Iowa State's Big 12 Football Schedule Announced

AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 Conference has announced Iowa State's football schedule for the upcoming 2026 season, the first under head coach Jimmy Rogers.

Previously announced, Iowa State will play nonconference home games against Southeast Missouri (Sept. 5) and Bowling Green (Sept. 19), while traveling to Iowa (Sept. 12) for the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series showdown. Iowa State, winners of three of the last four against the Hawkeyes, looks to win its third-straight in Iowa City for the first time since doing so from 1998-2002.

Big 12 Conference play opens with back-to-back home games at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones host Utah on Sept. 26 and then will face West Virginia on Oct. 3.

Iowa State closes the regular season at home against Kansas State on Nov. 28.

Select Saturday games in the 2026 season may be moved to select Fridays, other special dates, and Black Friday, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Football season ticket holders will receive renewal information in early February. New season ticket purchases will also be available at that time. Be one of the first to know when season tickets are available by clicking here.

2026 IOWA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Saturday, Sept. 5 – vs. Southeast Missouri
All-Time Series: Iowa State leads 1-0
At Ames: Iowa State leads 1-0

The first game of the Jimmy Rogers era will undoubtedly be one Cyclone fans won't want to miss. Iowa State won the only previous meeting in the series in the 2022 season opener, beating the Redhawks, 42-10. Current Houston Texans' receiver Xavier Hutchinson had eight receptions and three touchdown catches in the win, marking the most recent three-TD reception game in program history.

Saturday, Sept. 12 – at Iowa (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
All-Time Series: Iowa leads 47-25
At Iowa City: Iowa leads 25-16

Iowa State heads to Iowa City looking to win three-straight on the road against the Hawkeyes for the first time since doing so from 1998-2002. The last four meetings in the series have been decided by a total of 14 points. Cyclone kicker Kyle Konrardy has proven to be the difference in the last two, connecting on 54-yard field goals to win both games.

Saturday, Sept. 19 – vs. Bowling Green
All-Time Series: Iowa State leads 2-0
At Ames: Iowa State leads 1-0

ISU and Bowling Green are meeting for the third time with former NFL star Eddie George leading the Falcons to Ames in his second season. The Cyclones won both of the previous meetings in the late 1970s. In the 1979 season opener at Jack Trice Stadium, Iowa State's Rocky Gillis rushed for 169 yards in a 38-10. ISU pounded the rock for 428 yards, completing just three passes.

Saturday, Sept. 26 – vs. Utah
All-Time Series: Iowa State leads 5-1
At Ames: Iowa State leads 2-1

The Utes visit Jack Trice Stadium for the first time as members of the Big 12 Conference. Utah is 1-2 all-time in Ames, winning the last meeting in 2010. The Cyclones own a 1-0 edge since Utah joined the conference, earning a thrilling 31-28 victory in 2024 in Salt Lake City. It will be Iowa State's first time facing new Utah head coach Morgan Scalley, who was a longtime defensive coordinator for the Utes.

Saturday, Oct. 3 – vs. West Virginia (Homecoming)
All-Time Series: Tied 6-6
At Ames: Tied 3-3

The Cyclones close out a three-game homestand welcoming the Mountaineers for Iowa State's 113^th Homecoming celebration. West Virginia makes its first trip back to Jack Trice Stadium since the 2022 season with the all-time series knotted up at 6-6. Of series ISU has played with more than two meetings, it is just one of three that are tied, San Diego State and Toledo being the others.

Saturday, Oct. 10 – at BYU
All-Time Series: Iowa State leads 5-0
At Provo: Iowa State leads 3-0

Iowa State's first road game of the conference season comes Oct. 10 at BYU when the Cyclones face the Cougars in a battle of the last two Pop-Tarts Bowl Champions. ISU won a 45-13 game in Provo in 2023, but fell to BYU, 41-27, at home last season. The Cougars have lost at home just twice since the loss to the Cyclones in 2023.

Saturday, Oct. 17 – BYE WEEK

Saturday, Oct. 24 – at Arizona
All-Time Series: Arizona leads 4-2-1
At Tucson: Arizona leads 3-1-1

The Cyclones head to Tucson for the first time since 1966 to face Arizona. The Cyclones beat the Wildcats, 39-14, last season at home.

Saturday, Oct. 31 – vs. Oklahoma State
All-Time Series: Oklahoma State leads 34-22-3
At Ames: Oklahoma State leads 15-14-1

The Cyclones and Cowboys meet for the 60^th time as ISU hopes to extend its home win streak against OSU to three games. The Cyclones defeated Oklahoma State, 20-13, in the 2025 season finale for both teams. OSU is one of three Cyclone opponents with a new coach as well with Eric Morris in his first season after coming over from North Texas.

Saturday, Nov. 7 – at Baylor
All-Time Series: Baylor leads 12-11
At Waco: Baylor leads 7-4

Iowa State heads to Baylor looking to beat the Bears in a third-straight meeting as it likely avoids the heat with a November meeting in Waco. BU owns a 12-11 edge in the series and ISU most recently won on the road in the series in 2023, which was a 30-18 victory. ISU has won its last three true road games in the state of Texas.

Saturday, Nov. 14 – vs. Cincinnati
All-Time Series: Iowa State leads 2-1
At Ames: Iowa State leads 1-0

ISU and Cincinnati meet up for the fourth time in as many seasons. The Cyclones opened the series with back-to-back wins before the Bearcats took a 38-30 game last season. In last year's contest, Cincinnati led 17-0 at the end of the first quarter and 31-15 at the half before ISU made things interesting down the stretch.

Saturday, Nov. 21 – at UCF
All-Time Series: Iowa State leads 1-0
At Orlando: First Meeting

Iowa State heads to the Acrisure Bounce House for the first time to face UCF in the second-to-last game of the regular season. The stadium, located just 35 miles west of the Kennedy Space Center, is well known for its atmosphere as it vibrates and shakes when fans jump in unison. The Cyclones and Knights have met just once in a 2024 thriller at Jack Trice Stadium that ISU won in come-from-behind fashion, 38-35.

Saturday, Nov. 28 – vs. Kansas State
All-Time Series: Iowa State leads 54-50-4
At Ames: Iowa State leads 31-20-3

The Iowa State-Kansas State matchup returns to the mainland after the teams kicked off 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. ISU has won five of the last six games and looks to extend its winning streak against the Wildcats to four games for the first time since winning five in a row from 1985-89. Both teams will have a first-year head coach for the first time since 1947 when Abe Stuber was leading the Cyclones against Sam Francis and the Wildcats.

Friday, Dec. 4 – Big 12 Football Championship (AT&T Stadium - Arlington, Texas)
The Cyclones hope to reach their third Big 12 Football Championship game , which will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.