CyHawk Talk

There will be upsets coming in week one of the college football season. The Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones are just hoping it doesn't happen to them. 

Both teams will face an FCS opponent Saturday. Iowa opens its season against Albany (5:10 p.m., FS1) while ISU (1-0 overall, 1-0 Big 12) plays against South Dakota (2:30 p.m. FOX).

Beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss the matchups, which team faces a greater threat, and recap ISU's win in Ireland.

Iowa State storylines:

2:17 The South Dakota Coyotes are projected as a strong FCS opponent

3:38 Ethan’s trip to The DakotaDome

5:00 Teams returning from Ireland have struggled in recent history

7:45 Will Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend get more involved against South Dakota?

10:27 Ben is going to be watching Iowa State’s running back snaps

10:45 Matt Campbell was spicy in his postgame press conference

Iowa storylines: 

13:54 Iowa’s depth chart didn’t tell Ethan anything

19:09 Ethan wants to see if Iowa’s defense passes the eye test against Albany

20:10 Reflecting on Iowa’s win against Illinois State last year

21:00 Will Iowa’s defense allow any explosive plays to Albany?

21:54 Ethan is looking at the chemistry between Mark Gronowski and his receivers

23:31 Gronowski has (successful) history against Albany

24:04 Sunday’s headlines today

This week in Iowa Athletics, the football and volleyball teams open the 2025 season while field hockey and soccer remain in action.

Iowa beat reporter Ethan Petrik and Iowa State beat reporter Ben Hutchens recap Ben’s trip to Ireland and preview the Cyclones’ season-opener against Kansas State.

Here's a rundown of the show:

0:32 Ben on Ireland

1:33 Ben's Ireland weather report

2:37 What impact will jet lag have on both teams?

4:35 The logistics of moving a college football team 4,000 miles

5:53 The game will be won on the ground 8:15 Take care of the ball!

10:00 Ben's Irish Adventure 10:40 St. Peter's Cathedral

12:32 A mixed food review

13:23 Splitting the G

15:19 Sunday's Headlines Today

This week in Iowa Athletics, the women’s field hockey, soccer and volleyball teams will be in action. (Ethan Petrik/Quad-City Times)

Cy-Hawk Talk is back for the 2025 college football season. 

Iowa beat reporter Ethan Petrik and Iowa State beat reporter Ben Hutchens share three bold predictions for the Hawkeyes and Cyclones and preview Ben’s trip to Ireland for the Cyclones’ season-opener against Kansas State.

Here's a rundown of the show:

1:38 Tight end Benjamin Brahmer will lead Iowa State in receiving yards

4:14 Matt Campbell will win a home Cy-Hawk and start a winning streak

8:38 Ben thinks Iowa State will wear blackout uniforms once or twice

11:11 Why Ethan has confidence in Tim Lester’s second-year offense

11:44 Mark Gronowski will throw for more than 3,000 yards

13:20 Ethan isn’t worried about the viral clip of Gronowski fumbling a snap

14:43 Iowa will have a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver

16:56 What having an answer at quarterback does for Iowa’s offense

19:22: Iowa will go (at least) 2-1 against Penn State, Indiana and Ohio State

21:50 What Ben is most excited to see in Ireland?

In an exclusive interview with the Quad-City Times, new Iowa head softball coach Stacy May-Johnson discussed how she plans to revitalize the Hawkeye softball program and her year one expectations.

Read more: https://qctimes.com/sports/college/big-10/iowa/article_835f7231-2736-4724-bd95-6885b6ea1172.html

Iowa State and Iowa beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss Arizona State's beatdown of Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game and what is next for the Cyclones and Hawkeyes during bowl season.

Timestamps:

0:30 Do Iowa State fans want to forget ISU's appearance in the 2024 Big 12 CCG.

1:38 The Cyclones inability to stop the run caught up with them.

2:38 Still a heck of a season for Iowa State, but the Sun Devils were a cut above the rest.

3:45 Why was Cam Skattebo not flagged for intentional grounding?

4:38 No one doubts it was pass interference against ASU.

5:25 Matt Campbell was thankful for season during postgame.

