College sports fans love a good blue-blood rivalry, but honestly, the most interesting stuff is usually happening in the middle of the pack. Take Oklahoma State vs ISU for instance. It's a matchup that, on paper, feels like a standard Big 12 grind. But if you’ve actually watched these two schools play over the last few years, you know it’s anything but standard. It’s chaotic. It’s defensive. Sometimes it’s just plain ugly—and that’s why it’s great.
Right now, we are seeing a massive shift in how these two programs relate to each other. For decades, Oklahoma State was the big brother. They had the flashy uniforms, the T. Boone Pickens money, and a steady stream of NFL-caliber wide receivers. Iowa State? They were the "Cyclones," the team that occasionally ruined a season but rarely stayed on top.
That script has flipped.
The November 2025 Football Heartbreak
If you want to talk about the current state of Oklahoma State vs ISU, you have to start with the regular-season finale on November 29, 2025. It was a cold Saturday in Stillwater, and it basically served as a microcosm for both programs' current trajectories.
Iowa State walked into Boone Pickens Stadium and ground out a 20-13 win. It wasn't flashy. Rocco Becht threw for just 113 yards. But the Cyclones' defense? Brutal. They held the Cowboys to a measly 219 yards of total offense.
The contrast in the locker rooms after that game was staggering.
- Iowa State: Finished 8-4. Matt Campbell secured yet another eight-win season, his fifth at the school.
- Oklahoma State: Finished 1-11. Yes, you read that right.
The Cowboys' season was a total train wreck. Mike Gundy, the face of the program for nearly two decades, wasn't even on the sidelines by the end of it. Interim coach Doug Meacham was trying to hold together a roster that saw over 60 newcomers. It was a mess. Seeing Iowa State—a program that used to view OSU as an insurmountable hurdle—just calmly walk out of Stillwater with a victory felt like the end of an era.
Hardwood Havoc: The 16-0 Dream
The rivalry doesn't stop when the pads come off. Actually, the basketball version of Oklahoma State vs ISU has become even more lopsided lately, but in a way that’s fascinating for tactical nerds.
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On January 10, 2026, No. 3 Iowa State hosted the Cowboys at Hilton Coliseum. At that point, the Cyclones were a juggernaut. They were 15-0 and looking like a legitimate Final Four contender. T.J. Otzelberger has built a defensive system that basically functions like a meat grinder.
Oklahoma State actually played them tough for a half. They came out firing, hitting back-to-back threes and jumping out to a 22-13 lead. For a second, it looked like the upset of the year was brewing. But then "Hilton Magic" happened. Or, more accurately, Iowa State's conditioning happened.
The Cyclones went on a 13-4 run, tied it up, and then just suffocated the Cowboys in the second half. Joshua Jefferson dropped 19 points, but it was the defense on OSU's Kanye Clary and Vyctorius Miller that told the story. Iowa State eventually won 83-71, pushing their record to 16-0—the best start in the history of the school.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
Most national pundits talk about Oklahoma State vs ISU as if the gap is closing. Truthfully? The gap isn't closing; it's widening in the opposite direction.
For years, the "Gundy vs. Campbell" era was defined by close games. Think back to 2021 when ISU edged out a 24-21 win against a top-10 OSU team. Or 2020, when the Cowboys won 24-21 in Stillwater. It was always a coin flip.
But look at the rosters now. Oklahoma State is rebuilding from scratch. Their 2025 football roster was more like a high-end junior college squad than a Power Four contender because of how many players left through the portal. Meanwhile, Iowa State has become the model for "sustainability" in the NIL era. They don't have the biggest budget, but they keep their guys. Carson Hansen, their star running back, just finished a stretch of six straight 100-yard games. You don't see that kind of consistency at OSU right now.
The Wrestling Factor (The Real Rivalry)
We can't talk about these two without mentioning the mats. In Oklahoma and Iowa, wrestling isn't a "fringe" sport—it's a religion.
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While ISU has been winning the "big" sports lately, the wrestling rivalry is where the real heat stays. Oklahoma State still treats every dual against Iowa State like a war. Even when the football team is struggling, the wrestling program remains a national powerhouse. It’s the one area where the Cowboys still hold that psychological edge.
Practical Insights for Fans
If you're betting on or just following Oklahoma State vs ISU in the near future, here is the reality you need to face:
- Defense is King: Both schools, regardless of the sport, have leaned into "identity" ball. Iowa State wins through defensive pressure and turnovers. Oklahoma State, under its current interim leadership, is trying to find an identity, but they usually struggle when the game slows down.
- Home Court Matters (A Lot): Hilton Coliseum is a nightmare for the Cowboys. If you see a basketball matchup scheduled in Ames, don't let the "spread" fool you—it's a hard place to play.
- The Portal Gap: Watch the transfer portal news this spring. Oklahoma State needs a massive influx of talent to get back to being competitive. Iowa State just needs to retain what they have.
The 2026 season is going to be a turning point for the Cowboys. They’ve seen what Iowa State has done—built a culture that survives the "big money" era—and they’re trying to replicate it. Whether they can do it before the Cyclones become a permanent fixture at the top of the Big 12 is the real question.
Keep an eye on the upcoming women's basketball matchup on January 18, 2026. No. 19 Iowa State heads to Stillwater to face a Cowboy team that is desperate for a signature win. If history tells us anything, it’ll be closer than it should be, and someone will probably leave with a bruised ego.
To stay ahead of the curve, focus on the turnover margins in these games. In the last three major meetings across football and basketball, the team that won the turnover battle won the game 100% of the time. It’s not about the stars; it’s about who blinks first.