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If there was ever a chance to have a "normal" Cy-Hawk Game, 2026 was the year for it to happen. 

The result of this game was almost decided from the moment Matt Campbell left Iowa State for Penn State and took almost his entire roster with him. New head coach Jimmy Rogers was tasked with the unbelievable challenge of piecing together a new roster and have them ready to win a football game under the lights at Kinnick Stadium.

The oddsmakers pegged No. 21 Iowa as a 14-point favorite – the largest point spread in this series in a decade. Throw in the fact that the Hawkeyes were determined to end a two-game losing streak to their in-state rival, and you seemingly had a crystal-clear Saturday evening at Kinnick Stadium. 

Think again. 

It only took five minutes to realize Iowa State was no pushover, and why would it be? 

Rogers is new to the Power Four, but he's been a rising name in the coaching ranks for some time. He led his alma mater, South Dakota State, to an FCS national championship in his first season and then proceed to lead a Washington State program lost in the weeds of conference realignment to a very respectable 6-6 finish. 

Rogers can coach, and unlike his predecessor Campbell, knew from the start how to beat Iowa at its own game – win the battle in the trenches, protect the football, and win the field position battle. 

Iowa State did all of those things very well, but one of the most universal words we use in sports is redemption. The Hawkeyes tried to downplay the effect of this rivalry all week long, but deep down, losing three of four to the Cyclones was a tough pill for them to swallow. 

Their 2025 defeat in Ames was basically a mirror image of what happened on Saturday. Both teams traded punts in the second half, but when it came down to winning time, Iowa State received a gift from above when a third down pass deflected into its arms for a crucial first down that led to an eventual game-winning field goal and 16-13 triumph. 

The Hawkeyes didn't receive a miracle bounce on this night, but when they needed a winning drive, quarterback Hank Brown orchestrated it. Led by running back Kamari Moulton, Iowa marched 31 yards to set up a game-winning 42-yard field goal for walk-on Caden Buhr. 

Nobody, including head coach Kirk Ferentz, knew how to pronounce Buhr's last name (it's pronounced "boo-er") prior to Saturday, but it's safe to say they know how to say his name now. 

Who knows what Buhr was saying to himself before he stepped on the turf for the kick, but for our purposes, picture a family siting around a table playing the classic card game UNO. 

One of the most famous cards in the game is the reverse card, where the player holding the card can reverse play to the other side of the table. Iowa State held that card in its grasp the last two seasons with a pair of Kyle Konrardy 54-yard field goals, but it belonged to Iowa this year. 

When it was Buhr's turn, he played the card. His field goal sailed right through the uprights, and the Hawkeyes found themselves on the right end of a 16-13 Cy-Hawk clash. 

Was it the blowout victory most Iowa fans expected to see? Not even close, but on a day that saw the Big Ten go 2-6 against Power Four teams (Michigan was the other winner), you'll take a 2-0 start if you can get it. 

After 1,100 days (or 1,828 if you want to go back to the non-vacated win) the Cy-Hawk Trophy is back in Iowa City. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io

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