Randy Peterson
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September 04, 2025
Appreciate what you see at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, not only because it’s a giant-sized collection of wonderful football players representing the State of Iowa’s largest universities – but because the uncertainty of Cy-Hawk’s continuance is as questionable, as knowing which team will win the one-possession game that very well be determined after an extra session or two.
The gist of that long, 60-word sentence should be in the back of every fan’s mind before, during and after this 11 a.m. game that’s on the FOX network. It’s big for the schools, the fans, local communities and the entire state of Iowa – something Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned during his Tuesday press conference.
“I want to take one second and give credit to our state,” he told reporters. “For a state of our size to have two programs that are really strong programs I think is a credit to everybody involved, and I think a tip of the hat certainly to our high school football here.
“Both our teams have a high percentage of guys on the roster from the state of Iowa. I think it speaks to the coaching in the high school programs which have always been strong in this state, but I think everybody can be really proud of that fact.”
Yet, this game’s future is as cloudy as our fall sky – or as hazy as when will another round of needless conference expansion continue distancing the sport from it’s storied good ol’ days?
How long will it be until someone like the influential Southeastern Conference starts the ball rolling toward another major expansion process – a rush-to-the-bank money grab that will end up adding more schools to conferences already so bulky, that only the truest of fans can rattle off each conferences’ members?
Oh, for the days when we easily knew names of coaches and star players of each team in the Big Eight and Big Ten conferences. Barry Switzer and Brian Bosworth at Oklahoma, Tom Osborne and Johnny Rodgers at Nebraska, Dan McCarney and Troy Davis at Iowa State, Hayden Fry and Chuck Long at Iowa, and you get the point.
Now, we’re not even sure if it’s Oregon State or Oregon in the Big Ten, and is it Utah or Utah State in the Big 12?
Expanding the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 beyond their current 16, 18, and 16 members respectively, could mean the end of an annual Cy vs. Hawk.
Thankfully, no one officially says more expansion to conferences is coming, however in this business age of college football – you just never know. If Oklahoma and Texas can blind-side the Big 12 in announcing they’re joining the SEC, anything can happen.
Saturday will be the 48th time Iowa State and Iowa have faced one another since the series was renewed in 1977 – and 72nd overall since the game started in 1894.
There will be a 73rd and 74th, probably. But a 75th year Diamond Jubilee Cy-Hawk celebration?
We can only hope.
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FIRST DOWN: While we typically call this Dan McCarney’s game, considering the Iowan is a former Iowa State coach, Iowa assistant coach and Hawkeye player, let’s not forget someone else who had Cy-Hawk in his blood. That’d be Bobby Elliott, a former Iowa State assistant coach, and former Hawkeye player and assistant. He died in 2017 after a courageous battle against cancer.
SECOND DOWN: Wasn’t Baylor’s defense supposed to be good this season? Maybe it is, but it was horrible in the opener against so-so Auburn. Dave Aranda certainly will be the head coach throughout the season, won’t he?
THIRD DOWN: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is at it again, this time tossing verbal barbs at Oregon, his Cowboys’ opponent on Saturday. "Oregon is paying a lot of money for their (players)," Gundy said on his radio show Monday night. He went on to add that there’s sentiment among coaches that maybe the Ducks should upgrade their non-conference schedule to play teams whose players also receive boatloads of NIL money. Shot fired.
FOURTH DOWN: Looking for Iowa State to throw an early-game deep pass to Xavier Townsend or Chase Sowell? Here’s what offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser told reporters Tuesday: “Rocco's better when we take a shot early, and we put a lot on that guy. The more we put on that guy's plate, the better he is.” Looking for that deep shot down the field? Get to your seat early.
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The Iowa Everywhere staff gives their best shot at predicting top local interest weekend games. And for those who care, our two-week straight-up score is: Williams 8-2, Peterson 7-3, Hassel 7-3, Downs 7-3, MVW 7-3, Brend 6-4.
