BATTLE FOR IOWA: IOWA VS IOWA STATE GAME RECAP

Wrapping up the week 2 slate, both the Cyclones and Hawkeyes came into Kinnick Stadium seeking to go 2-0.  Early on in the game, it was a shootout. 0-0 first quarter followed by a whopping 20 point second quarter, resulting in a 10-10 score at the half.

The game then ended in a combined three field goals spanned throughout the second half. The most important of the bunch coming with just 16 seconds left, a 42 yarder that propelled the Hawkeyes to a 16-13 win over the CyClones, pushing the Hawks to 2-0. 

The Hawkeyes had over 280 yards composite to help secure the win. Notabl key players for Iowa on Saturday include QB Hank Brown, WR Tony Diaz, and LB Cam Buffington. This trio practically carried the team to a rivalry victory.

Iowa’s Breakdown:

Leading the charge on offense, Hank Brown had 191 yards in the air on 21/30 completions, but no passing TDs. On the receiving end of the ball, Iowa receiver Tony Diaz had 95 yards on 8 catches with the farthest catch of the day by either team with a 56 yard reception. Expect Diaz to break out as WR1 in Iowa City as the season goes on.

Linebacker Cam Buffington had a great day with a whopping 15 total tackles and 9 solo tackles.  The Hawkeyes had a solid defensive showing with 56 total tackles and 28 solos with 3 TFLs. The Iowa defense is good each and every year, and 2026 looks to be no exception.

Iowa State:

Even with the loss in Kinnick, the Cyclones had bright spots. On offense, Cyclones WR1 Jaylen Raynor had another good game in the air with 10/19 completions and 117 yards and a TD. Raynor has broken out as this teams undisputed WR1 over the first two weeks. 

On the rushing side of the ball, RB Aiden Flora tallied 19 carries with 89 yards and no TDs. Flora ran the ball quite well. However, the receiving side of the ball was not nearly as hot as the previous week for the Cyclones passing attack. Omari Hayes caught just 3 catches for 39 yards, and the Cyclones saw minimal production out of everyone but Flora and Raynor. Iowa is a great defense, but the Iowa State offense undeniably dissapointed on Saturday. The Cyclones need more depth.

Yet again the Cyclones defense had a great showing. The linebackers played great, with Sulivan Schlimgen accruing 9 total tackles with 6 solo and Linebacker Carson Willich tallying the second most tackles for the Cyclones with 6 total and 4 solo. Willich also had a TFL and came up on multiple third down stops for the Cyclones defense.

As a team, the Cyclones defense was not terrible with 62 total tackles and 40 solo tackles to go along with a single TFL.  The groups defensive performance should have been enough to win this game

Both teams played a very clean game with 0 turnovers for either team, this was a clean game of football between two extremely physical and tough teams.

Fun fact:  if you were a fan of anything related to special teams, this was the game for you. Iowa kicker Caden Buhr went 3/3 on FGs with his longest being from 45 yards out. 

Additionally Iowa punter Boston Everitt had 6 punts for a combined total of 264 yards and his longest being 51 yards. But even if you weren't a Hawkeye fan, there was special teams action for you. 

Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy went 2/2 on FGs with his longest one being from 51 yards out. On top of that, punter Jonah DuPont had 6 Punts for a total of 260 yards with his longest being 58 yards. Iowa State also used a second punter in Ethan Gurney, who punted a ball for 47 yards. 

The Hawkeyes advance into next week with boosted confidence to face FCS University of Northern Iowa back at home. They look to beat the Panthers and go 3-0 in their short stint at home to start the season. They also look to take that momentum into conference play the following week in Ann Arbor in the Big House. 

As for the Cyclones, they look to bounce back against a MAC school in Bowling Green State next weekend back home in Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones look to get back into the win column before heading into conference play the following week against Utah, and with one loss already, the Cyclones have almost no room for error in conference play.