AMES -- Today’s Iowa-Iowa State football game kicks off at 11 a.m.
But the Cy-Hawk challenge begins a couple hours earlier for the Hawkeyes as they arrive for the 40th anniversary of the renewal of the instate rivalry.
Before Iowa defensive backs figure out how they will fare against the size of Iowa State receivers Allen Lazard and Hakeem Butler and before the Hawkeyes learn how effective an experienced defensive front will be against a rebuild ISU line, the first test of the day awaits.
On the field, the game promises to be as hard hitting and competitive as ever, highlighted by tough, but clean battles that could be characterized in many respects as “Iowa nice.