If you were looking for a high-scoring shootout, you probably picked the wrong state. But if you wanted heart-stopping tension and a kicker becoming a local deity, the latest iowa iowa state football game score delivered exactly that. On September 6, 2025, the Iowa State Cyclones edged out the Iowa Hawkeyes 16-13 in Ames. It was gritty. It was ugly. It was exactly what we've come to expect from the Cy-Hawk Series.
People often assume the "better" team wins this rivalry. Honestly? That's rarely how it works. You can throw the rankings out the window. In this matchup, it's usually the team that makes the fewest massive mistakes—or the one with the better kicker—that walks away with the brass trophy.
Why the Iowa Iowa State Football Game Score Was So Low
The final tally of 16-13 wasn't a fluke. It was a defensive masterclass, or a nightmare, depending on who you ask. Iowa State came into the game ranked No. 16, and they played like a team that knew how to grind. Kyle Konrardy, the kicker who basically haunts the dreams of Hawkeye fans now, nailed a 54-yard field goal with just under two minutes left.
Sound familiar? It should.
Last year, in 2024, Konrardy did almost the exact same thing in Iowa City. He hit a 54-yarder with six seconds left to secure a 20-19 victory. Seeing a pattern here? The kid has ice in his veins.
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Breaking Down the 2025 Matchup
Iowa started the game looking like they might actually break their streak of offensive stagnation. Mark Gronowski, the transfer quarterback, put together a massive 16-play drive late in the first half. He eventually powered into the end zone himself from two yards out. That made it 13-10 at the break, and for a second, the visitors had the momentum.
But the second half was a different story. The defenses took over. Iowa's Drew Stevens tied it up with a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter, making it 13-all. Then, the slog began.
- Total Offense: Iowa State outgained Iowa 238 to 214.
- The Ground Game: Jaziun Patterson led the Hawkeyes with 60 rushing yards.
- The Turning Point: A 24-yard interception return by Jeremiah Cooper that set up a short TD pass to Benjamin Brahmer.
Basically, the Cyclones took advantage of the short field, and the Hawkeyes didn't. That’s the game in a nutshell.
The Konrardy Factor and the Cy-Hawk Trophy
You’ve got to feel for the Iowa defense. They held the Cyclones to just one touchdown. Usually, that's enough to win. But Kyle Konrardy is becoming the ultimate Cy-Hawk "cheat code."
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His kicks in 2024 and 2025 have fundamentally shifted the recent narrative of this rivalry. Before this two-game win streak for Iowa State, the Hawkeyes had won seven of the previous nine meetings. Now? Matt Campbell has the Cyclones believing they own the late-game moments.
It's weird. Home-field advantage usually matters in college football. But in this series? Not so much. Until this 2025 win in Ames, the home team hadn't won a Cy-Hawk game since 2018. The road team had actually won five straight. Breaking that "home-field curse" was a huge deal for the Jack Trice Stadium crowd.
Historical Context: More Than Just a Number
The iowa iowa state football game score is part of a series that dates all the way back to 1894. Iowa still leads the all-time series 47-25, but the gap is closing in the modern era.
Think about this: eleven of the last thirteen meetings have been decided by 10 points or less. Seven straight games have been that close. When people talk about "one-score games," they are talking about this rivalry. It’s almost never a blowout. The last time someone really got embarrassed was back in 1985 when Iowa won 57-3. Those days are long gone.
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Key Stats from Recent History
- 2025: Iowa State 16, Iowa 13 (Ames)
- 2024: Iowa State 20, Iowa 19 (Iowa City)
- 2023: Iowa 20, Iowa State 13 (Ames)
- 2022: Iowa State 10, Iowa 7 (Iowa City)
- 2021: Iowa 27, Iowa State 17 (Ames)
If you're betting on this game, the "Under" is usually your best friend.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
The next game is set for September 12, 2026, back at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. You can bet Kirk Ferentz is already thinking about how to stop Konrardy and that Cyclone defense. Iowa's defense is still elite—they haven't allowed more than 20 points per game on average for nine straight seasons—but their offense has to find a way to score more than one touchdown in these trophy games.
Iowa State, on the other hand, has found a formula that works. They don't need to be flashy. They just need to stay within striking distance and let their special teams do the heavy lifting. It's a strategy that has now won them two straight Cy-Hawk trophies.
If you’re looking to track future scores or dive deeper into the play-by-play of the 2025 game, checking the official athletic sites for both the University of Iowa and Iowa State University is your best bet for raw data. For those looking at the 2026 season, keep an eye on the transfer portal—both teams are heavily reliant on veteran leadership to navigate these high-pressure rivalry weeks.
To prepare for the next matchup, fans should focus on turnover margins and special teams efficiency, as these have been the deciding factors in the last four meetings. Monitoring the development of Iowa's offensive line will also be crucial, as their ability to protect the quarterback against Iowa State's 3-3-5 defense often dictates the game's tempo.