The Cy-Hawk rivalry in Iowa City by Week 2. No. 18 Utah visiting Ames in September. And a late Friday night trip to No. 12 BYU that doesn’t kick off until 10:15 p.m. ET. The Iowa State Football Schedule 2026 delivers rivalry stakes and ranked competition early and often.
Iowa State Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Southeast Missouri Redhawks | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | 1:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Sep 12 | at No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes (Cy-Hawk Series) | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | 7:30 PM | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Bowling Green Falcons | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | 12:00 PM | ESPNU |
| Sat, Sep 26 | No. 18 Utah Utes | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | West Virginia Mountaineers (Homecoming) | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 9 | at No. 12 BYU Cougars | LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT | 10:15 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Oct 17 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 24 | at Arizona Wildcats | Casino Del Sol Stadium, Tucson, AZ | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | at Baylor Bears | McLane Stadium, Waco, TX | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Cincinnati Bearcats | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Nov 20 | at UCF Knights | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 6:00 PM | FS1 |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Kansas State Wildcats | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Dec 4 | Big 12 Championship | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM | ABC |
The Cy-Hawk Rivalry Arrives Early
Iowa State Football Schedule 2026 opens against Southeast Missouri before the season’s first true test — a trip to Kinnick Stadium for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series against No. 19 Iowa on September 12, a Saturday night kickoff on NBC. Bowling Green gives Ames a home date to recover before No. 18 Utah visits on September 26, the first ranked home opponent of the year.
West Virginia for Homecoming, Then a Late Night in Provo
West Virginia visits for Homecoming on October 3 before Iowa State Football Schedule 2026 sends the Cyclones to No. 12 BYU for a Friday night kickoff that doesn’t start until 10:15 p.m. ET. A bye week on October 17 gives the roster time to recover from back-to-back tests against Utah and BYU.
Arizona, Then a Manageable Home Stretch
A road trip to Arizona opens the back half of October before Oklahoma State visits Jack Trice Stadium on Halloween. The Iowa State Big 12 schedule 2026 then sends the Cyclones to Baylor before Cincinnati returns them home in mid-November.
A Friday Night in Orlando, Then the Home Finale
A Friday night road trip to UCF closes out the toughest travel stretch of the season before Kansas State visits Ames to close the regular season. If Iowa State is still playing December 4, it’s in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Iowa, Utah, and BYU, Iowa State faces three of its toughest tests inside the first six weeks of the season. The Iowa State football home games in 2026 offer real support after that stretch, but how the Cyclones handle the Cy-Hawk rivalry and the Utah-to-BYU turn will shape everything that follows.
FAQ
Q: When does Iowa State play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Iowa State Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Southeast Missouri on Saturday, September 5, at Jack Trice Stadium.
Q: When is Iowa State vs Iowa 2026?
A: Iowa State vs Iowa 2026, the Cy-Hawk Series, is set for Saturday, September 12, on the road at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Q: How many home games does Iowa State play in 2026?
A: Iowa State has seven Iowa State football home games in 2026 at Jack Trice Stadium: Southeast Missouri, Bowling Green, Utah, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, and Kansas State.
Q: What is Iowa State’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from Iowa (road) through Utah (home) and BYU (road) — September 12 through October 9 — is the toughest early stretch on the Iowa State Big 12 schedule 2026.
