Iowa vs Iowa State Preview: Only Iowa Has Improved From Last Year

The Iowa Hawkeyes Showed Potential on Offense in Week 1

It’s Cy-Hawk Week in Iowa!

The Iowa Hawkeyes will take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the annual Cy-Hawk game!

The Hawkeyes are projected to have a better season than the Cyclones. But none of the matters in this heated rivalry.

The Hawkeyes didn’t necessarily begin their regular season with a bang. They earned a ten-point win over Utah State despite closing at -23.5. Meanwhile, Iowa State saw massive line movement last week against Northern Iowa before their 21-point win.

The Cyclones were as high as 21-point favorites before the college football season began. However, the line got as low as -5.5 before jumping back up right before the game began. That line movement mattered with Iowa State’s 21-point win against Northern Iowa last weekend. That bet wouldn’t have won if you took the worst possible line with Iowa State.

In Week 1, the Cyclones and Hawkeyes practically had tune-up games for this Week 2 matchup.

Get your popcorn ready and tell Iowa and Iowa State student-athletes to avoid the sportsbooks.

Here’s our Iowa vs Iowa State preview for the Cy-Hawk rivalry game on FOX.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs Iowa State Cyclones

Date & Time:
Location: Jack Trice Stadium
Streaming: ESPN

Does Iowa’s Offense Have Potential

The Iowa Hawkeyes haven’t been known for their offense over the last few years. However, the addition of Cade McNamara proved to be the difference in their first matchup against Utah State.

McNamara added two touchdowns on 17 completions. He also added 191 yards and threw no interceptions. However, the run game is typically good for Iowa. But against Utah State, the team rushed for just 2.4 yards per carry on 36 attempts.

Iowa’s run block was abysmal. However, the pass protection was excellent against Utah State.

McNamara’s main target will be Luke Lachey. He added seven receptions for 73 yards, and no other player added more than three catches in the game for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes should adjust to throwing the football more. If the pass protection is good, with Cade McNamara at quarterback, the playbook should open up more for the passing game.

Meanwhile, Iowa’s defense held Utah State to five third-down conversions on 17 attempts. The defense also allowed just 4.4 yards per pass and earned one interception. That interception was the lone takeaway in the game. Therefore, Iowa won the battle of turnovers.

When a top defense like Iowa can win the turnover battle, it’s tough to beat them.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are still in the Top 25 in this week’s College Football rankings. But if we’re being realistic, this team likely won’t finish in the Top 25 when the regular season concludes. They still allowed 19 first downs on defense and rushed the ball for below three yards per carry against Utah State.

It won’t get any easier against Iowa State or any other Big Ten school.

Will Iowa State Even Throw The Ball?

The new time rules have affected the college football game as we know it. We’re getting fewer snaps and more commercials on our television screens.

This wasn’t a smart move from the NCAA.

I say this because Rocco Becht, the starting quarterback for Iowa State, added just 13 passing attempts throughout the entire game against Northern Iowa.

He completed 10 of those 13 passes for 113 yards and threw two touchdowns, averaging 8.7 yards per pass. Becht completed his passes, but Iowa State elected to run the ball way more than throw it.

The Cyclones earned five yards per carry on Northern Iowa with 27 carries for 134 yards. So, while the five yards per carry sounds good. In a complete game, 134 yards on the ground isn’t all that impressive against an FCS team like Northern Iowa.

Meanwhile, the Northern Iowa offense converted on two of 11 third downs and added just 11 first downs in the entire game.

The Cyclones were out-gained by Northern Iowa, 279-250, while also committing nine penalties.

Before the season began, one of my NCAAF predictions was that Iowa State would be one of the worst teams in the Big 12. Due to the gambling probe earlier in the offseason, they’re without many student-athletes.

Iowa’s student-athletes were involved in that, too. But Iowa State was hit even harder with suspensions.

With a lack of depth and little arm talent, it’s hard to imagine Iowa State doing much of anything this year in college football.

Iowa vs Iowa State Preview

The Iowa Hawkeyes are sitting at -4 against the Iowa State Cyclones for Saturday’s Week 2 matchup. The total is at 36.5, with the anticipation that both teams will likely run the football and play tremendous defense.

The total is 36.5 everywhere. However, before Saturday, the total ranged anywhere from 38 to 39.5. Now it’s dropped to 36.5.

We’ll likely get some good NCAA Football this weekend. There are some big Top 25 matchups. But there’s no rivalry like this one. The winner of this matchup will win the Cy-Hawk Trophy for the year. It doesn’t just get you bragging rights, but a win in this game also helps with bowl placement.

Iowa State will likely run the football more times than not. It’ll be hard to get through Iowa’s run defense consistently. On the other hand, I believe Iowa’s pass protection improved in Week 1. With an improved pass protection and a legitimate quarterback, the Hawkeyes have the edge in this game.

Go Hawkeyes!

Iowa State only earned 250 yards on offense against an FCS opponent on their home field.

While Iowa State technically has home-field advantage, I’m sure Iowa will still have a rowdy section in the stadium. The Iowa State offense is challenged in the passing game.

However, I’d like to believe that Iowa has more going for them on the offensive end. The Hawkeyes need to make adjustments to the running game. But if Cade McNamara continues to be efficient and the passing game starts to do some damage, the run game will begin to work.

Iowa hasn’t had this luxury in a long time. I’m high on this group in the Iowa vs Iowa State preview.

The Hawkeyes need to sure up their tackling and figure out the run game, which includes blocking better in the run game. But if those few areas are adjusted, Iowa has a much brighter future than an Iowa State team with a terrible passing game.

I like Iowa at -3.5 (or -4) and believe the Under 36.5 will also hit because Iowa State likely won’t contribute much.


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