Cy-Hawk rivalry never lacks drama, and this year’s installment comes with added tension. On Saturday,Iowa State hosts Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames for a noon kickoff. While the Cyclones are ranked 16th and riding high with a 2-0 start, the weight of history lingers. Iowa State has not beaten the Hawkeyes in Ames since 2011, and the home team has failed to win in this rivalry since 2018.
Iowa State’s Strong Start and Rocco Becht’s Emergence
Matt Campbell’s Cyclones opened the season in style, beating No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin before steamrolling South Dakota 55-7 last week. Quarterback Rocco Becht has quickly become the face of the program. Against South Dakota, he completed 19 of 20 passes, setting a school record for single-game completion percentage at 95 percent. Becht also tossed three touchdowns, proving his growth from last season when he showed flashes but also struggled in big moments.
Becht understands how much this rivalry means. The Florida native has been hearing about the Cy-Hawk game since the day he arrived in Ames, and he admitted this week that it’s personal now. He will need help from a supporting cast that includes breakout running back Abu Sama III, one of the most dynamic weapons in the Big 12. Kicker Kyle Konrardy also gave the Cyclones a boost with a school-record 63-yard field goal last weekend, showing special teams could be a hidden factor.
Defensively, Iowa State will be tested more than it was against South Dakota. Linebacker Caleb Bacon and safety Beau Freyler are leaders of a unit that thrives on physicality and smart positioning. If the Cyclones want to end the home losing streak, the defense will have to force Iowa’s new quarterback into mistakes.
Iowa’s New-Look Offense and Steady Defense
Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa team opened the year with a comfortable 34-7 win over Albany, but there are still questions about the offense. Mark Gronowski, a transfer from South Dakota State, got his first start under center. He threw for just 44 yards on 8-of-15 passing, though he added two total touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground. Ferentz said he isn’t worried, noting that Gronowski just needs to relax and let the game come to him.
The highlight for Iowa was Xavier Williams, who ran for 112 yards and a touchdown in his debut. He became the first Hawkeye back since Shonn Greene in 2005 to top 100 yards in his first game. If Williams can keep running at that level, Iowa may finally have the explosive ground game it has been missing in recent years.
The Hawkeye defense remains as reliable as ever. Iowa has built its identity around suffocating opponents, and linebacker Jay Higgins along with defensive back Sebastian Castro will be tasked with slowing down Becht and Sama. The defense has carried Iowa in most of its recent wins over Iowa State, and it will likely need to do so again.
History and What’s at Stake
Last year’s meeting in Iowa City was a heartbreaker for the Hawkeyes. Iowa State edged them 20-19 in a game that came down to late execution. That win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Cyclones and gave Becht his first taste of success in the rivalry.
But in Ames, the story has been one of frustration for Iowa State. Not even Brock Purdy, one of the program’s best quarterbacks, could get a home win over the Hawkeyes. The last time the Cyclones won at Jack Trice was the wild 44-41 triple-overtime game in 2011.
This year feels different. Iowa State comes in ranked and confident, while Iowa is breaking in a new quarterback. The Hawkeyes still have the edge in toughness and defensive discipline, but the Cyclones have more playmakers on offense.
No matter what the records say, the Cy-Hawk game always carries an edge that makes every snap feel like a season-defining moment. This weekend, Iowa will try to extend its dominance, while Iowa State looks to finally give its home fans the win they’ve been waiting for.