Iowa State faces Iowa in Cy-Hawk clash as Big 12 opens conference play
The Big 12 conference enters Week 2 with a 13-3 record, but the real test begins Saturday when Iowa State travels to Iowa City for the Cy-Hawk rivalry game and Arizona meets BYU to open conference play.
The Cyclones are in the middle of a full roster reset after losing every primary starter from the 2025 season. Head coach Jimmy Rogers has rebuilt the team through the transfer portal, bringing in former Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor and former Washington State defensive end Isaac Terrell to lead the retooled squad.
Iowa State's Week 1 performance against FCS competition raised some concerns. The offense managed just 303 yards, and Rogers acknowledged the team needs to gel quickly before facing the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium.
Cy-Hawk series has recent Cyclone momentum
Iowa owns the all-time series lead, but Iowa State has won three of the last four meetings, including two straight. The recent trend favors the Cyclones, though this year's matchup presents a unique challenge against a Hawkeye team coming off a dominant shutout of Northern Illinois.
Iowa's Kamari Moulton rushed for 183 yards on just 11 carries in Week 1, and the Hawkeyes generated 289 rushing yards as a unit behind several NFL-caliber offensive linemen.
History suggests points could be scarce Saturday night. No team has scored more than 20 points in the last four Cy-Hawk matchups.
This rivalry means everything to the state of Iowa. Both teams will leave everything on the field Saturday night.
Big 12 teams chase top-10 upsets
Oklahoma State and Arizona State both face AP Top 10 opponents in the early Saturday window, giving the Big 12 a chance to make a national statement.
Oklahoma State's debut under head coach Eric Morris did not go as planned. The Cowboys managed just 10 points in a 24-10 loss at Tulsa, committing four turnovers in the process. Adding to the frustration, starting left tackle Jacob Sexton suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter.
The Cowboys host No. 6 Oregon in the first home game of the Morris era. The Ducks survived a scare against Boise State in Week 1, winning 34-27 despite being out-gained in several statistical categories. Oregon's explosive playmaking in the fourth quarter proved decisive.
Arizona State travels to College Station to face Texas A&M after a 70-7 blowout of FCS Morgan State. Kentucky transfer quarterback Cutter Boley looked sharp, completing 21 of 27 passes for 387 yards and six touchdowns.
The Sun Devils have a strong track record against ranked opponents under Kenny Dillingham, going 6-1 against AP Top 25 teams. That includes an upset win over Big 12 champion Texas Tech last October.
Arizona and BYU open Big 12 play in Provo
The only conference matchup on Saturday's slate is a rematch of last season's double-overtime thriller between Arizona and BYU.
BYU won that game 33-27 in Tucson, rallying from a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation. The Cougars enter this year's meeting ranked No. 15 with significant returning talent.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier returns for his sophomore season alongside reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin, who rushed for over 1,300 yards last season. BYU has won 11 of its last 12 home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Arizona counters with Noah Fifita, the program's all-time leading passer, and a deep running back corps that adds Ismail Mahdi this week following the Wisne v. NCAA ruling on eligibility.
Full Big 12 Week 2 schedule
Friday, Sept. 11: Missouri at Kansas, 8 p.m. ET (FOX)
Saturday, Sept. 12: Oregon at Oklahoma State, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN); Arizona State at Texas A&M, 12 p.m. ET (ABC); Washington State at Kansas State, 12 p.m. ET (TNT); UT Martin at West Virginia, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+); Arizona at BYU, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX); UCF at Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2); Weber State at Colorado, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+); Southern at Houston, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+); Texas Tech at Oregon State, 7:30 p.m. ET (CBS); Iowa State at Iowa, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC); Grambling at TCU, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+); Prairie View at Baylor, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+); Arkansas at Utah, 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Border War renews between Kansas and Missouri
Kansas and Missouri renew their rivalry Friday night in Lawrence. The teams did not meet from 2012 through 2024, but the intensity remains. Missouri won last year's meeting 42-31 behind 595 yards of offense.
Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has reunited with head coach Lance Leipold after two seasons at Penn State. The Jayhawks will lean on mobile quarterback Isaiah Marshall and transfer running backs Yasin Willis and Dylan Edwards.
Missouri counters with Jamal Roberts, who rushed for 143 yards in last year's matchup, and quarterback Austin Simmons, who completed 17 of 19 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1.
What the Cy-Hawk game means for Iowa State's season
A win Saturday would give Iowa State its third straight Cy-Hawk victory and provide a major boost for a program in transition. A loss would raise questions about the roster rebuild and put the Cyclones behind the eight ball heading into conference play.
The Big 12 is a 16-team conference known for parity. Every conference win carries significant weight, but non-conference victories against in-state rivals carry their own special meaning for fans across Iowa.