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Latest AP Poll release sets up Top 10 showdown in Cy-Hawk game

Scott Schultz

By Scott Schultz

Published:

The annual Cy-Hawk Classic between Iowa State and Iowa is always one of the most anticipated games of the year for both sides, but this season is different, with even more anticipation.

Aside from the long-awaited frenzy of having fans back in the stands, both the Cyclones and the Hawkeyes are ranked in the Top-10 nationally – Iowa State at No. 9 and Iowa at No. 10.

For the Cyclones, the start of the 2021 season was a little rocky, winning a nail-biter over Northern Iowa 16-10. But for the Hawkeyes, a 34-6 thrashing of then No. 17 Indiana was supposed to be a battle, but that just never materialized as the Hawkeyes defense kept Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. off his game.

The excitement over this round of the Cy-Hawk managed to get the attention of the popular ESPN Saturday pregame show, GameDay. This weekend’s show will be staged right before the classic rivalry takes place at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

“It is a tremendous privilege to host GameDay twice in three years and a testament to the incredible job Matt Campbell, his staff and student-athletes are doing on and off the football field,” Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard said in a Saturday night statement. “This will be a tremendous opportunity to showcase Iowa State University, our football program and fans to a national audience. I am confident that our fans will again show out for this special event, just as they did two years ago.”

The last meeting of the Cy-Hawk was in 2019 and was won by Iowa, 18-17, in one of the most bizarre Cy-Hawk games ever. The game featured two weather delays in the first half and a muffed punt to seal the deal for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa holds a dominant all-time record in the series, holding a 45-22 series advantage.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 PM on Saturday, Sept 11 in Ames.

Scott Schultz

Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.