The two prominent programs from the Hawkeye State meet each and every season and this Thursday give us one of the best matchups of the week. A mid-December tilt between Iowa and Iowa State should start the next exciting chapter in this rivalry, or perhaps the game won’t be as close as some in the state may think?
Things are looking up at Iowa (8-1) in the first season under Ben McCollum, the new head coach who’s fresh off remarkable success at Northwest Missouri State and Drake and trying to do the same in his hometown. His Hawkeyes have wins over Xavier, Ole Miss, and Maryland and their lone defeat came understandably on the road at the hands of Michigan State, though this will certainly be their toughest test yet.
That’s because Iowa State (9-0) has exceeded the expectations of even the greatest of optimists this season. T. J. Otzelberger’s squad won three games at the Players Era Festival, even knocking out a ranked St. John’s team, before really punctuating their hot start with a 23-point road win at Purdue in their most recent contest. The Cyclones are one of the hottest teams in the nation and this offense is playing at a sensational level.
Iowa vs. Iowa State: When and Where
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 8:00 pm ET
Location: Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa
Iowa vs. Iowa State: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch: FS1
Streaming: FuboTV
Iowa vs. Iowa State: Betting Odds
Spread: N/A
Moneyline: N/A
Total: N/A
Iowa vs. Iowa State: Series History
All time series: Iowa leads 48-30
Last meeting: Iowa State 89, Iowa 80 (December 12, 2024)
Projected Starting Lineups
Iowa Hawkeyes
Bennett Stirtz (18.8 ppg, 4.9 apg)
Cooper Koch (8.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Tavion Banks (8.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Cam Manyawu (7.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Kael Combs (5.7 ppg, 2.8 apg)
Iowa State Cyclones
Milan Momcilovic (18.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
Joshua Jefferson (17.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.4 apg)
Killyan Toure (12.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
Tamin Lipsey (16.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.7 apg)
Blake Buchanan (8.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
With Iowa State playing the way they are and hosting this game, it becomes a major challenge for a Hawkeyes squad that looks a bit overmatched. Stirtz will need an otherworldly performance, though he’ll also become the focus of Iowa State’s talented defense. The Hawkeyes really need some of those other pieces to step up in this game, while the Cyclones are just looking for another consistent effort, fresh off three insane shooting games in a row.
Is there a realistic chance here for Iowa to shock not just their in-state rivals but the world with a big upset? Does Iowa State dispel their rivals and get their tenth straight win to continue this hot start?