The Cy-Hawk rivalry gets its next turn in Week 2, and Iowa State is walking into it with momentum after a 38-10 win over Southeast Missouri State at Jack Trice Stadium. Now the Cyclones head into a tougher spotlight against Iowa, with first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers set to take part in the matchup for the first time against the Hawkeyes.
Iowa also opened strong, rolling past Northern Illinois 40-0 behind a defense that allowed just 180 offensive yards. Kamari Moulton powered the ground game with 183 rushing yards on only 11 carries, giving the Hawkeyes a clear edge on the scoreboard and plenty of confidence heading into the rivalry game.
For Iowa State, the biggest question is whether the offense can clean things up in a louder, less forgiving setting. The Cyclones produced 303 yards last week, and starting quarterback Jaylen Raynor completed only 8-of-16 passes. Even so, he found the end zone four times and flashed the kind of rushing ability that can change a game in a hurry.
The battle up front could decide a lot. Iowa State’s defensive front made its presence felt in Week 1, piling up six sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Isaac Terrell was the headliner, finishing with three sacks and three tackles for loss against Southeast Missouri State.
That kind of pressure will be put to the test against an Iowa offensive line that has a strong reputation. It gives defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit and his group a real measuring stick, and if the Cyclones can create the same disruption again, they’ll have a chance to stay right in it.
There’s also uncertainty on the Hawkeyes’ side at quarterback. Iowa used three players under center last week, with Henry Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski competing for the starting job and Jimmy Sullivan listed as the No. 3.
Bobbit knows his defense will have to sort through more than just the names. As he sees it, the bigger issue is Iowa’s scheme, not simply which quarterback gets the first snap.
In Other News...
Iowa Turns Cy-Hawk Weekend Into A Huge Test For Ben McCollum
Cy-Hawk weekend is already one of the biggest recruiting stages on the Iowa calendar, and Ben McCollum is using it to his advantage. With the football rivalry bringing plenty of eyes to Iowa City, the Hawkeyes are hosting top basketball prospects Cayden Daughtry and Cole Kelly as part of McCollums push to build out the programs future.
Daughtry arrives as a highly regarded 2027 target, while Kelly is emerging as a name to watch in the 2028 class. For McCollum, getting both prospects on campus during a high-profile weekend gives Iowa a chance to sell more than basketball, with atmosphere and timing adding extra weight to visits that could matter down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Early QB Pipeline Is Giving Fans A New Reason To Watch
Iowas quarterback room may not be the only place worth watching in the years ahead. Chase Grove, a 2028 quarterback prospect from North Central High School in Indianapolis, has already committed to the Hawkeyes, giving the program an early head start on a player whose coaches have long pointed to his football IQ and leadership as standout traits. Grove picked Iowa over several other offers, and his bond with the staff helped make the fit feel natural well before his high school career reaches its final chapters.
For Iowa fans, the appeal goes beyond the usual recruiting buzz that comes with an early commitment. Grove has already shown he can produce both as a passer and as a runner, which makes him an intriguing piece for a program always looking to build depth and stability at the position. The next question is how his development unfolds from here, but Iowa has clearly done enough to land a quarterback the staff believes it can build around. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Ferentz Just Kept Iowas Quarterback Debate Alive
Kirk Ferentz came away from Iowas in-state rivalry game talking less about the final result and more about what his young team can take from it. At the center of that conversation was Hank Brown, who got the start and showed poise under pressure, moving the offense with a steady hand while the Hawkeyes tried to find answers against a familiar opponent.
Ferentz made it clear the quarterback picture is still very much open, and he framed it as something Iowa will sort through on a week-by-week basis. Browns performance gave the staff something to build on, but Jeremy Hecklinski remains part of the conversation too, which means the Hawkeyes are still carrying one of the more watched decisions on the roster into the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]