The 73rd Cy-Hawk game is here, and once again Iowa and Iowa State are heading into it with bragging rights, early momentum and plenty of noise from both fan bases on the line.
After a summer packed with hype, questions and trash talk, the Cyclones and Hawkeyes are set for another high-stakes meeting in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa State is trying to keep its recent edge in the rivalry. Iowa wants the trophy back.
Before kickoff, the Cyclone Fanatic staff made its picks, and the split shows just how much uncertainty hangs over this one.
Chris Williams sees Iowa State hanging around for four quarters, but believes the atmosphere in a night game at Kinnick will be too much for a team with so many new faces. His call: Iowa 24, Iowa State 13.
Rob Gray pointed to the spread, noting that the line has climbed from 11.5 points to 13.5 to 14.5 depending on which Vegas sports book you may or may not consult (for entertainment purposes only). Even so, he isn’t buying a runaway. Gray said the key is whether Iowa State can slow Kamari Moulton and the Hawkeyes’ run game, and he landed in the middle with Iowa 21, Iowa State 13.
Jake Brend framed the game around turnovers. If Iowa State loses that battle, he thinks things could get ugly quickly in Kinnick at night.
But if the Cyclones can force Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklenski into mistakes, he sees a path. Even with that opening, Brend ultimately trusts Kirk Ferentz’ team in year 26 to make the decisive plays.
His pick: Iowa 23, Iowa State 10.
Jackson Pence took a wider view of the rivalry, calling Cy-Hawk a special week for the state and saying the game should be played every year because these two programs are our professional sports teams and rivalries are what is great about college sports, especially college football.
On the field, Pence said the game turns on whether Iowa State can move the ball, handle one of the best rushing attacks in college football and stand up physically in that kind of matchup. He thinks Jaylen Raynor can help the Cyclones by making plays with his legs and extending drives, and he called the Iowa State defensive line the biggest winner of the game.
Still, he expects Iowa to pull away late. His final: Iowa 24, Iowa State 16.
Jacqueline Cordova was the boldest of the group. She called being a 14-point underdog in a Cy-Hawk game a personal invitation for me to cause problems for the group chat.
Cordova leaned into the idea that Iowa State is walking into Kinnick at night with a new staff, a lot of new faces and nothing to lose, while Iowa carries the ranking, the home-field edge and the pressure that comes with being a two-touchdown favorite. She also pointed to Iowa State’s recent success in the rivalry, saying the Cyclones have won three of the last four and that giving 14 points in this spot feels unhinged itself, ya know what I mean? Her pick: Iowa State 20, Iowa 17.
Derek Duke, meanwhile, said he is conflicted about how it will unfold, even if he knows which side he is on. He expects Iowa to play its game and test the Cyclone defense, but believes the biggest question is how Iowa State’s offense will look. Like several others, he said Jaylen Raynor’s ability to extend plays with his legs could be the difference if the Cyclones are going to have a shot.
Still, Duke pointed to the setting as a major concern, saying it worries him that Iowa State has to go into the hell hole that is known as Kinnick Stadium at night. His pick matched Williams’: Iowa 24, Iowa State 13.
In Other News...
Iowa State Football Has A Chance To Sway A Bigger In-State Battle
The buildup to Iowa States football matchup with Iowa carries the usual in-state weight, but this one reaches beyond the field in a way that could matter for the Cyclones broader profile. A strong showing in the rivalry game would give the program another chance to remind fans and recruits alike that the gap between the two schools is not nearly as fixed as it can seem, especially when the spotlight is brightest in September.
A larger recruiting wrinkle sits in the background as the game approaches, with top basketball prospect Cayden Daughtry drawing attention from a long list of programs and set for a series of visits. Iowa has him on the schedule this weekend, which makes the football result feel like more than just a bragging-rights issue for the Cyclones, because how this game unfolds could shape the way another major in-state battle is viewed going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cy-Hawk Broadcast Just Got More Personal Than Iowa State Fans Realize
The 73rd Cy-Hawk game already carries the usual in-state bite, but NBCs broadcast setup adds an extra layer of familiarity. Paul Burmeister, the former Iowa quarterback who has been working with the network since 2011, will handle play-by-play for the matchup, bringing a voice to the rivalry that comes with firsthand history and a long memory of what this game means on both sides.
Burmeister is not just another national broadcaster parachuting into a big September date. He played in the 1993 Cy-Hawk game and grew up in Iowa City with ties to both Iowa and Iowa State, which gives this assignment a personal edge that fans will probably notice as soon as the telecast starts. For a rivalry built on pride, proximity and old grudges, having someone on the mic who has lived parts of that story makes the broadcast feel a little closer to home. [Read more 🡒]