Iowa State’s 2026 season opener at Jack Trice Stadium will not get underway on time after weather moved in near Ames, forcing a delay before kickoff.
The Cyclones had been scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m.
CT, but Iowa State Football announced on X that the game has been pushed back at least 30 minutes to 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m.
CT. The university said it is working with the Department of Public Safety as a storm approaches the stadium, bringing high winds and lightning.
“In consultation with the Department of Public Safety we are monitoring a storm that is heading in the direction of Jack Trice Stadium. The storm is producing high winds and lightning and projected to be in the area at 11:50. Please take appropriate safety precautions.”
The delay could still grow if conditions worsen, with the situation continuing to be monitored. For now, the plan is simple: there will be football in Ames this afternoon, just not at the originally scheduled time.
This opener also marks the start of the Jimmy Rogers era in Ames. Iowa State enters 2026 with a new head coach for the first time in 10 years after Matt Campbell left for the Penn State Nittany Lions following a decade on the job.
There’s plenty of uncertainty around the Cyclones heading into the season, especially with zero starters back from the 2025 team. That has fueled plenty of talk about a difficult year, though there is still some talent on the roster that has been overlooked.
Jaylen Raynor is one of the biggest names to watch. The quarterback brings three years of starting experience from Arkansas State in the Sun Belt, and while the jump to the Big 12 is a major one, he has the ability to settle in quickly under offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl.
Weather could nudge the game plan a bit, but Raynor is still in position for a strong debut against Southeast Missouri.
Defensively, Caden Crawford is another player worth tracking. He once played on the other side of the Cy-Hawk rivalry as an Iowa Hawkeye before transferring to the South Dakota Coyotes, and now he’s back at the Power Four level looking to show he can make plays here, too.
Isaac Terrell also stands out up front. The defensive end may be the best player on the team, and he and Crawford should be in position to create problems for Southeast Missouri quarterback Braylen Ragland.
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