Whenever Iowa and Iowa State get together for a football game, no one seems to know what to expect.
No matter who the favorite is, this rivalry game has always been a tightly contested affair. Five out of the last six games in the series have been decided by one score, with the Cyclones winning the last two matchups via game-winning field goals.
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A close game could very well be in the cards this year, but the vibes for the 2026 primetime showdown (6:30 p.m., NBC) at Kinnick Stadium feel slightly different.
Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that Hawkeye fans are thrilled for this matchup, so here’s everything you need to know about Iowa State.
The Coach
Matt Campbell built Iowa State into a respectable football program during his 10 seasons there, but he jumped ship to Penn State after the 2025 campaign and took nearly his entire Cyclone roster with him to State College, including star quarterback Rocco Becht and tight end Ben Brahmer.
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Iowa State must’ve seen this coming for a few days, because it announced the hiring of new head coach Jimmy Rogers just hours after news of Campbell’s departure broke.
Rogers went 6-6 in his lone season at Washington State last year, but he’s best known for his tenure at the FCS level with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. He co-captained the 2009 SDSU squad to its first FCS Playoff appearance as a linebacker before eventually returning to Brookings in 2013 as linebackers coach.
Rogers rose through the coaching ranks and eventually succeeded his old coach John Stiegelmeier as head coach in 2023. With future Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski at the helm, Rogers promptly led the Jackrabbits to their second straight national title.
Though he’s got the championship pedigree, Rogers will certainly have his work cut out for him as he attempts to rebuild this Iowa State program from scratch.
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Key Returners
Campbell brought 24 starters with him to Penn State, but the cupboard isn’t completely bare for Rogers.
If there’s one returner that can make an impact for the Cyclones in 2026, it’s probably running back Aiden Flora. The Adel, Iowa native didn’t make a huge impact as a running back last season, but he did impress ISU fans with his playmaking ability on special teams, collecting a combined 380 yards on kick and punt returns – including a game-winning punt return score against TCU.
Flora will likely see increased snaps at running back, where he’ll be paired alongside returning wide receiver Dominic Overby. Although he played just four games last year, Overby’s 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame could help give the Cyclones a much-needed weapon in the passing game.
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And Iowa fans can’t forget about kicker Kyle Konrardy, too. Konrardy has been a solid kicker for Iowa State during his career, but he’s best known for his game-winning 54-yard field goals against Iowa the last two seasons.
Key Newcomers
Most of Iowa State’s roster are newcomers, so you can almost pencil in everyone’s name in this section. The most obvious place to start is the quarterback position, which will likely be filled by Arkansas State transfer Jaylen Raynor.
Raynor and the Cyclones have some familiarity with each other, as Raynor’s Red Wolves nearly engineered an upset over then-No. 14 Iowa State. Raynor threw for 222 yards and rushed for a touchdown in the 24-16 loss and finished the season with 3,361 passing yards, 423 rushing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, and seven rushing scores.
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That dual-threat ability will be key for this offense, as will the play of another running back, Cameron Pettaway. Pettaway had a standout redshirt freshman campaign at Bowling Green, tallying 900 all-purpose yards and earning MAC Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.
But if there’s one thing Iowa State fans should be optimistic about, it’s their defense. Rogers brings extensive defensive coaching experience to Ames and even held the Hawkeyes to no touchdowns as South Dakota State‘s defensive coordinator in 2022.
Rogers’ Washington State defense held opponents to just 20.2 points per game last year, and he brought over 15 of his Cougar players with him to Iowa State. Issac Terrell (28 tackles, seven sacks, 12 TFL) is the name to watch here, but having so many players with deep knowledge of Rogers’ system could be big for the Cyclones.
Season Outlook
Iowa State has played with massive expectations in previous seasons, but most people are expecting the ‘Clones to have a rebuilding season in 2026. The Big 12 removed its preseason media poll after the 2024 season, but Deseret News still brought writers from all 16 teams to create one.
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The Cyclones were picked dead last in this poll, but only time will tell to see how competitive this team can be. Iowa will enter this Sept. 12 clash as a heavy favorite.
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This is easily the biggest giveaway we’ve ever done on this site, and it’s a great opportunity for two lucky fans to experience the joy of attending a Hawkeye football game at Kinnick Stadium.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io