6:20 What was up with the clock management from Campbell?

8:00 Iowa State's tasty bowl desination

9:20 Iowa gets a makeup date with Missouri/Ethan drops trivia facts

11:43 Pop Tarts Bowl a consolation prize for Miami & ISU

Iowa State's best running back, Carson Hansen, kept the Cyclones' Big 12 Championship dreams alive with an underthrown pass. Iowa and Iowa State beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss the trending storylines around the Cyclones and Hawkeyes.

Timestamps:

0:30 Iowa State women’s basketball survives the same Katie Dinnebier scare that almost got Iowa beat.

4:30 Iowa State’s gutsy trick play call paid off in a big way

6:00 Cut Carson Hansen a break for his underthrown pass

7:00 Losing to Utah would have put serious salt (lake) in the wound

8:41 Jackson Stratton is 1-0 as a starter at Iowa, will likely start against Nebraska

9:48 Pride and bragging rights on the line for Nebraska and Iowa

13:30: Iowa State isn’t quite a lock on the Playoff-O-Meter yet

Many storylines surround the Cyclones. One dominates the Hawkeyes.

With a win Saturday (And some help from BYU and Kansas) Iowa State can continue its push to reach the Big 12 Championship. Iowa is looking for building blocks from a disappointing that point to a successful rebound next season. 

Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the storylines facing each team on the field, court and soccer pitch.

Timestamps:

0:45 The Utah game is the biggest of Iowa State’s season (Just like Cincinnati was)

2:22 The other Big 12 games Iowa State fans should watching this weekend

3:30 The three most-likely scenarios for Iowa State to get in the Big 12 Championship

5:15 The Big 12 has been getting disrespected the entire season

6:30 The differences in Iowa State’s 2020 and 2024 resume

8:37 Quantifying Iowa State’s litany of defensive injuries

10:44 The one big storyline surrounding Iowa’s football team is quarterback

13:35 How Kirk Ferentz (accidentally?) revealed who will be starting

17:12 Ferentz’ thoughts on Mark Farley’s retirement

20:44 Iowa has a chance to make history on the soccer pitch

22:25 Ethan thinks Caitlin Clark’s new State Farm commercial is hilarious

24:46 Iowa State’s Sunday headlines today

27:02 Iowa’s Sunday headlines today

Iowa State's weakness last week against Kansas, its defense, became an asset in a 34-17 win against Cincinnati.

Iowa State beat reporter Ben Hutchens and Iowa beat reporter Ethan Petrik discuss how the Cyclone defense turned things around and what the Hawkeyes' quarterback situation looks like moving forward.

Timestamps:

• 0:25 Iowa women’s basketball team beats Drake, but Drake’s Katie Dinnebier scores a career-high 40 points
• 1:23: Iowa State’s defense is getting healthy…keep your eye on it
• 2:50 Did the Jack Trice Stadium atmosphere leave something to be desired in another night game?
• 4:00 Orange you glad Domonique is back?
• 4:32 The sequence before half that tilted the game in Iowa State’s favor.
• 6:30 Rocco Becht’s touchdown run keeps all of Iowa State’s goals alive.
• 8:07 It’s hard to believe Rocco Becht is only a sophomore.
• 8:29 Iowa QB spectrum shifts to McNamara (Ethan thinks he will be the starter).
• 10:30 Iowa State Playoff-O-Meter: All the Cyclones can do is watch.

Subscribe for free to watch and listen to CyHawk Talk on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. November hasn't been kind to the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones, giving just one win (Iowa's win against Wisconsin) and taking away Heisman Trophy and perhaps College Football Playoff hopes. What do the Cyclones need to do to stop their losing streak and how will the Hawkeyes best use their bye week? Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik give their thoughts on the biggest issues facing each team.

