You’ve seen the memes. You’ve probably heard the jokes about "¡El Assico!"—that tongue-in-cheek nickname fans gave this game when the scores look more like a slow Tuesday in a baseball dugout than a modern college football shootout. But if you think Iowa State vs Iowa football is just a sloppy mess of punts and missed blocks, you’re missing the actual point of the most intense Saturday in the state of Iowa.
Honestly, this game is weird. It’s a rivalry that shouldn't feel this personal given that the two schools didn't even play each other for 43 years, yet here we are in 2026, and the heat hasn't dissipated one bit.
The "Great Hiatus" and the Grudge That Wouldn't Die
Most people assume these two have been beating the snot out of each other since the dawn of time. Not quite. While the first meeting happened way back in 1894—a 16-8 win for the Cyclones—the series took a massive dirt nap starting in 1935.
Why? Because the Hawkeyes basically decided they were "too good" to play their little brother in Ames.
Iowa’s then-head coach and AD, Ossie Solem, famously stopped returning calls from Iowa State to schedule the game. The Hawkeyes were Big Ten royalty (in their eyes), and they figured a loss to Iowa State did more harm than a win did good. It took until 1977 for the state legislature and some very persistent athletic directors to force these two back onto the same field.
When the series resumed, Iowa won a 12-10 nail-biter in 1977. Since then, it’s been a staple of every September.
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That Trophy is... Something
We have to talk about the Cy-Hawk Trophy. It has a history almost as chaotic as the games themselves. For decades, it was a classic design: a football, a running back, and the mascots Cy and Herky. Simple. Effective.
Then came the "Corn Family" incident of 2011.
A new trophy was unveiled featuring a farm family huddled around a basket of corn. It was meant to celebrate Iowa's agricultural roots, but the fans absolutely hated it. It looked more like a centerpiece for a Thanksgiving dinner at a retirement home than a sports trophy. The backlash was so immediate and so brutal that the Iowa Corn Growers Association had to scrap it. The current version, unveiled in 2012, returned to the mascots and a football, which is much more "football-y."
Why This Game Defies All Logic
If you’re a betting person, the Iowa State vs Iowa football matchup is your worst nightmare. Rankings don't matter. Home-field advantage? Historically, sure, but recently? It’s been a "road team's world."
Before the 2025 matchup, the home team hadn't won a game in this series since 2018. That’s insane. In 2024, the Cyclones marched into Kinnick Stadium and stole a 20-19 win on the back of a massive second-half comeback. Then, just this past season on September 6, 2025, Iowa State finally broke the "home curse" at Jack Trice Stadium with a 16-13 win.
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Kyle Konrardy—remember that name. The kid drilled a 54-yard field goal in 2024 to win it, and the rivalry has stayed just as tight ever since.
The Stats You Actually Need to Know
- All-time Series: Iowa leads 47–25.
- Longest Streak: Iowa won 15 in a row from 1983 to 1997.
- Current Vibe: Iowa State has won three of the last four (2022, 2024, 2025).
- Average Margin: Eleven of the last 13 meetings were decided by 10 points or less.
Basically, if you turn the game off because one team is up by 10 in the third quarter, you’re doing it wrong.
The Tim Lester vs. The Cyclone Defense
The 2025 game was a showcase of what this rivalry has become in the modern era. Iowa brought in offensive coordinator Tim Lester to fix an offense that was, frankly, painful to watch in 2023. They improved. Mark Gronowski, the transfer QB, tried to find a rhythm, but the Cyclones' 3-3-5 defense is a nightmare for a team that wants to line up and smash you.
Iowa State’s defense, led by coach Matt Campbell’s philosophy, thrives on making you earn every single inch. They don't give up big plays. They wait for you to make a mistake. In 2025, that mistake was a controversial review on a punt return that gave Iowa a field goal, but the Cyclones didn't blink. They stayed patient, relied on Rocco Becht's steady hand, and squeezed the life out of the game.
It’s More Than Just a Game
For people outside the 515 or 319 area codes, it’s hard to explain why this matters. It’s not just about a trophy. It’s about the "ANF" (America Needs Farmers) sticker on the Iowa helmets. It's about the "Juicy Wiggle" playing in Ames.
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It’s about the families. In Iowa, you aren't just a fan; you're born into a side. I’ve seen households where the mom wears Cardinal and the dad wears Black and Gold, and they legitimately don't speak for three days leading up to kickoff. It’s that deep.
The beauty of Iowa State vs Iowa football is that it is unapologetically Midwestern. It’s not flashy. It’s not about NIL deals or transfer portal drama—though those exist now—it’s about who can tackle better in the fourth quarter when the humidity is 90% and the corn is six feet high.
How to Watch the Next One
If you're planning for 2026, the game moves back to Iowa City on September 12. Kinnick Stadium will be a "Black Out" or a "Striped" crowd, and the noise will be deafening.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Get Tickets Early: This game sells out months in advance. Don't wait for the secondary market unless you want to pay three times the face value.
- Tailgate Culture: In Ames, the parking lots open at 6:00 AM. In Iowa City, the neighborhoods around the stadium turn into one giant party. If you aren't there four hours before kickoff, you've missed half the experience.
- Watch the Lines: Because both teams prioritize defense, the "Under" is often a popular bet, but with offensive shifts happening at Iowa, keep an eye on the total points early in the week.
The Cy-Hawk rivalry doesn't need a national championship on the line to be the biggest game in the world. For one Saturday, the state of Iowa is the center of the football universe, and that’s exactly how it should be.