Matt Campbell: Cy-Hawk Recreation ‘Unbelievable Alternative’ for Iowa State

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell has never beaten Iowa at home. Is this the year that all changes?

Campbell, who’s in his 10th season at the helm, has a roster littered with talent and experience. The Cyclones have started the season with two impressive wins — upsetting a ranked Kansas State team in Dublin, Ireland, and trouncing South Dakota, 55-7 in Week 1. But beating their in-state rival in Jack Trice Stadium would go a long way in solidifying Iowa State’s status as a popular early-season College Football Playoff pick. 

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity,” Campbell said in an interview with FOX Sports college football analyst Brady Quinn.

This year’s iteration of the Cy-Hawk Game — set to kick off at Noon ET Saturday on FOX — is a moment Campbell and the Cyclones have been building toward.

“[The Hawkeyes] sort of had a lay of the land within the state of Iowa,” Campbell mentioned. “It is kinda been enjoyable for us to construct a program to have the ability to compete with them.”

Iowa set the usual for school soccer within the Hawkeye State, holding a 47-24 document in opposition to the Cyclones. Actually, Iowa held a 15-game profitable streak in opposition to Iowa State from 1983-1997. Campbell’s arrival in Ames did little to vary that dominance — because it took him seven seasons to beat Iowa. However he did not wallow in these losses, as a substitute utilizing the rival program as a barometer. That progress has proven as Iowa State has gained two of the final three rivalry video games. A win for the Cyclones on Saturday would mark the primary time since 2012 that they’ve crushed their in-state foes twice in a row. 

Whereas the Cy-Hawk Recreation might verify Iowa State’s arrival as a CFP contender, Campbell can be targeted on avenging final yr’s loss within the Huge 12 championship recreation. After going 7-2 within the Huge 12 and establishing a date with Arizona State within the convention title recreation, Iowa State fell to the Solar Devils, 45-19, falling out of the CFP image.

“We did not lose any gamers, we had nice retention after this previous season,” Campbell mentioned. “They got here again with a function and on a mission to be taught from the Huge 12 championship recreation a yr in the past.”

Campbell’s mission is obvious — to construct a group able to competing for championships. However, for now, the Cyclones are targeted on cementing their place amongst faculty soccer’s contenders. That begins with this Saturday’s Cy-Hawk Recreation.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised e-newsletter each day!