No. 16 Iowa State welcomes Iowa to Jack Trice Stadium this afternoon in Week 2 of the 2025 college football season, kicking off the latest chapter in the storied Cy-Hawk rivalry.
Both teams enter unbeaten, but Iowa State has already built momentum with a 2–0 start. The Cyclones opened with a hard-fought 24–21 win over No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, before returning home to rout South Dakota, 55–7.
Through those two outings, their offense has averaged 421 yards and close to 40 points per game, with quarterback Rocco Becht steering a balanced attack and tight ends Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle becoming key targets in the red zone.
Iowa, meanwhile, leans on a bruising ground game and its trademark defense. The Hawkeyes’ offensive line paved the way for 310 rushing yards in their opener against Albany — the program’s best season-opening performance since 2002 — while the defense and special teams limited their opponent to just 43 total yards.
That combination of physicality and discipline has defined their rivalry success and will again be central to slowing Becht and the Cyclones’ offense.
Recent history adds another wrinkle: since 2019, the road team has won every Cy-Hawk matchup. And with Iowa’s physical edge colliding against Iowa State’s fast start and offensive balance, this year’s showdown promises the intensity and unpredictability that have come to define one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.
Prediction
Expect a classic defensive slugfest with a few explosive plays. Iowa State’s balance and aggressiveness on offense give them a narrow edge — especially at home.
Iowa’s rushing attack keeps them in it, but Becht’s experience and home-field charge likely tilt this toward a Cyclones win.
Projected Score: Iowa State 21, Iowa 17
How to Watch Iowa vs. Iowa State
Kickoff for the afternoon’s game between Iowa vs. Iowa State is set for 12:00 PM Eastern / 11:00 AM Central at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The game airs live on FOX.
You can watch the game for free on your local FOX affiliate with an antenna, or at no additional cost through most existing cable, satellite, or live-TV streaming packages.
Looking to watch online? The matchup will also stream live on the FOX Sports app and website.
If those options aren’t available, several services offer free trials that include FOX and FOX Sports.
FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, and FOX One all provide free trial periods that give you immediate access to the game.
YouTube TV even offers a 20-minute free preview, without having to register for a trial — if you just want to catch part of the game.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern / 11:00 AM Central
Venue: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
TV: FOX
Streaming: FOX Sports app and website
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