How the Cy-Hawk rivalry unites Iowa by pitting it against itself.
Between the cracked yellow lines of interstates aged well beyond their years and encircling infinite golden plains, two bastions of Iowan pride tower over a state divided.
A few minutes off Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa, Kinnick Stadium rises 79 rows into the Iowa City skyline. From the rafters, the sweeping bends and bows of the University of Iowa’s campus along the Iowa River’s winding shores are plain to see.
141 miles to the northwest, Iowa State University stands in defiance. Jack Trice Stadium, Kinnick’s counterpart, is an island of red and gold in the vast sea of the pale yellow crops that surround Ames, Iowa.
Every September, the Cyclones of Iowa State and the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa flock to Kinnick or Jack Trice to witness this statewide rivalry come to a head in what has become officially known as the “Cy-Hawk Rivalry.”
It was pre-20th century when these two Iowan powerhouses first took to the gridiron to settle their differences. Since 1894’s inaugural game, the Cy-Hawk rivalry has been one of the most impassioned, contentious, and divisive events Iowa has to offer.
“It’s a red-letter day on the calendar when Iowa State plays Iowa,” said Eric Olson, a sportswriter for the Associated Press. “While I was talking with fans, you could see that there’s just more juice and anticipation that goes with that game.”
Underneath this fervid sheen, however, lies a deep-seated mutual respect that transforms a simple football game into a crucial cultural staple.
The rivalry has attained this status for a variety of reasons. The first and most obvious is geography. Separated by under 200 miles, Iowa and Iowa State are inexorably linked by simple virtue of their location. Travis Justice, host of The Morning Rush on KXnO 1460AM in Des Moines, mentioned it as a distinctive aspect of the rivalry.
“It’s unique in the fact that you have two in-state universities with power programs that date back a long time,” Justice said.
In addition to geographic factors, the results on the field have manufactured much of the fraught dynamic between the two schools. In the history of the Cy-Hawk rivalry, 71 games have been played. Of those 71, the Hawkeyes have prevailed in well over half for a total record of 47-24, leading to a perception of Iowa’s superiority.
In recent years, however, Iowa State’s football program has seen the beginnings of a resurgence, winning two of the last three matchups. Justice said this shift in dynamic is changing the energy of the rivalry.
“Iowa always called Iowa State ‘little brother’ because they’ve had the upper hand for most of the [rivalry],” Justice said.
“Now that narrative is starting to change because the more you lose, the more competitive it gets. Little brother grows up.”
This rivalry isn’t just between fans — coaches and players alike feel the intensity of this game and play accordingly.
“Both of those rosters have so many [kids from Iowa] on them, so some of these guys have known each other for a while,” Olson said. “That intensity just comes naturally as a result.”
It’s no surprise that most Cy-Hawk games are tight affairs, often decided by the thinnest of margins. Take the 2024 Cy-Hawk game, for example. After the Hawkeyes pulled out to an early 13-0 lead and looked to be on the verge of a blowout, Iowa State came all the way back to secure the victory on a game-winning 54-yard field goal.
Such tight games, especially between already heated rivals, can quickly turn a friendly rivalry sour. Despite this, the Cy-Hawk rivalry has remained largely free of such unadulterated vitriol.
“The Cy-Hawk rivalry is a much more cordial rivalry than some of the bigger ones nationally,” Justice said. “Some other rivalries like Auburn-Alabama or Texas-Texas A&M are not cordial. It is downright hatred. It’s nasty.”
According to lifelong Des Moines resident Lanie Anthan, this cordiality is not surprising.
“Sure, people would argue about it, and it would get pretty passionate, but it never came from a place of hatred,” Anthan said. “To me, that was because there was always some sense of community.”
Anthan also described how the rivalry led to some unexpected connections.
“Especially on Cy-Hawk game days, it was the only thing people would talk about. Complete strangers would strike up conversations about it, regardless of which team’s merch they were wearing,” Anthan said.
The Cy-Hawk rivalry, in some ways, reflects the culture of the Midwest. Intense? Sure. Passionate? Absolutely. But never malicious.
“I don’t think there’s [real] hatred between Iowa and Iowa State,” Olson said. “I think it’s more of a bragging rights thing and a statewide celebration of college football.”
The rivalry’s future is uncertain due to massive changes in the college football landscape. Most notably, the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12 creates a higher chance for teams like Iowa and Iowa State to participate.
These selections are crucial, as they lead to increased revenue for their respective programs. Justice describes this as integral to the decision-making process regarding scheduling.
“With the money that’s at stake now, it’s possible both these programs think with their pocketbook to do what’s best to get them to the Playoff,” Justice said. “Money will dictate everything on how this goes.”
The stronger the schedule, the higher the chance of receiving a playoff bid, and, as a result, it is a crucial determinant in the potential extension of this rivalry, Olson said.
“It’s not like they’re going to say [the rivalry] will be played in perpetuity,” Olson said. “It’s a popular game, so you don’t want to alienate your fans who really look forward to it, but if it’s foreseeable that this game won’t enhance your chances of getting to the playoff, then it could be in jeopardy.”
As of 2024, the rivalry is scheduled to continue through the 2027 season, maintaining the tradition of alternating games between Ames and Iowa City.
As new moments are immortalized in the annals of Cy-Hawk history, the games are likely to remain close, hard-fought contests symbolic of the region they’re played in.
“[Stylistically], the games tend to be low scoring, marked by power football led by good offensive line play,” Olson said. “And that’s really what you would expect from a football game in this part of the country.”