Cy-Hawk Rivalry Returns to Kinnick Stadium with a Rare Double-Digit Spread

The annual Cy-Hawk Trophy clash between Comcast-broadcast NBC and streaming counterpart coverage aside, the football storyline is the headline: Iowa (1-0) hosts Iowa State (1-0) Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium, and for the first time in more than a decade the rivalry features a double-digit point spread, with the Hawkeyes favored by 14 points, according to odds posted by DraftKings.

How to Watch

• Kickoff: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 7:30 PM Eastern
• Venue: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
• Broadcast: NBC and Peacock

The Betting Board

DraftKings lists Iowa at -650 on the moneyline, with Iowa State at +470. The spread sits at Iowa -14 (-110), and the total is set at 40.5 points as of Thursday.

Iowa State’s Reset Under Rogers

First-year head coach Jimmy Rogers has rebuilt the Cyclones roster with more than 80 newcomers, meaning much of the roster has no prior experience in this heated in-state series. Iowa State opened the year with a 38-10 win over Southeast Missouri State, outgaining the Redhawks 303-209 and forcing three turnovers. Quarterback Josh Raynor, making his first career start, threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns while adding 42 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.

Iowa’s Statement Opener

The Hawkeyes dismantled Northern Illinois 40-0, outgaining the Huskies 507-120 and holding them to just seven rushing yards on 31 carries. Iowa used three quarterbacks, combining for 218 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception on 21-of-40 passing. Running back Kamari Moulton was the standout, rushing for a career-high 183 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries — including long scoring runs of 50 and 37 yards — surpassing his previous best of 114 yards set in 2024 against Maryland. Moulton did not reach 100 rushing yards in any game last season and missed the 2025 meeting with Iowa State.

Market Context

DraftKings, the sportsbook supplying the game odds, trades near $23.71, roughly flat on the day, with a market capitalization of approximately $11.69 billion. Comcast, whose NBC network and Peacock streaming service carry the broadcast, traded at about $25.17, up 2.11% from a prior close of $24.65, for a market cap near $92.53 billion.

Source: original release

What to watch

• Whether Iowa’s defensive line can replicate its Week 1 pressure against a rebuilt Cyclones offense.
• Josh Raynor’s performance in his first road start and first taste of the rivalry.
• Kamari Moulton’s follow-up after his career-high outing and first appearance against Iowa State.
• Nielsen ratings and Peacock streaming figures for the NBC national broadcast window.