Iowa State will get a primetime feel at Jack Trice Stadium when Oklahoma State comes to Ames on Oct. 31.
Kickoff for the Week 9 matchup is set for 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m.
ET, giving the Cyclones their first home game under the lights this season. Every Iowa State home game so far has started in the afternoon, so Halloween night will bring something a little different to the stadium.
The timing also matters because the Cyclones are trying to keep their season moving in the right direction. Iowa State enters the stretch at 3-3 and still needs three more wins to reach bowl eligibility.
Holding serve at home is a big part of that equation, and the Cyclones have done a solid job of that so far in 2026. Their lone loss at Jack Trice Stadium came against Utah, when an early deficit proved too much to overcome.
Oklahoma State should provide a real test. The Cowboys just missed the top 25 this week, finishing eight points behind Arizona, which checks in at No.
- They will also be Iowa State’s second straight ranked opponent if the Wildcats stay in the poll, since the Cyclones are heading to Tucson before turning around for the home date with Oklahoma State.
That would mean another tough run for Iowa State against ranked competition. The Cyclones have already taken on three ranked teams this season and lost all three, falling to Iowa, Utah and BYU.
The challenge doesn’t end with the Cowboys, either. After Oklahoma State, Iowa State will stay in Ames for games against Cincinnati and Kansas State.
And this one could turn into another shootout. Oklahoma State is led by first-year head coach Eric Morris, who brought Northern Texas Mean Green stars Drew Mestemaker at quarterback and Caleb Hawkins at running back with him. Iowa State is coming off a 45-42 win over West Virginia in what was already a track meet at Jack Trice Stadium, and the Cowboys could make for another fast-paced night.
In Other News...
Iowa State Heads Into A Tough Arizona Test With One Big Unknown
A bye week gave Iowa State a little extra time to reset before heading into a tricky trip to Arizona, where the Wildcats are marking the 100-year anniversary of their Bear Down motto with a Homecoming stage that figures to bring plenty of energy. The matchup also comes with a familiar college football wrinkle for the Cyclones, since both teams have had a week to prepare and the game now shifts toward execution, health and how well Iowa State can match up in a game that should feel bigger than an ordinary nonconference date.
Arizona has its own pieces in place, from quarterback Noah Fifita to running back Kedrick Reescano, wide receiver Isaiah Mizell and linebacker Taye Brown, all of whom have been part of the Wildcats recent push. For Iowa State, the bigger question is still hanging over the roster: the injury report has not yet been settled, leaving a little uncertainty around how the Cyclones will look when they finally line up against a team playing with a celebratory backdrop and plenty of momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Tamin Lipseys Return Is Taking Shape For Iowa State
Tamin Lipseys return is starting to come into focus for Iowa State, and the early signs are encouraging for a team that expects to lean on him heavily once the games start counting. T.J. Otzelberger said Lipsey has been practicing with the Cyclones and that the staff has a plan to ease him back into action after he was held out of the first exhibition game.
The absence was not tied to eligibility, but to a prior injury, and the approach has been to build him back up carefully rather than rush the process. Otzelberger is hoping Lipsey can get into the upcoming game against Northwestern, which would offer a meaningful next step in his return and give Iowa State a better sense of where things stand. [Read more 🡒]
Freya Jensen Could Be Crucial As Iowa State Starts Over
Freya Jensen is one of only three players back on Iowa States womens basketball roster, and that alone gives her a different kind of value as the Cyclones start over. After playing limited minutes last season, Jensen is being counted on for much more than a spot role this time around, with her experience and familiarity offering some stability for a team filled with newcomers trying to settle into a new system and environment.
Jensens path also gives Iowa State a useful blend of perspective and skill. Before arriving in Ames, she played for Aabyhoj IF Senior Womens Team in Denmark, and she brings speed and shooting ability to a group that needs both. For a roster still learning how to fit together, those traits matter, but so does the steadiness that comes from a returning player who understands what the program is asking every day. [Read more 🡒]