A podcast dedicated to Iowa and Iowa State fans, friends and followers. Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens offer expert analysis of the Hawkeyes and Cyclones.
Iowa State junior quarterback Rocco Becht is transferring.
The past three seasons as starting quarterback, Becht has led ISU to 26 wins, the Big 12 Championship game and two wins against Iowa. Now, after coach Matt Campbell left ISU for Penn State, Becht is also leaving Ames.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss Becht's intention to enter the portal and what is next for ISU at quarterback.
CyHawk Talk rundown:
0:20 Reaction to Rocco Becht entering the transfer portal
1:34 Becht’s message to Cyclone fans
4:18 Jimmy Rogers is in (another) tough spot
5:49 Speculating what could be next for Rocco Becht
7:45 Alex Manske and Connor Moberly are leaders in the clubhouse for next year’s quarterback
10:40 What will ISU’s offense look like next season?
12:04 Iowa State doesn’t have a quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class
In one of the most surreal days in the history of Iowa State athletics, Matt Campbell, the winningest coach in school history, has left.
About 10 minutes after Campbell took a job at Penn State, news broke that ISU had hired Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers as successor. Rogers is the 33rd coach in school history.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik react to the news on an emergency edition of CyHawk Talk.
Both the Hawkeyes and Cyclones are looking for a ninth win in a bowl game.
With the 2025 season winding down, beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens look back at their bold preseason predictions for Iowa and Iowa State.
Read: 3 Bold predictions for Iowa's 2025 season
Read: 3 Bold predictions for Iowa State's 2025 season
CyHawk Talk rundown:
1:27 Mark Gronowski did not throw for 1,000 yards
2:12 Iowa did not have a 1,000 yard receiver or rusher
3:30 Iowa failed to get two wins against 2024 CFB teams
6:43 A tight end still has a chance to lead ISU in receiving yards
7:33 Matt Campbell got his first Cy-Hawk home win
8:10 Iowa State has only worn its all-black uniforms once this season
15:23 Grades for Iowa’s 2025 season
20:10 Grades for Iowa State’s 2025 season
Iowa receiver Kaden Wetjen stands alone in the Hawkeyes' record book. Has he become the greatest return-man in Iowa history?
Wetjen's 62-yard punt return for a touchdown against Michigan State is the sixth score off a kick in his career. It moved him past Tim Dwight's program record for return touchdowns.
Does that make him Iowa's greatest return man? Beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss on CyHawk Talk.
Show rundown:
0:39 Somehow, the Cyclones have a chance to have a historic season
1:55 Iowa State is rushing the ball better than it ever has under Matt Campbell
2:32 Rocco Becht looks healthy and it made a difference
5:15 Kaden Wetjen sets Iowa’s return record
8:10 It didn’t feel like Iowa played well enough to win
10:42 Drew Steven’s walk-off winner
13:57 Report card for Iowa State’s win vs Kansas
16:02 Report card for Iowa’s win against Michigan State
Iowa State began the 2025 season so well that it reset expectations.
The Cyclones slayed a Big 12 rival in Ireland and returned home to defeat Iowa. ISU got off to a 5-0 start, and the goal of returning to the Big 12 Championship and breaking into the College Football Playoff looked attainable.
A four-game losing streak made those aspirations impossible. But now, with the Cyclones coming off a win at TCU and a bye week, could they win their final three games and call it a successful season?
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the top storylines for Iowa and Iowa State on CyHawk Talk.
Show rundown:
0:51 Does Ben expect to see backup Iowa State quarterbacks Alex Manske or Connor Moberly?
4:50 Finally, Jalon Daniels will play his last game against Iowa State
8:23 Zaimir Hawk is showing he could be an adequate Dom Orange replacement
9:57 Does Michigan’s 2024 upset motivate Iowa?
12:30 Iowa’s warring motivations for Saturday
14:08 The places Iowa is dealing with injuries
19:16 Predictions for Iowa State vs Kansas
22:20 Predictions for Iowa vs Michigan State
23:59 Does Iowa State winning out mean 2025 is a success?
