If you’re refreshing your feed to find out who won the Iowa State football game today, I’ve got to give it to you straight: there wasn't a game. It's mid-January. The pads are in storage.
The Iowa State Cyclones officially wrapped up their 2025-2026 football campaign weeks ago. Specifically, their season culminated in a wild 42-41 victory over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl back on December 28. Since then, the gridiron has been quiet in Ames, though the administrative offices have been anything but.
The Reality of the January Schedule
January 16 is a Friday in 2026. While college basketball is in the absolute thick of Big 12 play—with the No. 2 ranked Cyclones coming off a tough loss to Kansas and prepping for Cincinnati—the football team is deep into the offseason.
Actually, calling it an "offseason" is a bit of a lie. For the players, it's weight room cycles and 6:00 AM conditioning. For the staff, it’s the chaotic world of the transfer portal and recruiting.
Why people are searching for the score
Usually, when folks ask about the game "today," they're either caught up in the excitement of the NFL playoffs—where former Cyclones like Brock Purdy are currently making deep runs—or they’re looking for news on the massive coaching shift that just rocked the program.
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Matt Campbell is gone. He headed to Penn State in December.
Jimmy Rogers is the guy now. The transition happened so fast it made heads spin, with AD Jamie Pollard locking Rogers down in under an hour after Campbell’s exit was finalized.
What Actually Happened Recently
Since you're looking for who won the Iowa State football game today, you might be thinking of the bowl game that basically broke the internet (and several school records).
- The Score: 42-41 over Miami.
- The Record: That win gave ISU its first 11-win season in the program's 133-year history.
- The MVP: Rocco Becht. He threw for 270 yards and punched in the winning score with less than a minute left.
It was the kind of game that felt like a movie. High scoring. Defensive stops that were non-existent until the very last play. Drew Surges snagging an interception on a Hail Mary to seal the deal. It was peak "Cyclone Weather."
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Looking Ahead to 2026
Since there's no game today, your next chance to see the cardinal and gold on the turf is the Spring Game, usually held in April. But if you want the real deal—the games that count—you're looking at September 5, 2026.
The Cyclones open the 2026 season at Jack Trice Stadium against Southeast Missouri State. After that, it’s the big one: the Cy-Hawk trophy is on the line in Iowa City on September 12.
Key dates for your calendar:
- September 5, 2026: Season Opener vs. Southeast Missouri State
- September 12, 2026: at Iowa (Cy-Hawk Series)
- September 19, 2026: vs. Bowling Green
Honestly, the "today" aspect of Iowa State sports is all about the hardwood right now. If you're looking for a win, check the basketball box scores. The men's team is a legitimate national title contender this year, currently sitting at 16-1.
The football program is in a total rebuilding phase under Jimmy Rogers, which means today is more about film study and NIL deals than touchdowns.
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Your Offseason Game Plan
If you’re a die-hard fan feeling the withdrawal, the best move is to track the "Cyclones in the NFL."
Brock Purdy’s 49ers are currently preparing for a Divisional Round matchup against Seattle. Watching "Mr. Irrelevant" continue to dominate is basically the only Iowa State football fix you're going to get until the leaves start turning again.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal trackers too. With a new head coach, the roster is in flux, and the wins in January are found by keeping your best players from jumping ship.
Check the 2026 schedule and start planning your tailgates for the Cincinnati and Kansas State home games this fall. That's when the real answers to who won the game will start mattering again.