Most people outside of Iowa are unfamiliar with the Cy-Hawk Trophy and its significance to the state's residents.
While the football version of the rivalry takes center stage, the Cy-Hawk rivalry stretches to all sports when Iowa and Iowa State clash on the court, on the field, or on the mat.
The Cy-Hawk rivalry is one of the longest in-state rivalries in college sports, and we take a look at what makes this rivalry so special.
History of the Cy-Hawk Trophy
The Iowa versus Iowa State rivalry predates the Cy-Hawk Trophy, dating back to 1894. Iowa and Iowa State played 24 times between 1894 and 1934 before a strange occurrence caused the game to stop for over 40 years.
The rumor is that former Iowa Head Coach and Athletic Director Ossie Solem would not return calls to keep the rivalry game going. Even after Solem left the program, the game did not continue for 43 years.
In 1976, the Greater Des Moines Athletic Club created a trophy for the newly reinstated game, and it was first presented to the winner in 1977. Iowa won that matchup 12-10.
The trophy has undergone multiple facelifts since the original trophy that featured a Herky figure and a football. The trophy now features a figurine of Herky and Cy, with a football on top.
Iowa versus Iowa State football series record
Iowa has dominated the all-time series 47-24, bolstered by a 15-season winning streak from 1983 to 1997.
Iowa State had a five-season winning streak from 1998 to 2002, but have not been able to sustain a winning streak against Iowa since then.
Iowa has a 7-3 record in the last 10 matchups with the Cyclones, but Iowa State has had more success lately, winning two of the last three. Both wins happened at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Entering Saturday's matchup, the Hawkeyes have won the last six meetings in Ames, and Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz is one win away from passing Woody Hayes for the most wins in Big Ten Conference history.
Memorable moments
Overtime thriller (2017)
The last time Iowa had a semblance of a passing attack, Nate Stanley was the quarterback. In 2017, Iowa traveled to Ames for the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry game and was looking to make it three straight wins in the matchup.
Iowa State led for much of the game, but Stanley and the Hawkeyes put up 10 unanswered points late in the game to tie it at 31 with under five minutes left.
After another Iowa field goal, Iowa State scored a touchdown late and forced Iowa to respond. Stanley drove the Hawkeyes down the field and scored a touchdown to tie the game once again.
After time expired, Iowa State made a field goal on the opening drive of overtime, leaving the door open for an Iowa victory. Stanley hit Ihmir Smith-Marsette for a touchdown and walked it off for the Hawkeyes.
Stanzi shines (2009)
In 2009, Ricky Stanzi was named the Hawkeyes' QB1 after taking over early in 2008. In his first taste in the Cy-Hawk rivalry on the road, Stanzi shined, tossing four touchdown passes as the Hawkeyes routed the Cyclones 35-3 in Ames.
Another big story from this dominating performance was the defense forcing six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles) as the Hawkeyes overcame a sloppy first half to dominate the game.
The Hawkeyes would finish the 2009 season 11-2, and defeated Georgia Tech in the 2010 Orange Bowl.
Weather play a huge factor, but Iowa rallied to win (2019)
Rain and lightening delayed the game multiple times in 2019, and the Cyclones were leading for most of the game.
The game was a good, old fashioned quarterback shootout between Nate Stanley and Brock Purdy, with the Cyclones leading 7-6 at half.
As the weather continued to delay the game, neither team secured momentum until the Hawkeyes scored 10 unanswered points at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth.
The Hawkeyes snatched the lead 18-17, and a pivotal moment came with under two minutes remaining in the game.
In an iconic photo, two Iowa State special teams players collided on an Iowa punt, causing a fumble and an Iowa recovery. The Hawkeyes would run out the clock and secure the victory in a strange game in Ames.
The No. 72 game in the series between No. 16 Iowa State and Iowa takes place at 11:00 a.m. Central Time from Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.