This week’s Cy-Hawk matchup puts a familiar face on the Iowa State side, and for defensive lineman Caden Crawford, the spotlight feels especially sharp.
Crawford’s path through college football has already taken plenty of turns. He grew up in Lansing, KS, and originally committed to Iowa, but his run with the Hawkeyes never really got off the ground.
As a freshman, he redshirted and didn’t play. In his redshirt freshman season, he appeared in just one game and didn’t record a stat.
Then came his redshirt sophomore year, when he finished with two tackles - one solo and one assist - along with a fumble recovery.
After three years in the program, Crawford transferred and headed to the FCS level with South Dakota. That move paid off in a big way. He posted 78 tackles, three pass deflections, and 5.5 sacks in a strong season with the Coyotes.
That performance led him to Iowa State, where he now starts at defensive end and is viewed as a key part of what has been the Cyclones’ best position group. His first game this season wasn’t his sharpest, though. In Week 1, Crawford had two tackles and was one of the only Iowa State defensive linemen not to record a sack in a game where the team finished with six.
Even with that uneven opener, Crawford still brings the kind of production and presence Iowa State needs in a game like this. The Cyclones are focused on stopping the run, and that responsibility will be front and center against Kamari Moulton, who had nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns. If Iowa State wants to leave with a road win, Crawford will need to play a major role.
It’s a tough stage, and the setting won’t make anything easier. But for Crawford, this is a chance to show the Hawkeyes what they missed.
In Other News...
Jaylen Raynor Faces A Bigger Iowa Test Than Fans Wanted
Jaylen Raynors first outing for Iowa State gave the Cyclones a little bit of everything, and not always in equal measure. The quarterback accounted for four touchdowns against Southeast Missouri State, but he also completed only 8 of 16 passes, a reminder that the passing game was still finding its rhythm even as he flashed more comfort on play-action and showed better touch throwing downfield.
That matters because the next step is a far tougher one for Iowa State, and one that Iowa fans will be watching closely. If Raynor is going to have the kind of afternoon that keeps the Cyclones on track, the ground game may need to do a lot of the heavy lifting first, setting up the looks that helped him settle in last week and giving him a chance to make plays without having to carry everything himself. [Read more 🡒]
Cy-Hawk Weekend Gives Iowa A Big Chance With Rival Targets
Iowa State has been trying to steady its recruiting board after the turbulence that followed Matt Campbells departure, and Jimmy Rogers staff has spent plenty of time rebuilding both the current class and the long-range pipeline. The 2027 group already sits at No. 43 nationally with 24 commitments, a list that includes notable names such as Isaiah Hansen and Will Slagle, but the Cyclones know the deeper fight is still ahead as they try to hold serve with younger targets.
Cy-Hawk weekend has added another layer to that battle, because several 2028 prospects Iowa State has hosted are now taking in rival Iowa as well. Defensive lineman Hunter Mosolino and quarterback Chase Grove are among the visitors who could end up hearing both pitches in a rivalry setting, which makes this stretch on the calendar especially important for the Cyclones. For a staff trying to rebuild momentum, these are the kinds of weekends that can shape where the next round of recruiting traction really goes. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Faces A Huge Recruiting Test In Ben McCollum's Rebuild
Iowas mens basketball program is getting a real look at the scale of Ben McCollums rebuild this weekend, with five-star point guard Cayden Daughtry on campus for a recruiting visit. Daughtry, ranked fourth nationally in the 2027 class, has become one of the most sought-after guards in the country, and the Hawkeyes are trying to make a strong early impression as they reset the roster and reestablish their footing under a new coach.
McCollum has built a reputation for identifying and developing guards, which gives Iowa a clear selling point in a crowded race that also includes Florida, Miami and Arkansas. There is still a long way to go in Daughtrys recruitment, but for a program looking for a signature win on the trail, simply getting him to visit is an important step, and landing him would be the kind of result that changes how the rebuild looks. [Read more 🡒]