The Cy-Hawk rivalry is the annual competition between Iowa's two largest public universities: the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. The schools have competed for more than a century, and the rivalry runs across nearly every sport.
The Two Schools
The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are based in Iowa City, in the eastern part of the state, and wear black and gold. The Iowa State University Cyclones are based in Ames, just north of Des Moines, and wear cardinal and gold. Iowa State is the state's land-grant university, with strong agriculture and engineering programs. The University of Iowa is known for its medical center, law school, and the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
What the Cy-Hawk Series Is
The centerpiece is the football game, played early each season for the Cy-Hawk Trophy. The wider competition across all sports is the Cy-Hawk Series. The name combines the two mascots: Cy the Cardinal for Iowa State and the Hawkeye for Iowa. The football result drives a year of bragging rights until the next meeting.
Why It Matters in Iowa
The rivalry is local rather than national. The two campuses sit about 120 miles apart, and many Iowa families have relatives and coworkers on both sides. That proximity makes the game a household matter and keeps loyalties strong across generations.
Picking a Side
If you are new to Iowa, expect to be asked whether you back the Hawkeyes or the Cyclones. Either way, you are joining one of the most heated rivalries in the Midwest.
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