It’s Cy-Hawk week in Iowa City. While the state divides and “Hate Week” takes over, the Iowa coaching staffs are turning the annual intra-state grudge match into a massive recruiting weapon. The timing and setting couldn’t be better for Hawkeye Nation. This year’s battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy will be showcasing Kinnick Under the Lights, with a national television audience watching on NBC as the #21 Iowa Hawkeyes host the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, September 12 at 6:30 PM CT.
With a sold-out
Kinnick Stadium crowd and emotions running high, the atmosphere offers a golden opportunity for Iowa to roll out the black-and-gold carpet for a horde of elite prospects. A contingent of already committed future Hawkeyes will be in attendance, acting as player-recruiters to help the coaching staff lock down the uncommitted targets experiencing Iowa’s fan culture.
Below is a breakdown of the top expected visitors for Iowa football, as well as Jan Jensen’s women’s basketball program, Ben McCollum’s men’s hoops squad. Then followed by field hockey, soccer, and Rick Heller’s baseball team.
Football
Iowa football is expected to have 20+ recruits at the game who have confirmed they will be in attendance according to various media outlets such as 247 Sports or On3. So many, in fact, that I will just list some highlights.
- Gavin Stecker: Already committed. Linebacker. From Bettendorf, Iowa. Class of 2027. 4-star recruit.
- Tommy Riordan: Already committed. Defensive lineman. From Hinsdale, Illinois. Class of 2027. 4-start recruit.
- Jaxx DeJean: Younger brother of Cooper DeJean. Already committed. Tight end. From Odebolt, Iowa. Class of 2027. 3-star recruit.
- Reilly Newman: Already committed. Offensive lineman. From West Chester, Ohio. Class of 2027. 3-star recruit.
- Grant Bowen: Uncommitted. Son of former Hawkeye and NFL defensive back Matt Bowen. Capable of playing either tight end or linebacker, he is one of the Midwest’s most coveted targets. Class of 2028. 4-star prospect. No. 102 National Player.
- Cannon Zubeck: Uncommitted. Offensive Lineman. From Overland Park, Kansas. Class of 2028. 4-star prospect. Rivals No. 17 Overall Target.
- Jevyn Severson: Uncommitted. Tight end. From Madrid, Iowa. Class of 2028. 4-star prospect. Rivals 100 National Target.
Former Iowa quarterback CJ Beathard will serve as the Hawkeyes’ honorary captain against Iowa State this weekend.
Women’s Basketball
- Khalia Hartwell: Uncommitted. Class of 2027 post player from South Carolina who is a consensus 4-to-5-star prospect, and a top 3 center nationally. Standing at 6’5” with exceptional wingspan and length, she is an outstanding shot blocker who is also a versatile offensive matchup. Can you imagine Khalia and Ava Heiden on the floor at the same time?
- Jada Seubert: Already committed class of 2027. A combo guard from Bowler, Wisconsin and a 4-star prospect.
It’s likely Jan will also have 10+ additional recruits on hand who are in classes 2028 – 2030. Women’s basketball has an exhibition game on October 29 vs. Maryville, then officially kicks off November 2 vs Towson.
Men’s Basketball
- Keller Daughterty: Already committed. Forward / center. From Brookfield, Wisconsin. 4-star recruit.
- Cayden Daughtry: Uncommitted. A 5-star point guard from Florida who has emerged as one of the most explosive and decorated high school basketball prospects in the nation. He plays in the highly competitive Overtime Elite (OTE) league and is widely considered a top 3 overall recruit in the class of 2027. Cayden is the cousin of both Brad Banks and C.J. Jones who played football at Iowa.
- Cole Kelly: Uncommitted. A premier four-star hybrid forward in the class of 2028. Standing at 6’6″ (or 6’7″) and 185 lbs., the left-handed wing from Naperville, Illinois, plays for Neuqua Valley High School and the Breakaway Basketball club on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. He is widely recognized as one of the most complete and versatile young prospects in the Midwest.
The men’s basketball season begins November 3 vs Lipscomb.
Field Hockey
- Bridget Murphy: Uncommitted. Midfielder / Forward. From Summit, New Jersey. Class of 2027. Top-Tier East Coast Target.
Iowa field hockey is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation and is playing at the Midwest Challenge in Evanston, IL this Friday and Sunday.
Soccer
- Parker Evans: Already committed. Defender. From Cincinnati, Ohio. 3-star regional standout.
- Emma Peterson: Already committed. Defender. From Heber City, Utah. High-Follow defensive prospect.
Iowa soccer opens their Big Ten season this Sunday vs. Nebraska and plays at home at 1:00 CT.
Baseball
The buzz is that Rick Heller will have five recruits on hand this weekend, four in-state recruits, and an additional recruit from Illinois.
Closing Thoughts – Visibility Emphasis in Iowa City
Since Athletic Director Beth Goetz took the reins of the Iowa Athletics Department a distinct cultural shift in visibility has swept through Iowa City. Goetz leads by example. While the national television cameras rarely capture it, fans in attendance at Carver Hawkeye Arena notice her roaming the concourses, walking up the aisles to chat with people she knows, and greeting fans at the conclusion of games. A stark, hands-on contrast to the approach of her predecessor, Gary Barta.
That engagement strategy has clearly trickled down to her head coaching hires. Both Jan Jensen and Ben McCollum have fully embraced using Kinnick Stadium as a marketing and recruiting venue. It has become a game-day tradition during TV timeouts for Hawkeye Sports host Laura VandeBerg to interview Jensen or McCollum live on the field, flanked by marquee players. Ben has been seen wandering the student section of Kinnick before kickoff, thanking them for coming to the game, and at women’s soccer games and baseball games. Goetz fundamentally understands that building a passionate, modern fanbase requires a collective community effort. By actively connecting UI programs directly with the student body and the local community, Iowa isn’t just relying on players to win games, they are building a unified culture.
