Iowa State Football: 3 takeaways from heartbreaking loss vs. Iowa

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AMES, IA – SEPTEMBER 14: Defensive back D.J. Johnson #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes breaks up a pass meant for wide receiver Joseph Scates #9 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

1. Iowa State is inching closer in this rivalry

Let’s just be honest here: Iowa has dominated this rivalry over the past 40, or so, years. The Hawkeyes haven’t just been big brother to Iowa State, they’ve been dad.

But the tides might be turning in the Cyclones’ direction.

No, I’m not here to give Iowa State a moral pat on the back, but rather talk about just how great this game was and how much back-and-forth action we saw. The Hawkeyes are no longer out-classing the Cyclones in every regard which happened before Matt Campbell was the head coach.

After a 42-3 debacle in Campbell’s first season in 2016, Iowa and Iowa State have played close games over the past three years. No game has been decided by more than 10 points and each side could have won each meeting — there has been no “dominant” team.

Iowa still owns the series and continues to build on that all-time record, but Iowa State is catching up in terms of talent and this rivalry deserves more recognition.

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