.