The Cy-Hawk rivalry may not survive the next wave of college football realignment.
For years, Iowa and Iowa State have kept their in-state showdown intact despite the sport’s nonstop changes. But with the College Football Playoff set to grow to 24 teams as soon as 2027, and with scheduling agreements between conferences looming, the annual meeting between the Hawkeyes and Cyclones could be pushed out of the calendar.
The bigger issue is how all of this would reshape the regular season. A 24-team field would give teams far more margin for error, meaning multiple losses could still leave a program with a real shot at the playoff. That extra breathing room opens the door for conferences to arrange more high-profile nonconference games, and the Big Ten and SEC appear to be next in line for that kind of setup.
Joel Klatt said on social media that those scheduling agreements are already being put in place as the playoff expansion nears. “The next thing that will happen almost immediately is we’re going to get scheduling agreements between the SEC and the Big Ten. Top-end matchups, mid-tier…”
That kind of arrangement would create a scheduling squeeze. With both the Big Ten and SEC already playing nine conference games, teams would be left with just two open dates for nonconference play. That leaves very little room for the kind of games programs often use to ease into the season against FCS or Group of Six opponents.
And that’s where the Cy-Hawk game gets tricky. If Iowa and Iowa State are staring at a schedule with 11 Power Four games, something has to give. The annual Week 2 meeting would be the obvious target, especially if a Big Ten-SEC agreement lands in that same part of the calendar.
Week 1 and Week 3 are the likeliest alternatives, but neither is clean. A season opener would ask a lot from both programs right out of the gate. Moving the game to Week 3 would mean starting a 10-game Power Four stretch, which is a massive ask in its own right.
The most likely outcome, at least for now, is that the rivalry gets shelved. With a 9-3 record likely enough to keep a team in the 24-team playoff conversation, the safer path may be for Iowa and Iowa State to keep those early-season windows for Group of Six or FCS opponents instead of risking the Cy-Hawk matchup.
In Other News...
Big Ten Rival Just Sent Kirk Ferentz A Message Iowa Fans Will Love
P.J. Fleck didnt exactly soft-pedal the rivalry buildup when he talked about Kirk Ferentz this week. Minnesotas coach went out of his way to praise Ferentz as one of the greatest coaches of all time, pointing to the Iowa veterans consistency, adaptability and remarkable run of keeping the program steady for nearly three decades. For Hawkeye fans, it was the kind of acknowledgement that lands the way a compliment from a rival should: with a little extra weight.
Fleck also has the scars to back up the respect, carrying a 1-8 record against Ferentz and knowing firsthand how difficult Iowa has been to crack under his watch. The comments only reinforce what has long followed Ferentz around the Big Ten, where rivals may dislike the results but rarely question the standard he has set. In a series built on familiarity and frustration, it was another reminder that Iowas old coach still commands a lot of respect from the other side. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Has A Chance To Make A Real CFP Statement At Minnesota
Iowa heads to Minnesota for an important Big Ten road test, the kind of game that can quietly shape the conversation around the Hawkeyes if they handle it the right way. The matchup brings together two teams built on defense, with Iowa again leaning on the same formula that has carried it for years: create turnovers, get pressure up front and find enough production on the ground to control the pace.
Jeremy Hecklinski gets the start at quarterback, but the bigger challenge may be breaking through a Minnesota front that has done a good job keeping opposing pass rushes off balance. Iowa, meanwhile, comes in ranked 10th in sacks and will be looking to keep its defensive scoring streak alive for an 11th straight season, a reminder that this program still wins plenty of games by making life miserable for the other side. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Faces A Rivalry Test That Could Shape Its Season Push
After a bye week for both teams, Iowa heads to Minneapolis for the Floyd of Rosedale game against Minnesota, a rivalry matchup that always carries a little more weight than the records suggest. The Hawkeyes enter as nearly a touchdown favorite, and the setting at Huntington Bank Stadium adds another layer to a game that already has plenty of history attached to it.
Weather could play a real role in how this one unfolds, especially if the passing game gets limited by the conditions. Iowa has the edge on paper, but rivalry games rarely stick to the script, and this trip offers a chance to see whether the Hawkeyes can handle the pressure, lean on their strengths and keep their season push moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]