Show rundown

1:40 Iowa State’s defense is in the crosshairs on Saturday (and rest of the season)

3:46 Self-inflicted wounds have been worse the past two weeks than it had been all season

5:13 What’s gone into Rocco Becht’s interception problem the past three games

5:55 Tyson Veidt’s return to Jack Trice Stadium will be amicable

8:18 The answer Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester gave to an interesting question

9:20 Ethan thinks the Hawkeyes haven’t seen the last of Cade McNamara

10:50 Iowa’s defense can’t wave-away the losses of last year’s starters Cooper DeJean, Logan Lee and Joe Evans

14:18 The possibility of an Iowa-Alabama bowl matchup

16:30 Iowa State's Sunday's headlines today

19:12 Iowa's Sunday's (and Monday's) headlines today

The Quad-City Times' Iowa and Iowa State beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens sit down to talk about the latest happenings in Hawkeye and Cyclone athletics.

Cyclone talk:

-The Cyclones' confounding defensive problem (1:36)

-And that problem is something the Jayhawks can exploit (2:25)

-Will Jaylin Noel’s message after loss help ISU bounce back (3:20)

-Digging into the Batman and Robin comparison between Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel (4:55)

-Is Abu Sama’s turn leading the running back rotation here for long? (6:20)

Hawkeye talk:

-Iowa isn’t doing any sightseeing on its trip to UCLA (11:40)

-The latest Iowa tight end to step up (13:15)

-Zach Ortwerth’s dad, a former tight end at Drake, had a rule where Zach couldn’t play football until high school (14:37)

-Iowa offensive line was built by failure (16:28)

-Reminder: Iowa women’s basketball is still a good team (18:50)

Sunday’s Headlines Today (20:25)

For the first time this season, Iowa State is bouncing back from a loss after a 23-22 defeat against Texas Tech. Meanwhile, things are looking up for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who defeated Wisconsin 42-10.

ISU beat reporter Ben Hutchens and Iowa beat reporter Ethan Petrik discuss all the happenings.

• Disappointment is the main emotion Ben picked up in the locker room after the loss (0:35)
• ISU will likely be ranked in the late teens or early 20s in the CFP rankings (3:10)
• Don't count Colorado out of the Big 12 race (5:17)
• Iowa's Brendan Sullivan flashed at times to make for a solid but not spectacular start (6:13)
• Kaleb Johnson benefitted from a dominant offensive line (8:30)
• Rhys Dakin might end up being a better punter than Tory Taylor (10:10)
• Ben bumps the Cyclones down in the Playoff-O-Meter (12:50)
• Ethan tips the quarterback spectrum scale in favor of Brendan Sullivan (15:03)

Iowa Hawkeyes reporter Ethan Petrik sits down with Colten Bartholomew of the Wisconsin State Journal to breakdown the upcoming matchup between the Hawkeyes and Badgers. 

• Introduction (0:17)
• The Badgers’ season summarized (1:21)
• Wisconsin’s next four games (2:47)
• How did the offense change after injury starting QB (3:20)
• Braedyn Locke’s lack of mobility compared to Tyler Van Dyke (4:35)
• Ranking Locke’s mobility (5:45)
• Scouting report on Badgers’ defense (6:20)
• The battle in the trenches (8:06)
• Saying things fans do not like to hear (9:54)
• Vegas favors Iowa, thoughts (10:40)
• Sullivan’s mobility (12:43)
• Parting thoughts (13:29)

Iowa State reporter Ben Hutchens and Iowa reporter Ethan Petrik discuss the latest on the Cyclones and Hawkeyes in CyHawk Talk.

• Quarterback questions swirl at Iowa after loss (1:29)
• Ethan overanalyzes a Kirk Ferentz quote about quarterbacks (2:50)
• Jacob Gill has not texted his old Northwestern teammates…yet (5:04)
• The math on Iowa’s turnover inefficiency (6:25)
• Ben weighs in on Hawkeyes’ turnover inefficiency (8:52)
• Jay Higgins’s Hudl highlight (11:55)
• The best Hudl/And1 mixtape (13:30)
• Iowa State’s by week came at the right time (14:41)
• The Cyclones poll momentum (16:10)
• The unlikely four-game series (17:50)
• Iowa State wrestling facts (19:15)
• Christian Carroll a name to watch (20:16)
• The Big 12 as a multi-bid league in CFP (21:00)
• Futurama Meme Discussion (21:43)
• Sunday’s Headlines Today (22:49)
• Iowa headlines (23:03)
• Iowa State headlines (25:03)
• Conclusion (26:52)

• Iowa State needed to win a close game (1:02)
• Is Rocco Becht now "Running Rocco"? (2:34)
• Iowa's game against MSU went different than Ethan thought (8:24)
• Iowa doesn't appear to be planning to make any changes (12:20).
• Iowa State Playoff-o-meter (13:09)
• Iowa Playoff-o-meter (14:10).