Over the past four month, junior Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is not playing to a winning standard. He said it himself following a 186-yard passing performance in a loss Arizona State.
“Not good enough,” Becht said. “That’s all I got about that.”
Becht's numbers in ISU's four game losing streak have been worse than his stats at the beginning of the year. What does the downturn mean for the season and Becht's future?
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss on CyHawk Talk:
1:18 What Ben noticed from Iowa State interviews after the game
2:21 Why Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is standing by Rocco Becht
3:46 Tight end Benjamin Brahmer is out of the hospital
7:50 Ben’s report card for ISU’s loss at Arizona State
For Iowa State, Saturday's game against Arizona State (12 p.m., TNT) is a rematch of the 2024 Big 12 Championship Game.
Eight Cyclones are listed out for the game while ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as out and receiver Jordyn Tyson is listed as doubtful.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the latest storylines around Iowa and Iowa State on CyHawk Talk:
0:46 What is going on during Iowa’s bye week
3:00 The 2024 Big 12 Championship looks familiar
4:00 Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt won’t play vs Iowa State
5:57 Will ISU’s special teams improve with Jace Gilbert’s return?
13:16 Predictions for Iowa State’s game against Arizona State
15:51 Why Iowa State has embraced black uniforms
Everything has changed for Iowa State's red zone offense. Sophomore kicker Kyle Konrardy is back from injury.
Saturday, ISU hosts No. 11 BYU (2:30 p.m. on FOX).
Iowa, looking for its third consecutive victory, hosts Minnesota on Saturday (2:40 p.m. CBS).
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik preview matchups for the Cyclones and Hawkeyes on CyHawk Talk.
Iowa State storylines Ben is looking for:
2:25 How does kicker Kyle Konrardy’s return impact red zone success?
4:20 Can Iowa State stop the Big 12’s leading rusher LJ Martin?
7:01 ISU needs to minimize its penalties
Iowa storylines Ethan is watching for:
8:30 How does Iowa start faster?
13:28 Both Iowa and Minnesota have a chance to make a national jump with a win
15:45 Iowa’s kicking game still has big questions
18:43 Predictions for Iowa State vs BYU
20:55 Predictions for Iowa vs Minnesota
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz' decision to attempt a 66-yard field goal nearly cost the Hawkeyes on Saturday against Penn State.
Even though Penn State blocked the kick and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, Iowa rallied and won 25-24. Beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss the decision and implications of Iowa's win along with Iowa State basketball's 71-58 exhibition loss at Creighton.
CyHawk Talk show rundown:
0:44 Takeaways from Iowa State’s 71-58 exhibition loss at Creighton
3:10 More or less optimistic about ISU’s season following Friday?
4:05 Takeaways from Iowa’s win against Penn State
5:48 Kirk Ferentz’ headscratching decision to attempt a 66-yard field goal
9:55 What is the confidence Iowa will continue momentum as schedule difficulty increases?
12:48 There is something wrong with Iowa’s field goal operation
16:46 Ethan’s Hawkeye report card for Penn State game
19:00 Ben’s Cyclone report card for Creighton game
Crossover season is here.
As the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to host Penn State on Saturday, the Iowa State Cyclones will be back from a Friday night exhibition basketball game at Creighton.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss storylines for the Cyclones and Hawkeyes on CyHawk Talk.
2:50 What will Killyan Toure look like running point?
4:01 How deep will Milan Momcilovic shoot from?
5:40 How much trust has Jamarion Batemon earned?
7:02 Iowa’s rematch against Devonte Ross
9:35 Will Penn State get a bump without coach James Franklin?
12:18 Can the passing game get back on track?
15:25 Predictions for Iowa State vs Creighton basketball
16:33 Predictions for Iowa vs Penn State
The team that won Cy-Hawk is sputtering. The team that lost is surging.
That's the quirky nature of a college football season as Iowa State has lost two consecutive games following a 24-17 loss to Colorado. Iowa got back on track with a blowout win at Wisconsin and is still in contention for the Big 10 Championship.
