The Cy-Hawk rivalry has so often been predictably close. That changes in 2026. This game bucks the trend.Sep 5, 2026; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton (28) runs for a 66 yard touchdown against the Northern Illinois Huskies during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectIn this story:The Iowa Hawkeyes are looking to fix things in the Cy-Hawk rivalry this year against the Iowa State Cyclones, and the chance to do so in 2026 is better than it has been in some time.With kickoff coming under the lights in Kinnick Stadium, the place will be buzzing with electricity as Iowa tries to move to 2-0 on the year.Iowa State, which went through a complete overhaul this offseason, is coming to Iowa City with absolutely nothing to lose and is playing on house money, trying to pull off the upset.Iowa vs Iowa State betting odds, spread, totalSpread: Iowa -14Money Line: Iowa -600, Iowa State +440Total: 41.5 total points Iowa was a 12.5-point favorite, moved to a 14.5-point favorite, and has now settled in as an even two-touchdown favorite. It's a large spread for a rivalry game that has seen eight of the last 10 matchups decided by 10 or fewer points.Odds are courtesy of DraftKingsHow to watch Iowa vs Iowa State, time, TV channel, streamingTime: 6:30 p.m. CTLocation: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IowaTV Channel: NBCStreaming: PeacockThe Cy-Hawk returns to Iowa City this year, but with a very fun change to it. This year's game is set to be played in primetime on national television with the sun setting. The atmosphere is going to be everything that makes college football so special.Riley Donald's Iowa vs Iowa State PredictionPrediction: Iowa 30, Iowa State 13 Iowa learned a cautionary tale in 2024 when they hosted Iowa State. The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 13-0 lead at halftime and felt in control. Then, they got cute. They turned the ball over. They cracked the door open for Iowa State to steal it from them.This year has a similar feel. Iowa is built similarly, with a strong ground game that will see a lot of work through all four quarters, while trusting the defense.My gut tells me this game is somewhat close at halftime. I like Iowa to take a lead into the break, such as 13-7 or similar, and feel confident but not satisfied.The second half is where Iowa gets going. The ground game starts working better and better as the game wears on. Iowa forces Iowa State into some passing situations by getting up two scores, and then the avalanche starts with an interception by Iowa to set Kinnick on fire down the stretch.The Cy-Hawk comes back to Iowa City and reminds everyone that Iowa is a Hawkeye State.Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollowPublished 6 minutes agoRILEY DONALDRiley Donald, a former NCAA student-athlete, played four years of college football and was a team captain at Augustana College. He has spent nearly five years at USA TODAY Sports covering Iowa football, Iowa men’s basketball, and Iowa women’s basketball, along with a broader coverage focusing primarily on Big Ten football and basketball. Began covering the Dallas Cowboys. Radio guest on several ESPN stations discussing Iowa football, the NFL draft, and more.Share on XFollow rileydonald7