Cy-Hawk Rivalry Returns to Kinnick Stadium as Iowa Hosts Iowa State on NBC

The 73rd meeting between Iowa and Iowa State is set for Saturday night, with the Hawkeyes hosting the Cyclones at Kinnick Stadium in the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry game. Iowa holds a 46-25 lead in the all-time series, though Iowa State has won the last two matchups — a streak the 21st-ranked Hawkeyes will try to end in front of a home crowd.

Both teams arrive with momentum from dominant season openers. Iowa opened its 2026 campaign with a 40-0 shutout of Northern Illinois, marking the program’s 10th shutout since 2018. That total matches Penn State for the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision over that span, underscoring the defensive identity that has defined the Hawkeyes in recent years.

Iowa State, meanwhile, began the Jimmy Rogers era with a 38-10 win over Southeast Missouri State. Saturday marks the first significant test of the new head coach’s tenure, coming against an in-state rival in one of college football’s most hostile road environments.

Broadcast details

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT, with national coverage airing on NBC. The broadcast team features Paul Burmeister on play-by-play, Todd Blackledge as color analyst, and Kathryn Tappen reporting from the sideline. Streaming access is available through Peacock.

NBC’s continued coverage of Big Ten football falls under Comcast, whose media segment includes both the NBC network and the Peacock streaming platform. Comcast shares traded at $25.20 in recent trading, up 0.6% from a prior close of $25.05, giving the company a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion.

Night-game edge

History favors the home side under the lights. Iowa is 20-7 all-time in night games at Kinnick Stadium and has won seven straight in that setting. The Hawkeyes last hosted Iowa State for a night contest in 2016, winning 42-3.

The stakes carry extra weight this year given the Cyclones’ recent control of the series. A third consecutive Iowa State victory would extend its longest run in the rivalry in years, while an Iowa win would flip momentum back to Iowa City early in the 2026 season.

What to watch

• Whether Iowa can slow an Iowa State offense adjusting to a new coaching system under Jimmy Rogers.
• Iowa’s pursuit of another shutout, which would extend its FBS-leading defensive totals since 2018.
• Upcoming Big Ten schedules for both programs, which will shape early conference positioning.

Source: original release