If you’ve spent any time in Stillwater or Ames, you know the vibes. There’s something about a cold, windy Saturday in the midwest that makes the Oklahoma State vs Iowa State rivalry feel personal. It isn’t the Red River Rivalry. It doesn’t have the national marketing of a Michigan-Ohio State game. Honestly? That’s why it’s better.
The history between these two schools is basically a masterclass in "Big 12 Chaos."
The Recent Reality Check
Look at the most recent football meeting. November 29, 2025. It was Senior Day at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma State was limping through a truly brutal 1-11 season—a year most fans want to scrub from their memory banks with industrial-grade bleach. Meanwhile, the Iowa State Cyclones showed up at 7-4, looking to sharpen their postseason resume.
Iowa State walked away with a 20-13 win. It wasn't pretty. It was gritty, defensive, and kinda frustrating if you like high-scoring shootouts.
Rocco Becht didn't have his best day, throwing for only 113 yards. But Abu Sama III? That kid is a problem. He gashed the Pokes for 87 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries. On the other side, OSU's Zane Flores actually outpassed Becht with 202 yards, but the Cowboys just couldn't finish drives. It’s been the story of the last couple of years for them.
What Most People Get Wrong About the History
People think Oklahoma State has always just steamrolled the Cyclones. While the Cowboys hold the all-time edge—roughly 34-22-3—the "Matt Campbell Era" at Iowa State changed the math. Before Campbell, Ames was often a place where OSU went to pick up a comfortable win.
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Now? It's a house of horrors.
Remember 2011? Every OSU fan does. The #2 ranked Cowboys went into Ames on a Friday night and saw their national championship dreams evaporate in a double-overtime nightmare. That 37-31 loss still stings. It’s the definitive "trap game" in modern college football history.
Hardwood Heat: No. 3 Cyclones vs the Pokes
If you think the intensity stops when the pads come off, you haven't been watching Big 12 basketball. Just look at what happened on January 10, 2026.
The Cyclones were ranked No. 3 in the country and sat at a perfect 16-0. They hosted an Oklahoma State team that was actually playing pretty decent ball at 13-3. Hilton Coliseum was absolutely rocking. It’s one of the few places in the country where the fans genuinely feel like they’re worth six or seven points.
Oklahoma State actually led by nine early on. Anthony Roy was hitting everything, and Parsa Fallah was a beast inside, finishing with 21 points and 11 boards. But Iowa State is just deeper right now. Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic took over in the second half.
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Final score: 83-71, Cyclones.
The Transfer Portal Arms Race
Here is the weird part that nobody talks about. Both programs are currently in a massive state of flux.
After the 2025 football season, Matt Campbell actually left Iowa State for Penn State. Yeah, that happened. Jimmy Rogers took over in Ames, and the roster immediately exploded. They lost a nation-leading 16 starters to the portal.
But get this: Oklahoma State actually lost more total players than Iowa State did. It’s been a revolving door in Stillwater. While the Cyclones took a "quantity over quality" approach with 42 new commitments, the Cowboys actually put together a top-5 transfer class.
The next Oklahoma State vs Iowa State matchup is going to look like a game between two completely different universities. You’ll need a program just to recognize the names on the jerseys.
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The Wrestling Factor
We can't talk about these two without mentioning the mats. Oklahoma State wrestling is the gold standard. They have 34 team national championships. It’s ridiculous.
But the Iowa State vs Oklahoma State wrestling duals are legendary. When David Taylor (the new OSU coach) leads the Cowboys into Ames, it’s not just a match; it’s a cultural event. Even though the recent 2025 results favored the Pokes in the dual standings, the Cyclones are always one upset away from ruining a perfect season.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on betting or even just attending the next tilt between these two, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Lines: In football, the under has been a gold mine recently. These teams tend to play "ball control" styles that eat the clock.
- Hilton Magic is Real: If you're an OSU fan traveling to Ames for hoops, don't expect a friendly whistle. The "Hilton Magic" affects the refs just as much as the players.
- The Portal is the Playbook: Before the next season kicks off, check the 247Sports rankings. Since both teams are replacing double-digit starters, the "team chemistry" variable is at an all-time high.
The Oklahoma State vs Iowa State rivalry isn't going anywhere. It’s a battle of two blue-collar fanbases that refuse to be outworked. Whether it’s 20 degrees in Stillwater or a Tuesday night at Hilton, you know it’s going to be a fight.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, you should track the weekly Big 12 injury reports and monitor the "Snap Counts" for the new transfer portal additions on sites like Pro Football Focus. This will give you the best sense of which team is actually gelling before they meet on the field or the court.