CyHawk preview: Hawkeyes look to stop losing streak versus Cyclones

In a college football rivalry historically dominated by the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Iowa State Cyclones will walk into Kinnick Stadium on Saturday boasting a two-game winning streak against the Hawkeyes. Iowa leads the series all time, 46-25. Iowa State has won three of the last four, but technically the last three, Iowa's 2023 win has been vacated by the NCAA for a tampering violation.

But this year's battle features a lot of change. Both team's look dramatically different from last year. For Iowa, that's because of a large graduating class last season. For Iowa State, a departure by former head coach Matt Campbell gutted the program.

"We're a new team and a lot of these guys haven't even played Iowa State you know," said third year quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski. "So, we're not even worried about what's happened in the past. We're focused on this year."

The Hawkeyes have one of their most inexperienced groups in the Ferentz era. While it brings some challenges, head coach Kirk Ferentz says it can be a good thing sometimes.

"A beauty of maybe not being as veteran is you don't know any better," said Ferentz. "Like you should be, hey we should be a little bit more worried about this this week, but sometimes the guys are oblivious to that, so my encouragement to them is no self-imposed ceilings."

The CyHawk series has provided generally very close games each year since 2017. More recently, it's been a low scoring, smash mouth battle. Often, getting pretty physical with some ugly football at times.

Both teams started the season with high scoring affairs. The Hawkeye beat Northern Illinois 40-0, while Iowa State won against SEMO 38-10. This battle could feature more offense than typically seen.

"Got to put the pressure on them for all 60 minutes," said Iowa fourth year quarterback Hank Brown.

It is very likely both Brown and Hecklinski will get snaps for the Hawkeyes again. Though, no starter has been announced yet.

This year's Cyclones are led by new head coach Jimmy Rogers. This is his third head coaching gig after bouncing around from South Dakota State and Washington State over the past three years. Rogers' team is built from the transfer portal. Many are brought along from Washington State, a team that went 7-6 last season. While the Hawkeyes enter by nearly two touchdown favorites, the rivalry game always poses to be a bigger challenge than what it seems on paper.

"All the different personnels that they have, you know they have some heavy packages, they have some more normal packages so a lot of different ways they can attack you," said Hawkeye fourth year linebacker Jayden Montgomery. "Definitely forces us to prepare for a lot of different things, so that's probably the biggest challenge this week."

With a team that hasn't put a ton on film to scout, the Hawkeyes have to be prepared to adjust and adapt.

"They can come out there and do anything, so as a defense, we're reactors, we like to react," said Hawkeye fifth year cornerback Deshaun Lee. "So, we're just confident in the game plan and we just got to react and compete."

The Hawkeye defense pitched a shutout in week one. This week will prove to be tougher to repeat that. Iowa State's new quarterback from Arkansas State, Jaylen Raynor, is capable of jaw-dropping plays with his athleticism. Raynor showed that off last week with four total touchdowns, two rushing and two through the air.

"Better stay in your contain lanes," said Ferentz. "I think one of the opponents on Saturday took a bad angle and he stepped right out of that, that could get dangerous."

In 28 years under Ferentz the Hawkeyes look fairly similar year after year, but when needed they have never backed away from change. Not to their standards or identity, but the staff will adjust to fit their personnel. This year, that has happened on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker has adopted the use of the 3-3-5 scheme, something rarely done by Parker who operates out of the 4-2-5 more often. The former replaces a lineman with a linebacker compared to the latter.

"Probably our least experienced position right now is the defensive line, so it takes a little pressure off," said Ferentz. "It takes one (lineman) off the field and gives you the chance to use different body types up front."

It worked well against the Huskies. The team had 6 sacks and did not allow a single first down in the first half.

The last four games of the CyHawk series have been decided by one possession. A shaky start for the special teams unit will need to be cleaned up by the Hawkeyes. Especially if the game comes down to a field goal. Iowa State returns one of the best kickers in the country in Kyle Konrardy. The Hawkeye's kick is Caden Buhr who missed his first extra point attempt and field goal attempt last Saturday. Though Buhr bounced back to make his next four extra point attempts and two field goals, one from 45 yards out.

"Caden's situation couldn't have gotten off to a worse start, but then he just, he got his feet back on the ground and fell back on to his fundamentals, it's probably the best he could do anytime the wheels fall off a little bit," said Ferentz. "Think he did that. He's certainly capable."

The Cy-Hawk game will kick off Saturday night at 6:30 in Kinnick Stadium. At halftime, the Hawkeye Marching Band is expected to honor their member who passed away last week after a sudden cardiac arrest last weekend.

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