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El Assico: New Era Dawns in Iowa City
10 Sep
Summary
- Iowa State brings a nearly new team and coaching staff to Iowa City.
- Iowa's defense dominated Northern Illinois with 7 sacks and limited rushing yards.
- The Cy-Hawk trophy has stayed in Ames for the last two meetings.
The storied 'El Assico' rivalry game is set to take place in Iowa City, featuring a newly assembled Iowa State team. This year's matchup marks a significant shift, as over 80 players on the Cyclone roster have no prior experience with this historic rivalry.
Iowa State enters the contest with a new coaching staff and a predominantly new team, aiming to continue their recent success against Iowa by securing a third consecutive victory. They face a determined Iowa squad eager to keep the Cy-Hawk trophy in Iowa City.
Both teams opened their 2026 seasons with decisive victories. Iowa State defeated Southeast Missouri State 38-10, while Iowa secured a dominant 40-0 win against Northern Illinois. Iowa's defense was particularly impressive, allowing only 7 rushing yards and recording 7 sacks.
Offensively, Iowa showcased a strong performance, exceeding 500 total yards against Northern Illinois, with running back Kamari Moulton amassing 183 yards and two touchdowns. Iowa State's offense heavily relied on transfer quarterback Jaylen Rayner, who accounted for 71% of their total yards and 80% of their scores in their opening game.
Defensively, Iowa demonstrated suffocating pressure, limiting NIU to minimal offensive drives and yards. Iowa State's defense also performed well, but not to the same dominant level as Iowa's unit.
Special teams present a potential equalizer, with Iowa State's kicker Kyle Konrardy proving reliable. Iowa's return game, particularly with Evan James, shows promise, creating an intriguing special teams battle.
The quarterback situation for Iowa remains an open competition between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski heading into the rivalry game. Iowa State's running back Aiden Flora is currently questionable due to an injury, adding uncertainty to their backfield.
As of September 9, 2026, Iowa is favored by 14.5 points, with an over/under set at 41.5. Despite the numbers, the unpredictable nature of rivalry games like 'El Assico' suggests that determination will play a key role.
