Iowa @ Iowa State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2012 ) Iowa State 9, Iowa 6

A matchup with bitter rival Iowa is always a game to circle on the calendar for Iowa State, and it takes on added importance after the Cyclones were ambushed by another state school in their season opener. Iowa State has had two weeks to stew since a stunning 28-20 loss to FCS opponent Northern Iowa and looks to rebound when Iowa pays a visit on Saturday. The Hawkeyes lost their opener to Northern Illinois before rebounding with a 28-14 win over FCS foe Missouri State last week.

This will mark the 61st meeting of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, which has turned in the favor of the Cyclones the past two years. Iowa State has won the last two matchups, squeezing out a 9-6 victory at Iowa last season and prevailing in a wild triple-overtime thriller 44-41 in 2011. "Whether we're playing here or there, it's guaranteed to be a great environment," Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said. "If you like college football, it's a great thing."

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Iowa -2.5.

ABOUT IOWA (1-1): The Hawkeyes snapped a seven-game losing streak by knocking off Missouri State, but they didn't pull away until the second half behind a pair of touchdowns from Mark Weisman. Iowa will likely lean on Weisman, who rushed for 180 yards, after seeing the Cyclones' defense gouged for 228 yards on the ground by Northern Iowa. Sophomore quarterback Jake Rudock also ran for a pair of scores but has thrown for only one touchdown versus three interceptions in his first two career starts.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (0-1): The Cyclones were exposed up front after having to replace seven starters from a unit that ranked third in scoring defense in the Big 12 last season. Quarterback Sam Richardson had a solid opener in his third career start, throwing for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns and rushing for 74 yards, but no other back ran for more than 35 yards. Senior Justin Coleman, a former walk-on who had never caught a pass, led an untested receiving corps with four catches for 103 yards and a score.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa leads the all-time series 39-21 and has won 16 of 24 meetings at Iowa State.

2. Iowa State is one of two schools (Ohio State) to beat a ranked team on the road in each of the previous three seasons.

3. The games features brothers on opposing sides in Iowa WR Jordan Cotton and Iowa State DB Darian Cotton. Both players were No. 23.

PREDICTION: Iowa State 23, Iowa 20