Honestly, the Iowa vs Iowa State 2023 matchup felt like a time machine. If you’ve followed the Cy-Hawk series for any length of time, you know the script: suffocating defense, a special teams masterclass, and an offensive output that makes box-score enthusiasts weep.
It was a classic.
On September 9, 2023, 61,500 fans packed Jack Trice Stadium. The air was thick with that specific brand of Midwestern humidity and mutual suspicion that only exists when the Hawkeyes and Cyclones meet. People expected a grind. They got exactly that. Iowa walked away with a 20-13 victory, but the final score barely scratches the surface of the weird, gritty reality of that afternoon.
The Milestone Nobody Talked About Enough
While everyone was busy arguing about offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s contract—specifically that infamous "25 points per game" clause—Kirk Ferentz was quietly making history.
This game marked his 200th career win as a Division I head coach.
It’s sorta poetic that number 200 came in a game where his team didn't even hit 250 total yards. That is the Kirk Ferentz experience in a nutshell. You don’t need 500 yards of offense when you have a punter who can pin a flea to a blade of grass and a defense that treats the red zone like a fortified bunker.
How the Game Was Won (and Lost)
Iowa jumped out to a 10-0 lead, which, in this rivalry, feels like a 30-point cushion. Jaziun Patterson was the spark early on. He finished with 86 yards on 10 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown run that capped off an 80-yard drive. For a moment, Iowa fans actually felt... comfortable?
Then came the dagger.
The Castro Pick-Six
If you want to pinpoint the exact moment Iowa State lost their grip, it was the second quarter.
Sebastian Castro, a senior defensive back from Oak Lawn, Illinois, jumped a short pass from Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht. He didn't just catch it; he housed it. A 30-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was the 16th consecutive season Iowa’s defense recorded a pick-six. Think about that. Since 2008, every single Hawkeye team has found a way to score via interception.
That play put Iowa up 17-0.
The Rocco Becht Growth Spurt
Despite the early nightmare, 2023 was the year Rocco Becht proved he belonged.
Facing a Phil Parker defense as a freshman is basically a hazing ritual. Becht struggled early, but he didn't crumble. He finished 23-of-44 for 203 yards. Late in the fourth quarter, he orchestrated an 80-yard drive, hitting Jayden Higgins for a 16-yard touchdown to make it 20-13.
It was too little, too late, but it set the tone for the rest of Iowa State’s season. Higgins was a monster that day, hauling in 8 catches for 95 yards. He was essentially the only thing keeping the Cyclones' chains moving against a secondary that usually plays like they have 13 guys on the field.
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The Cade McNamara Question
Coming over from Michigan, Cade McNamara was supposed to be the "savior" of the Iowa offense.
He wasn't.
At least, not in this game. He was clearly hampered by a lingering quad injury, moving with the fluidity of a shopping cart with a bad wheel. He went 12-of-22 for 123 yards and an interception. He did enough to win, sure, but the "New Era" of Iowa football looked remarkably like the "Old Era."
Why the Ending Was Pure Chaos
With under three minutes left, Iowa State had the ball and a chance to tie.
The crowd was deafening. Jack Trice was shaking.
On 4th-and-1, the Cyclones decided to run Cartevious Norton. Now, in most games, a yard is a yard. Against Iowa, a yard is an existential struggle. Ethan Hurkett, a Cedar Rapids native, blew past the line and stuffed Norton for a 2-yard loss. Game over.
It was a "trenches" win.
Iowa vs Iowa State 2023: By the Numbers
To understand how weird this game was, you have to look at the inefficiency.
- Total Yards: Iowa (235) / Iowa State (290)
- Time of Possession: Iowa (26:30) / Iowa State (33:30)
- Third Down Efficiency: Iowa (6-of-13) / Iowa State (7-of-18)
Iowa State actually outgained Iowa and held the ball for seven minutes longer. In a vacuum, you'd think the Cyclones won. But Iowa’s average starting field position and that defensive touchdown flipped the script.
Misconceptions About the 2023 Game
People love to say Iowa "got lucky."
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I don't buy that. Luck is a fumble bouncing your way. A 16-year streak of defensive touchdowns isn't luck; it's a system. The Hawkeyes bait young quarterbacks into making "safe" throws that are actually traps. Sebastian Castro didn't get lucky; he read Becht’s eyes from the snap.
Another misconception? That this game was boring.
If you like high-flying, Big 12-style shootouts, then yeah, it was a slog. But if you appreciate the psychological warfare of field position and the tension of a one-score game where every holding penalty feels like a catastrophe, it was high art.
The Cy-Hawk Impact
Winning the Cy-Hawk trophy back was a massive ego boost for Iowa after the 10-7 heartbreaker the year before.
For Iowa State, it was a "moral victory" that eventually turned into a decent season. They finished 7-6, which surpassed almost everyone's preseason expectations given the gambling scandal that gutted their roster over the summer.
How to Apply These Lessons to Future Cy-Hawk Games
If you’re betting on or just watching future iterations of Iowa vs Iowa State 2023, keep these things in mind:
- Ignore the "Improved Offense" Hype: Every year, we hear about how one of these teams has "unlocked" a new passing game. Don't believe it until you see it in the third quarter.
- Watch the Punting: Tory Taylor (Iowa's 2023 punter) was a weapon. In a game of inches, the guy who can flip the field is the MVP.
- Freshman QBs Beware: If a team is starting a freshman or a transfer in this game, expect at least one back-breaking turnover. The pressure of this rivalry is different.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Review the 2024 results: Compare how the 2023 defensive struggle influenced the 2024 rematch, where Iowa State returned the favor with a late-game comeback.
- Study Sebastian Castro's Tape: If you're a student of the game, watch how he aligns in the "Leo" position; it’s a masterclass in hybrid safety/linebacker play.
- Check the Injury Reports: In a rivalry this physical, the depth chart in the trenches usually dictates who wins the 4th quarter.