Possession of the Cy-Hawk Trophy is on the line when Iowa State and Iowa renew their in-state rivalry on Saturday afternoon. The Hawkeyes are a slight home favorite as they look to continue their recent dominance in this series.
Both teams took care of business at home against FCS opponents last week. Iowa blanked Illinois State 40-0 behind 492 total yards of offense, the most in a game in nearly five years. And quarterback Cade McNamara (251 yards, three touchdowns) and running back Kaleb Johnson (119 rushing yards, two touchdowns) did most of the damage with the usually stingy defense — 189 total yards allowed, three carries — also doing its thing. .
Johnson, who was suspended during the first half for violating team rules, will be one to watch against Iowa State because the Hawkeyes have typically been successful during Kirk Ferentz’s long tenure when they can run the ball consistently. Iowa State also had some trouble stopping the run last week, giving up 176 yards to North Dakota.
The Cyclones’ defense may have buckled, but it didn’t break. The unit kept the Fighting Hawks out of the end zone in their 21-3 victory. Quarterback Rocco Becht accounted for all three touchdowns, but he’ll need more support from his running game if Iowa State wants to beat Iowa. The Cyclones managed just 86 rushing yards, while the Hawkeyes held Illinois State to 56.
Not only does Iowa maintain a healthy overall lead (47-23) in this series, it has also won eight of the last nine meetings. Iowa State was victorious in its last visit to Kinnick Stadium, topping the Hawkeyes 10-7 two years ago. The last five meetings averaged 29 total points and were decided by little more than a touchdown. Is another close, low-scoring affair in the cards or has Iowa’s offense discovered a new gear in 2024?
All BetMGM odds. Looking for college football tickets? Find them here.
Iowa State at No. 21 Iowa odds
How to watch Iowa State at Iowa
- Location: Kinnick Stadium – Iowa City
- Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday
- Television: CBS
- Streaming: Watch live on Fubo (Save $30)
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(Photo by Cade McNamara: Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
