Cy-Hawk Showdown Headlines Loaded Week 2 of Iowa College Football
Iowa football fans have a marquee matchup to circle this Saturday as the Iowa Hawkeyes host Iowa State in the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry game. The 7:30 p.m. kickoff on NBC headlines a massive Week 2 slate of college football action across the country, with several top-25 matchups that will shape the 2026 season.
The Hawkeyes enter the game ranked No. 21, while Iowa State comes in unranked but hungry to knock off their in-state rivals. It is a game that carries serious bragging rights across the state and could have Big Ten and Big 12 implications down the road.
How to watch the Iowa vs. Iowa State game
Fans can catch the Cy-Hawk rivalry game live on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local time in Iowa) on Saturday, September 12. Streaming options include Peacock and other major live TV services that carry NBC.
For those without cable, services like YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV Stream all offer NBC in most Iowa markets. Check your local listings to confirm availability.
Top-25 matchups highlight Saturday's national slate
While Iowa fans will be locked in on the Cy-Hawk game, the rest of the college football world has plenty to watch. The biggest game of the day features No. 1 Ohio State traveling to face No. 4 Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Earlier in the day, No. 11 Oklahoma faces Michigan at noon on FOX, while No. 6 Oregon takes on Oklahoma State at noon on ESPN. No. 12 Alabama battles Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, and No. 3 Notre Dame hosts Rice at 3:30 p.m. on NBC.
Full Week 2 schedule for Saturday, September 12
Here is the complete list of Saturday games with times in Eastern Time:
Noon games
- No. 6 Oregon vs. Oklahoma State (ESPN/Disney+)
- Howard vs. No. 5 Indiana (Big Ten Network)
- Arizona State vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (ABC)
- No. 11 Oklahoma vs. Michigan (FOX)
- No. 16 Penn State vs. Temple (ESPN2)
- Washington State vs. Kansas State (TNT)
- East Tennessee State vs. North Carolina (ACC Network)
- Old Dominion vs. Virginia Tech (CW)
- Wake Forest vs. Purdue (FS1)
- South Florida vs. Army (CBSSN)
- Appalachian State vs. East Carolina (ESPNU)
- Western Kentucky vs. No. 2 Georgia (SEC Network)
Afternoon games
- Rice vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (NBC, 3:30 p.m.)
- No. 12 Alabama vs. Kentucky (ABC/Disney+, 3:30 p.m.)
- Arizona vs. No. 15 BYU (FOX, 3:30 p.m.)
- Utah State vs. No. 19 Washington (Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.)
- Mississippi State vs. Minnesota (CBS, 3:30 p.m.)
- UCF vs. Pitt (ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.)
- Duke vs. Illinois (FS1, 3:30 p.m.)
- Eastern Michigan vs. Michigan State (Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.)
- UC Davis vs. No. 17 SMU (ACCNX, 4 p.m.)
- Delaware vs. Vanderbilt (SEC Network, 4:15 p.m.)
Evening games
- Memphis vs. Boise State (USA Network, 6 p.m.)
- No. 18 Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN, 7 p.m.)
- Bowling Green vs. Nebraska (FS1, 7 p.m.)
- San Diego State vs. UCLA (Big Ten Network, 7:15 p.m.)
- Western Illinois vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten Network, 7:15 p.m.)
- No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Texas (ABC, 7:30 p.m.)
- No. 13 Texas Tech vs. Oregon State (CBS, 7:30 p.m.)
- Iowa State vs. No. 21 Iowa (NBC, 7:30 p.m.)
- Georgia Southern vs. Clemson (ACC Network, 7:30 p.m.)
- Charlotte vs. No. 9 Ole Miss (ESPN2, 7:45 p.m.)
- Southern Miss vs. Auburn (SEC Network, 7:45 p.m.)
- Arkansas vs. No. 20 Utah (ESPN, 10:15 p.m.)
- Louisiana vs. No. 14 Southern California (Big Ten Network, 11 p.m.)
How to stream college football this season
College football is spread across more networks than ever before. The major broadcast channels ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX carry the biggest games, while ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, and the SEC and ACC Networks handle the rest.
Streaming fans have several solid options. YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV Stream all offer comprehensive sports packages that include most of the channels carrying college football. ESPN+ is a good add-on for out-of-market games and smaller conference matchups.
For Iowa fans specifically, the Big Ten Network is essential viewing all season long. It is included in most major streaming packages and carries several Hawkeye games throughout the year.
Why the Cy-Hawk game matters this year
The rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State is one of the most intense in the Midwest, and this year's matchup carries extra weight. The Hawkeyes are looking to build momentum in the Big Ten, while Iowa State wants to prove they belong on the national stage.
Iowa's defense has been a hallmark of the program under head coach Kirk Ferentz, and this year's squad looks to continue that tradition. Iowa State, led by their own coaching staff, will need to find answers against that defense if they want to pull the upset on the road.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Fans across Iowa will be watching closely to see who takes home the Cy-Hawk Trophy this year.