A podcast dedicated to Iowa and Iowa State fans, friends and followers. Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens offer expert analysis of the Hawkeyes and Cyclones.
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RSS FeedIowa receiver Kaden Wetjen stands alone in the Hawkeyes' record book. Has he become the greatest return-man in Iowa history?
Wetjen's 62-yard punt return for a touchdown against Michigan State is the sixth score off a kick in his career. It moved him past Tim Dwight's program record for return touchdowns.
Does that make him Iowa's greatest return man? Beat reporters Ethan Petrik and Ben Hutchens discuss on CyHawk Talk.
Show rundown:
0:39 Somehow, the Cyclones have a chance to have a historic season
1:55 Iowa State is rushing the ball better than it ever has under Matt Campbell
2:32 Rocco Becht looks healthy and it made a difference
5:15 Kaden Wetjen sets Iowa’s return record
8:10 It didn’t feel like Iowa played well enough to win
10:42 Drew Steven’s walk-off winner
13:57 Report card for Iowa State’s win vs Kansas
16:02 Report card for Iowa’s win against Michigan State
Iowa State began the 2025 season so well that it reset expectations.
The Cyclones slayed a Big 12 rival in Ireland and returned home to defeat Iowa. ISU got off to a 5-0 start, and the goal of returning to the Big 12 Championship and breaking into the College Football Playoff looked attainable.
A four-game losing streak made those aspirations impossible. But now, with the Cyclones coming off a win at TCU and a bye week, could they win their final three games and call it a successful season?
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the top storylines for Iowa and Iowa State on CyHawk Talk.
Show rundown:
0:51 Does Ben expect to see backup Iowa State quarterbacks Alex Manske or Connor Moberly?
4:50 Finally, Jalon Daniels will play his last game against Iowa State
8:23 Zaimir Hawk is showing he could be an adequate Dom Orange replacement
9:57 Does Michigan’s 2024 upset motivate Iowa?
12:30 Iowa’s warring motivations for Saturday
14:08 The places Iowa is dealing with injuries
19:16 Predictions for Iowa State vs Kansas
22:20 Predictions for Iowa vs Michigan State
23:59 Does Iowa State winning out mean 2025 is a success?
After a heartbreaking 18-16 loss vs Oregon last week, Iowa's College Football Playoff hopes are all but extinguished.
The Hawkeyes (6-3 overall, 4-2 Big 12) are ranked No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings and are looking to get a win vs No. 17 USC on Saturday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the happenings of Iowa State's bye week and Iowa's west coast trip on CyHawk Talk.
CyHawk Talk rundown:
02:19 Impressions of Iowa State president-elect Dr. David Cook
04:52 Running through Iowa State basketball’s 2026 signing class
05:39 Ben thinks the Cyclone basketball team is ahead of schedule
09:26 Iowa’s No. 21 College Football Ranking isn’t worst-case scenario
11:52 The west coast hasn’t been kind to the Hawkeyes
17:00 Ethan’s predictions for Iowa’s game at USC
Iowa's college football playoff chances took a hit.
The Hawkeyes nearly beat No. 9 Oregon, but a 39-yard field goal from Oregon kicker Atticus Sappington with three seconds remaining sealed an 18-16 victory.
Iowa State broke a four-game losing streak with a 20-17 win at TCU.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the latest storylines around both teams on CyHawk Talk.
CyHawk Talk rundown:
1:49 Ethan’s takeaways from Iowa’s loss vs Oregon
7:11 Can Iowa still reach the College Football Playoff?
10:48 Ben’s takeaways from Iowa State’s win at TCU
12:06 What Aiden Flora’s punt return meant for the Cyclones
18:59 Grading Iowa State’s performance against TCU
21:42 Grading Iowa’s performance vs Oregon
A win vs No. 9 Oregon could elevate the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes in the College Football Playoff picture.
Iowa hosts Oregon on Saturday (2:40 p.m., CBS) while the Cyclones look to snap a four-game losing streak at TCU (2:30 p.m. FOX).
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the matchups on CyHawk Talk.
Show rundown:
1:28 The energy in Carver-Hawkeye for Ben McCollum’s debut was incredible
4:08 Does Iowa need to throw the ball vs Oregon?
6:07 Is Iowa’s No. 20 ranking too high or too low?
10:57 Will a road trip help the Cyclones snap a losing streak?
14:29 Does Iowa State’s offense need to rely more on its rushing game?
16:05 Iowa State loses another defensive player for the season, Will McLaughlin
18:58 Predictions for Iowa State vs TCU
21:34 Predictions Iowa vs Oregon
CBS Sports broadcaster Gary Danielson joined Quad-City Times beat reporter Ethan Petrik for a special Hawkeye Extra edition of CyHawk Talk.
Ethan and Gary preview Iowa's upcoming matchup with Oreogn which will air on CBS at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Over the past four month, junior Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is not playing to a winning standard. He said it himself following a 186-yard passing performance in a loss Arizona State.
“Not good enough,” Becht said. “That’s all I got about that.”
Becht's numbers in ISU's four game losing streak have been worse than his stats at the beginning of the year. What does the downturn mean for the season and Becht's future?
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss on CyHawk Talk:
1:18 What Ben noticed from Iowa State interviews after the game
2:21 Why Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is standing by Rocco Becht
3:46 Tight end Benjamin Brahmer is out of the hospital
7:50 Ben’s report card for ISU’s loss at Arizona State
For Iowa State, Saturday's game against Arizona State (12 p.m., TNT) is a rematch of the 2024 Big 12 Championship Game.
Eight Cyclones are listed out for the game while ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt is listed as out and receiver Jordyn Tyson is listed as doubtful.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the latest storylines around Iowa and Iowa State on CyHawk Talk:
0:46 What is going on during Iowa’s bye week
3:00 The 2024 Big 12 Championship looks familiar
4:00 Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt won’t play vs Iowa State
5:57 Will ISU’s special teams improve with Jace Gilbert’s return?
13:16 Predictions for Iowa State’s game against Arizona State
15:51 Why Iowa State has embraced black uniforms
Seven weeks ago, Iowa State defeated Iowa in a Cy-Hawk game that seemingly pushed coach Matt Campbell’s program ahead of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Seven weeks later, it seems that was premature.
Iowa has won three games in a row and defeated Minnesota 41-3 on Saturday. The Cyclones are on their first three-game losing streak since 2022.
Beat reporters Ben Hutchens and Ethan Petrik discuss the storylines around each team on CyHawk Talk.
Show rundown:
0:41 What has gone wrong for Iowa State?
2:07 Ben’s takeaways from Iowa State’s loss to BYU
5:22 Ethan’s takeaways from Iowa’s win vs Minnesota
8:00 Kaden Wetjen gets revenge for Cooper Dejean
10:39 Is Iowa playing for a CFP spot against Oregon?
CBS Sports play-by-play broadcaster Brad Nessler joined Quad-City Times beat reporter Ethan Petrik for a special Hawkeye Extra edition of CyHawk Talk.
Ethan and Brad preview Iowa's upcoming matchup with Minnesota which will air on CBS at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.