Finding the isu football tv schedule used to be simple. You’d check the local paper or just flip between ABC and your regional sports network. Now? It’s a whole different ballgame. Between the Big 12's expanding media footprint and the rise of streaming-only exclusives, being a Cyclones fan requires a bit of a roadmap. Honestly, if you don't have a plan before kickoff, you might end up staring at a "Log In to Authenticate" screen while the opening drive is already happening.
The 2025 season was a wild ride that proved just how scattered these games can be. We saw the Cyclones start their journey all the way in Dublin, Ireland, taking down Kansas State in a Week 0 thriller that aired on ESPN. From there, the schedule jumped between FOX, ESPN2, FS1, and even TNT. Yeah, you read that right—TNT. With the Big 12 adding TNT Sports to its portfolio, the days of just needing a basic cable package are sort of over.
Navigating the New Big 12 TV Landscape
The Big 12's current media deal is massive. It involves ESPN and FOX as the heavy hitters, but the inclusion of TNT Sports and the heavy reliance on ESPN+ for certain matchups means you’ve gotta be tech-savvy.
Most of the high-profile games—like the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series—usually land on big FOX or ABC. In 2025, that Week 2 battle against the Hawkeyes was a 12:00 PM ET kickoff on FOX. But then you have games like the matchup against Arizona State which landed on TNT and HBO Max (now just Max). It’s a fragmented system.
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- FOX/FS1: Usually carries the "Big Noon" windows or late-afternoon conference clashes.
- ESPN/ESPN2: The home for many road games and those mid-week or special window matchups.
- TNT/Max: The newest addition, often taking games that might have previously been relegated to streaming only.
- ESPN+ (Big 12 Now): This is the one that catches people off guard. At least one game a year—often against an FCS opponent or a lower-tier non-conference foe—is exclusive to this streaming service.
Looking Back at the 2025 Broadcast Rounds
If you look at how the 2025 season unfolded, you can see the pattern. The home opener against South Dakota was a FOX game, likely because of the early-season inventory. Then, the schedule took fans to Jonesboro to play Arkansas State on ESPN2. By the time November rolled around, the Kansas game was tucked away on FS1, while the regular-season finale at Oklahoma State aired on ESPNU.
It’s a lot to keep track of.
One thing that hasn't changed is the "12-day window." For most games, the networks don't announce the exact kickoff time or the specific channel until about two weeks before the game. Sometimes, if the matchup is really up in the air or has major title implications, they’ll even use a "six-day window," which basically means you won't know where to turn your TV until the Sunday before the game.
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The Streaming Factor: Do You Actually Need ESPN+?
The short answer is yes. If you want to see every single snap of Iowa State football, you cannot skip ESPN+.
The Big 12's "Big 12 Now" platform on ESPN+ isn't just for basketball or wrestling. While football usually gets the "linear" treatment (meaning it’s on a real TV channel), there is almost always a game that falls through the cracks of the major networks. In 2024, the Arkansas State game was an ESPN+ exclusive. If you didn't have a subscription, you were stuck listening to the radio or hunting for a bar that had the app set up on their big screens.
Ways to Watch Without Traditional Cable
A lot of Cyclones fans are "cord-cutters" now. If you're ditching Mediacom or DirecTV, you have options, but they aren't necessarily cheaper.
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- Hulu + Live TV: This is often the best "all-in-one" because it includes ESPN+ in the base price. It covers FOX, FS1, ABC, and the ESPN family.
- YouTube TV: Great interface, includes most locals and sports networks, but you still have to buy ESPN+ separately.
- Fubo: Known for sports, but keep an eye on whether they carry your local ABC/FOX affiliates, as those can vary by zip code.
Future Dates to Watch: 2026 and Beyond
We already have a glimpse into the 2026 isu football tv schedule, though the specific channels are still a mystery. We know the season starts on September 5, 2026, against Southeast Missouri State at Jack Trice Stadium. Following that, the Cyclones head back to Iowa City on September 12.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the Cy-Hawk game will be on a major network. It’s too big of a ratings draw for it to be buried on a streaming app. But for those non-conference games against teams like Bowling Green (scheduled for Sept 19, 2026), you should prepare for the possibility of an ESPN+ or FS1 window.
The conference is also evolving. With the addition of teams like Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado, the time zones are all over the place. This means more "after dark" games. If Iowa State is playing at Utah or Arizona, don't be surprised if the kickoff is 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM ET. These late-night slots often land on FS1 or ESPN.
Actionable Steps for the Season
To make sure you never miss a kickoff, here is exactly what you should do:
- Download the Cyclone.com App: The official athletics site updates their schedule faster than anyone else once the TV networks make their picks.
- Set a Recurring "Check Day": Every Monday morning during the season, check the schedule. That’s usually when the 12-day or 6-day windows are finalized.
- Check Your Local Listings for "Conflict Games": If there are multiple big games on at once, sometimes local affiliates will move a game to a "sister" station. This is rare for the Big 12 but happens occasionally in certain markets.
- Verify Your Streaming Login: Don't wait until 5 minutes before kickoff to realize your ESPN+ password expired or that your YouTube TV app needs a system update.
The complexity of the isu football tv schedule is basically a side effect of the program's success and the Big 12's survival as a power conference. It’s a bit of a headache to manage all the subscriptions, but it’s better than the alternative of not being on national TV at all. Keep your apps updated, watch those Monday announcements, and you'll be ready for every touchdown.