Iowa reporter Ethan Petrik and Iowa State reporter Ben Hutchens break down the top storylines of the week as the Hawkeyes prepare for Michigan State and the Cyclones ready for Central Florida.

1:10 Fun facts about 1938 (the last time Iowa State was 6-0). 

3:02 How is ISU going to slow UCF running back RJ Harvey.

5:00 Carson Hansen is Ben’s pick to lead ISU running backs this week.

5:50 Why Abu Sama hasn’t played as much as other backs.

8:16 ISU’s third down versatility is an underrated strength of the team.

13:20 A hidden reason for Iowa struggles is averaging 2.4 points off each turnover.

15:05 Michigan State presents an opportunity for turnovers.

16:28 The connection between Iowa and the state of Michigan.

 20:15 The eternal principles of winning in the Big 10.

22:10 Ben’s Sunday headlines.

24:03 Ethan’s Sunday headlines.

Iowa State reporter Ben Hutchens and Iowa reporter Ethan Petrik recap the Cyclones and Hawkeyes' wins on Saturday.

Timestamps:

• Is the Iowa offense back? (1:10)

• The misleading stat of Cade McNamara (4:00)

• New RB leads Iowa State win over West Virginia (5:45)

• Cyclones rallied after a rough start (6:57)

• Interceptions turned game late/the overlooked play (8:37)

• Rocco Becht changed the game (10:25)

• Playoff-o-meter (10:58)
  • Iowa State (11:29)
  • Iowa (13:16)

Iowa State reporter Ben Hutchens and Iowa reporter Ethan Petrik discuss basketball media days, Iowa State's upcoming game against West Virginia and Iowa's upcoming game against Washington.

Timestamps:

• Takeaways from Iowa State men's and women's basketball media days (1:05)

• Takeaways from Iowa men's basketball media day (6:00)

• ISU vs West Virginia storylines to watch (07:20)

• Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser's impact (9:00)

• Importance of Iowa putting together four quarters of football (13:55)

• The narrative around Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara (15:47)

• Washington coach Jedd Fisch drew high praise from Kirk Ferentz (18:40)

• Sunday's headlines today (21:00)

Quad-City Times reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik recap No. 11 Iowa State's win over Baylor and Iowa's loss to No. 2 Ohio State.

The importance of Caden Matson's punt block touchdown (00:42)

The scene at a Jack Trice white out game (1:22)

Iowa's dismal performance (2:10)

Does Iowa have a QB controversy after Brendan Sullivan's late touchdown (2:39)

Iowa's inability to compete with the upper echelon (3:58)

Iowa State RB Jaylon Jackson continues to impress (6:08)

Confidence level of the Cyclones (8:24)

Playoff-o-Meter
Iowa (9:16)
Iowa State (10:15)

The Quad-City Times' Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens look ahead at Iowa State and Iowa's upcoming matchups and highlight what storylines to monitor going into Saturday.

Will Iowa's offense remain inconsistent in Columbus (1:40)

Cade McNamara doesn't throw with the laces every time (3:15)

This week will go a long way toward Iowa making or missing the playoffs (5:35)

Ethan doesn't think Kaleb Johnson's NCAAF rating is accurate (10:15)

There is a buzz in the air for undefeated Iowa State's white out game on national TV (12:00)

Iowa State's white out uniforms are nice (13:14)

Does Iowa State's offense have a consistency problem? (14:13)

Defensive mentality is key to ISU's success (16:14)

Tomorrow's headlines today: 17:50

Bear Down

*Shrug emoji*

The Jackson Five

The adventures of Sawyer Robertson

Stakes Set

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