The annual Cy-Hawk football game is just a few days away. In the past, this game has always brought a sense of familiarity between the two rivals, as players would appear in three or four of these games during their careers. That won't be the case this season for the visiting team.
Iowa State underwent a massive program shakeup this offseason. Longtime head coach Matt Campbell left for Penn State, bringing many of his elite players with him. With Campbell, quarterback Rocco Becht, and many others now in Happy Valley, the Cyclones' roster looks very different from last season.
New head coach Jimmy Rogers came over from Washington State and attacked the transfer portal ferociously. The result is a roster that many Hawkeye fans are unfamiliar with.
But, it's a roster that is capable of winning this game on the right day.
If Iowa wants to avoid a third-straight Cy-Hawk defeat, these are the players they'll need to keep an eye on:
QB Jaylen Raynor
2026 stats: 8-16, 184 yards, 4 total TDs (2 passing, 2 rushing)
The Cyclones' newest quarterback was pretty good in his Iowa State debut. The former Arkansas State signal-caller accounted for four total touchdowns in a season-opening 38-10 win over Southeast Missouri State. Jaylen Raynor hit some big plays through the air, but struggled with consistency.
The 6-foot-1, 208-pound quarterback is dangerous with his legs, but prone to mistakes (28 career interceptions). Iowa will have to keep him in the pocket on Saturday.
RB Aiden Flora
2026 stats: 7 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
Aiden Flora is one of the few holdovers from last year's roster. He started at running back in Week 1 and led the team in rushing yards. Iowa State will use him, Raynor, and Cameron Pettaway in the run game, which the Hawkeyes will need to account for. Flora also returns punts for the Cyclones.
The 6-foot, 195-pound back had three returns for 33 yards last weekend. This will be a good test for Iowa's unproven defensive line.
DL Isaac Terrell
2026 stats: 3 sacks, forced fumble
Isaac Terrell was a man among boys in Iowa State's season opener. The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Washington State transfer lived in the backfield, racking up three sacks and forcing a fumble. He had seven sacks with the Cougars a year ago and picked right back up where he left off in Week 1. Iowa's offensive line is stout, but they'll be challenged by Terrell and the Cyclones' defensive line in this game.
LB Sullivan Schlimgen
2026 stats: 9 total tackles, 1 sack
Sullivan Schlimgen is another Washington State transfer who followed his coach to Ames. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker led the Cyclones in tackles last weekend and also found his way to the quarterback for a sack. He had 49 total tackles with the Cougars in 2025 and should build on that in 2026.
The Hawkeyes will be looking to establish the ground game on Saturday. They'll have to contend with Schlimgen at the second level.
K Kyle Konrardy
2026 stats: 1-for-1 FG (33-yard make), 5-for-5 extra points
Iowa fans are extremely familiar with Konrardy. The 6-foot-1 kicker has booted the game-winning field goal in each of the past two Cy-Hawk games. In 2024, he nailed a 54-yard field goal with six seconds left to play for the win in Iowa City. Last season, he made another 54-yarder with just under two minutes left to play to seal the win in Ames. The best way for Iowa to avoid Konrardy is to ensure the game doesn't come down to his leg again.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football opponent preview: ISU players to watch for
