Cy-Hawk Rivalry Under New Leadership | Iowa Hawkeyes Football News

0:00On September 8th, this Saturday marks the 73rd showdown between Iowa State and Iowa for the Sihoff trophy. It's a classic robbery game, but this year feels different. Iowa State is under new leadership with their first year head coach, Jimmy Rogers, who's bringing in a lot of new faces, many from smaller programs. The Hawkeyes, on the other hand, are sticking with what works. Kurt Ference has a solid track record in this match-up, winning 14 of the last 22 games. With Iowa State still finding their rhythm and integrating so many new players, the Hawkeyes are favored by 13 and a half points. This new look Cyclone Squad is ranked way down in returning production, and their quarterback has struggled against tougher competition in the past. They only managed a little over 300 yards against an FCS team in their opener, which doesn't bode well for facing Iowa's strong defense. Iowa's defense is ranked in the top 11 nationally, and they should be able to keep the Cyclone's offense in check. Even though Iowa's offense has a potent run game, they're splitting snaps at quarterback, which might limit their scoring potential.

1:04Given all this, the experts are leaning towards Iowa, covering the spread, and the total points staying under 40 and a half. It's a big change for Iowa State, and this rivalry game is a tough test for a team still figuring itself out. Stay locked in with Iowa Hawkeyes football news today, AI-powered updates.