Iowa vs. Iowa State Wrestling Rivalry Resumes with High Stakes

This Saturday, a historic rivalry takes center stage as the No. 2 ranked University of Iowa wrestling team faces off against No. 6 Iowa State in the highly anticipated Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Dual. Taking place at 6 p.m. Central Time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, the dual presents Iowa with the opportunity to extend a staggering 19-year winning streak over their in-state competitors.

The matchup is part of the Cy-Hawk Series, sponsored by Iowa Corn and currently led by Iowa State with a 9-2 advantage in the 2024-25 season. However, Iowa wrestling boasts an 18-1 lead in Cy-Hawk Series duals, maintaining a winning streak over Iowa State that dates back to 2004.

Iowa head coach Tom Brands, who holds an undefeated 18-0 record against Iowa State, continues to lead the Iowa Hawkeyes, who are anticipated to retain the Dan Gable Traveling Trophy for another year. The trophy, named after Iowa State’s former standout wrestler and legendary Iowa coach, was introduced in 2010 and has remained with Iowa since its inception.

Iowa’s lineup is loaded with standout wrestlers, including Drake Ayala, Kyle Parco, and Stephen Buchanan, who are all expected to contribute to the dual. Parco, a senior, and Buchanan, a graduate student, are among six All-Americans on the roster. In contrast, Iowa State’s roster is eager to challenge their more highly ranked opponents, in hopes of ending the long-standing losing streak.

The Saturday bout will be part of a larger slate of matches as Iowa is set to take on other ranked competitors like Penn State, Oklahoma State, and Ohio State later in their schedule. Fans can watch the dual via B1G+ with a subscription or pay-per-view option, and the action will also be available through radio broadcast on AM 800 KXIC.

The Iowa vs. Iowa State wrestling dual is part of the extensive sports rivalry between the two universities, which also involves competitions across various other sports such as basketball and swimming. This rivalrous interaction between the schools not only fuels the competitive spirit but also engages a wide audience, enhancing the storied tradition of the Cy-Hawk Series.