Iowa State’s season opened on the right foot, but the real test arrives fast.
After knocking off Southeast Missouri State 38-10 at Jack Trice Stadium, the Cyclones now turn their attention to a road trip to Iowa City for the Cy-Hawk Rivalry game against Iowa. It will be Jimmy Rogers’ first crack at the rivalry in his first year leading the program, and the challenge comes with the usual extra weight that Cy-Hawk Week carries.
Rogers said he’d like to make it three straight road wins for Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium, but nothing about this one looks simple. Iowa rolled past Northern Illinois 40-0 in its opener, leaving plenty of tape for Iowa State to study. The biggest issue, though, is the uncertainty at quarterback.
The Hawkeyes used both Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski against Northern Illinois, and they have not announced a starter for Week 2. That means Iowa State has to get ready for both.
"Hank's a longer, more of a pocket passer. His experience at Auburn, watching him move, I thought he did a really good job on Saturday," Rogers said, via Alec Busse of Cyclone Alert, part of the 247Sports Network (subscription required).
"Hecklinksi had the opportunity to show more movement stuff last year when he got in," Rogers said. "And I do think from watching some of the practice film that was all over social media, I thought he played really well. So, I don't know if there's a huge drop-off."
Brown got the start and was the sharper of the two. He went 12-of-20 for 129 yards and a touchdown. Hecklinski finished 7-of-16 for 76 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw an interception in the end zone on a fourth down play.
Even with the split snaps, defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit said the main focus is less about the quarterback name and more about the structure Iowa brings.
"I'm sure they have maybe a little variety or differences in what they're maybe trying to do with each guy," he said. "But overall, the scheme is the scheme, and we look forward to whoever comes out to play versus us. And they're both good players."
There’s also a clear target Iowa State has to account for in Tony Diaz. Brown and Hecklinski both leaned on him, and he caught Brown’s touchdown pass while finishing with a team-high seven receptions for 84 yards.
For the Cyclones, the matchup likely comes down to control at the line of scrimmage. If Isaac Terrell can create the kind of disruption he showed in Week 1, Iowa State will give itself a real shot to leave Kinnick with another road win.
In Other News...
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The timing could be useful, too, with Big 12 competition already showing up in the first AP Top 25 poll of the regular season as Texas Tech, BYU, Utah and Houston all landed in the rankings. Iowa State still has plenty of work ahead, but getting a healthy piece back in the backfield would only help as the Cyclones try to keep pace in a league where every week seems to bring another ranked opponent into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
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Now the stage gets bigger, with Willich lined up to make the first start of his career in the Cy-Hawk game against Iowa. Coaches have continued to point to his accountability and the growth he has shown through the grind, even as recent games have included missed tackles that still leave room for more. In a rivalry where every detail seems to matter, Iowa State is suddenly leaning on a long-overdue breakthrough from a veteran who has spent years waiting for this chance. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Just Created A Fascinating New Cy-Hawk Setup
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The long-range schedule news adds another layer to that momentum. Iowa State has adjusted its 2027 slate with the idea of giving itself better preparation heading into the Cy-Hawk showdown, creating a setup that should leave more breathing room before Iowa arrives. For a rivalry game that always carries extra weight, that kind of planning could matter just as much as what happens on the field in the weeks leading up to it. [Read more 🡒]