ISU gets a much-needed bye week to improve on its details while the Hawkeyes prepare to host a Penn State team that fired coach James Franklin on Sunday.
CyHawk Talk rundown:
1:10 Takeaways from Iowa State’s loss at Colorado
2:40 What’s next for Iowa State?
6:58: Takeaways from Iowa’s win at Wisconsin
11:50 What does Penn State firing James Franklin mean for Iowa game?
16:06 Iowa State grades vs Colorado
19:35 Iowa grades vs Rutgers
College football is in full swing, and so are the injuries.
Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski has a bye week to recover from a knee injury before Iowa plays at Wisconsin on Oct. 11.
The Cyclones don't have the luxury of a bye to adjust after big losses in their secondary. Corners Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams are both out for the season with ACL injuries. ISU will rely on Lindenwood transfer Tre Bell and redshirt freshman Quentin Taylor Jr. to lock down the corners of the defense.
Beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss the latest storylines with the Hawkeyes and Cyclones on CyHawk Talk.
CyHawk Talk rundown:
1:25 The latest on Mark Gronowski’s health
5:01 It’s time to be a little alarmed about Iowa’s kicking game
7:18 Iowa women’s basketball gets a massive commit in McKenna Woliczko
10:00 What the losses of Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams mean for ISU
13:30 Which Brendan Sorsby will show up for Cincinnati?
13:58 Will Chase Smith get an opportunity for an important field goal?
16:39 Ben's predicts three headlines for Sunday
Iowa has a chance to make a statement. Iowa State sits idle.
Week four of the college football season could reveal a lot about Iowa with a matchup at Rutgers on Friday (7:05 p.m. FOX) and something about the respect No. 12 ISU gets in the AP Poll as the Cyclones sit idle.
Beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss what they are looking for this week and predict what Saturday's headlines will be after the Iowa game:
1:25 Can Iowa’s passing game maintain what it did against UMass?
2:30 Iowa’s questionable running back situation
6:19 This is a “Prove it” game for Iowa
8:45 Re-ranking the most difficult games on ISU’s schedule
10:28 Iowa State might have a kicking problem
13:35 How much respect will an idle Iowa State get in the AP Poll?
Friday Knight Blues
Return of the Wide Receivers
No More No Boyz
Wins for Iowa and Iowa State football on Saturday don't mean all the questions are answered.
Iowa beat UMass 47-7 and enters Big 10 play with both its wins coming against overmatched opponents. ISU scraped by Arkansas State 24-16 and avoided an upset loss thanks to clutch offense and timely Red Wolves penalties.
Beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss the games and hand out report cards for the Hawkeyes and Cyclones on a rewind episode of CyHawk Talk.
Show rundown:
0:30 Ethan has issues with 0-2 Notre Dame being ranked in the week four AP Poll
4:01 ISU’s schedule is difficult but not because of its opponents
6:45 What will ISU’s offense look like without tight ends?
8:35 Addressing the $4 million elephant in the room
11:55 Kirk Ferentz stands alone
15:06 Postgame vibe of Ferentz funeral
17:33 Can Iowa’s passing game keep it going in the Big 10?
18:49 Ethan’s idea to fix Iowa State’s football scheduling
24:38 Ben’s Iowa State report card
28:15 Ethan’s Iowa report card
Iowa and Iowa state beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens share their takeaways from Iowa State's 16-13 Cy-Hawk win and preview Saturday's games.
Show rundown:
2:05 Arkansas State will be a measuring stick for how far ISU has come since the loss at Ohio
5:30 There is a weird trend surrounding Iowa State’s defense
7:45 Iowa State running backs should have a field day
12:46 UMass is a potential get-right game for Mark Gronowski
14:22 What will Iowa’s playcalling look like?
16:40 Does Kirk Ferentz have his thumbprint on Iowa’s offense?
18:20 Iowa’s depth chart Monday didn’t match Saturday’s press conference
21:00 Sunday’s Iowa State headlines today
24:00 Sunday’s Iowa headlines today