The Cy-Hawk rivalry always brings tension, but this year in Ames, it feels different. For once, Iowa State walks in as the favorite — and that flips the script.
Locked On Cyclones host Nick Marovitz admitted it himself: usually Iowa is the team expected to win. This year, if Iowa State loses, that’s the upset. Vegas agrees, listing the Cyclones as a 3.5-point favorite. That alone makes Saturday massive for Matt Campbell’s program.
Why This Game Matters More in 2025
It’s not just about bragging rights for 365 days. In a playoff era where resumes matter, how you perform outside the Big 12 could define your season. Beat Iowa, and suddenly the Cyclones have an early trump card if they’re in contention for Arlington — or even sniffing the playoff. Lose, and you’ve given the Big Ten a leg up in every head-to-head conversation.
Nick Crane put it bluntly: if an 8–4 Big Ten team and an 8–4 Big 12 team are being compared, the committee won’t hesitate to lean Big Ten if the Big 12 school lost the Cy-Hawk game. That’s why this Saturday carries extra weight.
Rocco Becht vs. Brock Purdy Comparisons
Cyclone Nation can’t stop talking about Rocco Becht and Brock Purdy. Both have reshaped the program, but Rocco has a chance to carve out his own legend. Break Iowa early, stack big wins, and suddenly the conversation shifts from comparisons to coronation.
Marovitz believes Becht is already more clutch than Purdy — but to surpass him in legacy, postseason glory will be the separator. That journey starts with Iowa.
The Bottom Line
Iowa State has only beaten Iowa twice since 2014. They got it done last year in a nail-biter, but this year feels like the moment to swing momentum for good. A win would send shockwaves through the state, the Big 12, and maybe even the playoff picture.
It’s more than a rivalry. It’s a chance for Iowa State to prove the state really does run cardinal and gold.