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IOWA AT IOWA STATE
11 a.m., FOX, Jack Trice Stadium
Randy Peterson:Even top rushing teams have been known to have trouble against Iowa, thus, Iowa State could have a problem, Saturday. To win, the Cyclones need another big-time game from Rocco and the tight ends. A successful downfield shot or few might work, too, if shorter passes suck in the defense. Meanwhile, Jon Heacock’s defense will face a quarterback, Gronowski, who will be better than he was against Albany. Iowa State 27, Iowa 24.
Chris Hassel:This is one of the few times I feel like Iowa State is the more complete team in this matchup. Rocco will have mismatches to pick apart, and the defense will be facing a one dimensional Iowa offense (but what’s new?). I expect Gronowski to be a bit better but don’t expect Iowa to actually let him throw downfield unless they get behind multiple scores. Iowa State 24, Iowa 17.
Chris Williams:Despite the quarterback situation & other offensive injuries, I was really impressed with Iowa’s offensive line in week one. This feels like classic Cy-Hawk. My guess is that Iowa State struggles to run the ball. Can the Cyclones play clean football through the air? Feels like Iowa State is in mid-season form, while the Hawkeyes are breaking in a new quarterback and particularly three new linebackers on defense.Iowa State 24, Iowa 20.
Andrew Downs:How often has the overconfident team found a way to lose this game? How often have the Cyclones found a way to lose this game in Ames? Iowa dictates tempo, wins the turnover battle, and finds a way to win.Iowa 31, Iowa State 27.
Matt Van Winkle:This game is almost always decided by turnovers and mistakes. Iowa State has played very clean football to start the season and Rocco Becht looks as good as any QB in the country right now. Give me Becht over a cramped, nervous Gronowski at Jack Trice Stadium. Cyclones win for the first time in Ames since I was in college (yes, I stormed the field!).Iowa State 23, Iowa 17.
Jake Brend: Before this is called overreaction to week one, I said on Bigger Than 12 that ISU would win the CyHawk game by two scores before the Albany game. I’m not high on Iowa and last week reinforced this even more. Iowa State has the edge at more positions than ever in the Campbell era and on top of that, they are humming. Rocco Becht doesn’t care about a 14-year drought, either.Iowa State 23, Iowa 10.
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OKLAHOMA STATE AT OREGON
Randy Peterson: Oregon 55, Oklahoma State 17.
Chris Hassel: Oregon 41, Oklahoma State 17.
Chris Williams: Oregon 41, Oklahoma State 14
Andrew Downs: Oregon 48, Oklahoma State 20.
Matt Van Winkle: Oregon 35. Oklahoma State 14.
Jake Brend: Oregon 38, Oklahoma State 10.
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KANSAS AT MISSOURI
Randy Peterson: Missouri 27, Kansas 20.
Chris Hassel: Kansas 30, Missouri 28.
Chris Williams: Missouri 38, Kansas 35
Andrew Downs: Kansas 34, Missouri 24.
Matt Van Winkle: Kansas 27, Missouri 24.
Jake Brend: Kansas 27, Missouri 24.
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ARMY AT KANSAS STATE
Randy Peterson: Kansas State 34, Army 17.
Chris Hassel: Kansas State 40, Army 13.
Chris Williams: Kansas State 34, Army 10.
Andrew Downs: Kansas State 24, Army 14.
Matt Van Winkle: Kansas State 35, Army 10.
Jake Brend: Kansas State 33, Army 6.
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MICHIGAN AT OKLAHOMA
Randy Peterson: Oklahoma 31, Michigan 23.
Chris Hassel: Oklahoma 27, Michigan 20.
Chris Williams: Oklahoma 24, Michigan 14.
Andrew Downs: Oklahoma 27, Michigan 21.
Matt Van Winkle: Oklahoma 28, Michigan 24.
Jake Brend: Oklahoma 24, Michigan 13.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)