Alright, buckle up, because the annual Cy-Hawk game is roaring back this Saturday, September 12th, and it’s already got more drama than a primetime series! The Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones are set to clash at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. If you’re not there in person, you can catch all the action on NBC, or stream it live via Peacock and Fubo. This ain’t just another Week 2 matchup; the stakes are already through the roof.
The Numbers Are Wild, But One Coach’s Words Are Even Wilder
Let’s talk brass tacks and what the oddsmakers are seeing. DraftKings, as of Monday morning, has Iowa as a solid 14.5-point favorite. That’s a chunky spread, folks! The over/under is sitting at 41.5 points, suggesting a tough, grind-it-out kind of game, which, honestly, isn’t shocking for a rivalry like this. On the money line, Iowa is at -650, while Iowa State is +470. But forget the numbers for a second, because the biggest headline here is straight from Iowa State’s new coach, Jimmy Rogers. He went ahead and pronounced, “let’s beat the (expletive) Hawks!” during a Cy-Hawk basketball game back in December. Yeah, you read that right. Talk about firing up a rivalry!
New Faces, Old Animosity, and Early Season Woes
Here’s the thing, Iowa doesn’t have much of a scouting report on the Cyclones this year. Why? Because Iowa State is basically a whole new team! They’re rolling with a new head coach in Jimmy Rogers, and get this, over 80 new players. Eighty! That’s almost a complete overhaul. They did open with a convincing win against Southeast Missouri State, so we know they can put some points on the board, but facing Iowa is a whole different beast. On the injury front for the Hawkeyes, safety Tyler Brown, a James Madison transfer who was pegged for a starting spot, sat out the opener due to a lingering soft-tissue injury, likely a hamstring. Plus, running back L.J. Phillips missed most of Saturday’s first game after picking up what looked like an ankle injury. You never want to see key players hobbled this early in the season.
Chad Leistikow from Hawk Central is calling for an Iowa victory, predicting Iowa 35, Iowa State 16. He points out that Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to a dominant 3-1 record against Iowa in their last four meetings, is now coaching Penn State. So, no Campbell for the Cyclones this time around. Leistikow says the Hawkeyes should be motivated for “revenge” and will be well aware of Rogers’ fiery pronouncement. He thinks Iowa’s offensive line can put on a clinic and help them regain control of this series.
This Saturday’s Cy-Hawk game is going to be an absolute must-watch. With a new-look Iowa State, a head coach talking smack, and Iowa looking to reassert dominance, you know Kinnick Stadium is going to be absolutely electric. Get ready!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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