If you're refreshing your phone asking what's the score of the iowa state football game right now, on January 17, 2026, you might be surprised by the silence from Jack Trice Stadium. Usually, this time of year is reserved for the chaos of bowl season or the bitter cold of late-season Big 12 matchups. But today, there is no score to report.
The Cyclones aren't on the field today.
Honestly, the situation is a bit weird for fans. Iowa State finished their 2025 regular season with a gritty 20-13 victory over Oklahoma State back on November 29. That win capped off a three-game winning streak and moved their record to 8-4. Normally, 8-4 is a lock for a decent bowl game, maybe the Pop-Tarts Bowl or the Liberty Bowl. But in a move that shocked the fan base in early December, Iowa State officially declined a postseason invitation.
Understanding the Iowa State Football Score and the 2025 Season
While there’s no live what's the score of the iowa state football game update today, looking back at how they reached 8-4 tells the real story of Matt Campbell’s squad this year. It was a season of massive highs followed by a mid-October collapse that nearly derailed everything.
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The year started with a bang. Most fans remember the Dublin opener where they took down Kansas State 24-21. Then came the big one: a 16-13 slugfest victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes to keep the Cy-Hawk trophy in Ames. By mid-September, the Cyclones were 5-0 and climbing the AP rankings.
Then the wheels fell off.
Four straight losses to Cincinnati, Colorado, BYU, and Arizona State saw Iowa State drop from a Top 15 team to a squad fighting for bowl eligibility. It was ugly. But to their credit, they didn't fold. They clawed back with wins over TCU, Kansas, and finally that season-ending 20-13 win in Stillwater.
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Why isn't Iowa State playing today?
The school's decision to skip a bowl game is the reason you won't find a live score for January 2026. According to the official announcement from the athletics department on December 7, the team chose to decline a postseason bid. This is fairly rare in the modern era of NIL and the transfer portal, but the logic cited was a focus on "internal transition" and health.
Basically, the roster was banged up, and with the early signing day and the portal opening up, the coaching staff decided it was better to hit the ground running for 2026 rather than spend three weeks practicing for a lower-tier bowl.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Iowa State Schedule
Since we can't track a live score today, the eyes of the Cyclone Nation have shifted to the future. Recruiting is in full swing, and the 2026 schedule is already set. If you're planning your Saturdays for next fall, here is how the start of the 2026 season looks:
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- September 5: Southeast Missouri State (Home)
- September 12: at Iowa (Iowa City)
- September 19: Bowling Green (Home)
The Big 12 slate for 2026 will feature home games against Cincinnati, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Utah, and West Virginia. On the road, they’ll have to travel to Arizona, Baylor, BYU, and UCF.
It’s a tough road. But for now, the pads are in storage. The players are in the weight room or finishing up winter classes. If you're still craving Cyclone sports, the men's basketball team is currently the center of attention, though they just suffered a tough 79-70 loss to Cincinnati earlier this afternoon.
The 2025 football season is officially in the history books. An 8-4 record is nothing to sniff at, even if it ended without a trophy or a confetti-filled bowl game. It sets a solid foundation for Matt Campbell’s 11th season in Ames.
To stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 kickoff, start tracking the spring practice reports which usually begin in late March. This is when you'll get the first real look at the new quarterback depth chart and how the defensive line is rebuilding after the recent senior departures. Keep an eye on the transfer portal entries through February, as those will dictate the "score" of the offseason more than any game could right now.