After Iowa State had its first 11-win season in program history in 2024, the team regressed the following year. A coaching change ensued, and the Cyclones have a ton of new players. So what will it be like to watch Iowa State football in 2026?
“We have a team that is committed,” coach Jimmy Rogers said during Big 12 Media Days. “We have the right people in the building. We have to put it on the field and put in process and feel confident about where we stand.”
We’ve put together this complete guide to help you watch every Iowa State football game this season as the team rebuilds.
DIRECTV is the easiest way to watch all your football in one place
Did you know that DIRECTV is the preferred streaming service of true-blue sports fans? In fact, a staggering 97% of DIRECTV streaming subscribers reported high satisfaction with their live sports viewing experience. And if you're a rabid football fan, DIRECTV delivers more football channels than competitors, an industry-leading multiview experience, and even free ESPN Unlimited. Those are just some of the many reasons why the CableTV.com editorial staff recommends DIRECTV as the best streaming service for sports. What are you waiting for? Try DIRECTV free for five days and don't miss a single snap of your favorite football teams.
2026 Iowa State football TV schedule
A few massive, high-profile matchups highlight the 2026 Iowa State schedule. It all kicks off with a Week 0 nonconference showdown against Southeast Missouri before the always-heated Cy-Hawk rivalry game against Iowa just one week later.
From there, the Cyclones play both Utah teams and multiple squads that had winning records in 2025. Getting back to a double-digit win total could be tough for Iowa State.
We’ve put together the full 2026 TV schedule below and will update the broadcast info weekly, so you can follow every step of the journey.
CFB - Iowa State Cyclones Schedule
| Opponent | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks | Saturday, Sept. 5 | 1:00 p.m. | |
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | ||
Bowling Green Falcons | Saturday, Sept. 19 | Noon | |
Saturday, Sept. 26 | TBD | TBD | |
Saturday, Oct. 3 | TBD | TBD | |
At BYU Cougars | Friday, Oct. 9 | 10:15 p.m. | |
At Arizona Wildcats | Saturday, Oct. 24 | TBD | TBD |
Saturday, Oct. 31 | TBD | TBD | |
At Baylor Bears | Saturday, Nov. 7 | TBD | TBD |
Cincinnati Bearcats | Saturday, Nov. 14 | TBD | TBD |
At UCF Knights | Friday, Nov. 20 | 6:00 p.m. | |
Saturday, Nov. 28 | TBD | TBD |
Best TV plans for watching Iowa State football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Being a Cyclones fan in the streaming era means you need a TV plan that covers two bases: the traditional TV channels and the must-have streaming exclusives on ESPN+. That’s why my top recommendation is Hulu + Live TV. It’s the best all-in-one solution because a single subscription gets you all the essential channels and completely integrated ESPN+ content at no extra cost.
That ESPN+ integration is your ticket to the Big 12 Now hub, where you’ll find several Iowa State athletics events streaming each season. Without ESPN+, you’re guaranteed to miss at least one game from the school’s football schedule. On top of that, you get unlimited DVR storage to record any game you can’t watch live. For a Cyclones fan, that’s a TV package you can’t pass up.
How to watch Iowa State Cyclones football FAQ
Where can I watch the Iowa State Cyclones for free?
Your best option for free Cyclones football is a digital antenna, which gets you any games on your local ABC and FOX stations. For games on cable channels like ESPN or FS1, you can use a free trial from a streaming service like DIRECTV or Fubo to get temporary access.
Where can I stream Iowa State football games without cable?
My top recommendation is Hulu + Live TV because it’s the best all-in-one package for a Cyclones fan. Its base plan includes ABC, FOX, ESPN, and FS1, and it also bundles in ESPN+, which is essential for streaming exclusive Big 12 games.
Can I watch Iowa State football on ESPN+?
Yes, an ESPN+ subscription is essential for any serious Cyclones fan. Several Iowa State games each season will stream exclusively on ESPN+ as part of the conference's Big 12 Now platform, and you won't find them anywhere else.
How do I watch Iowa State football if I live out of state?
Since Iowa State’s games are on national networks like ESPN and FS1, or streaming on ESPN+, your location in the U.S. doesn’t matter. A good streaming service like Hulu + Live TV will give you the same access as a fan in Ames.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, cross-referenced the official Iowa State Cyclones football schedule with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. Using those details, he selected our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
This guide is updated regularly throughout the season to ensure our information is accurate. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
