College Football: How to Watch Iowa State vs. Iowa Online for Free

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The Cy-Hawk Trophy will be up for grabs again when Iowa State Cyclones and the University of Iowa’s Hawkeyes meet this Saturday. The annual in-state rivalry dates back more than a century, with the trophy awarded to the winner since 1977. The teams meet Saturday, Sept. 12 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, and kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT. You can catch the game airing live on NBC, or choose between several streaming services that also offer NBC live TV if you don’t have cable.

The Cyclones and Hawkeyes first met in 1894 and will face off for the 73rd time this weekend in their annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series rivalry. The University of Iowa leads the all-time football series 47-25, while Iowa State has won the past two meetings, adding another layer of intrigue to this year’s showdown.

At a Glance: How to Watch Iowa State vs. Iowa Free Online

The University of Iowa enters the game as the favorite, with betting lines putting the Hawkeyes around 13.5 to 14.5 points ahead of Iowa State. In simple terms, that means Iowa is expected to win by roughly two touchdowns. The 2026 game also marks the first time these rivals have played a night game at Kinnick Stadium since 2016, making it the perfect opportunity to throw a viewing party at home.

Iowa State vs. Iowa Game Date, Time & Channel

You can watch the Iowa State Cyclones take on the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 4:30 p.m. PT on NBC.

How to Watch Iowa State vs. Iowa Free Online

No cable? You can still tune into the game between Iowa State and Iowa by accessing NBC through Fubo, DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling or Peacock. Fubo, DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials, while each service provides access to NBC in different ways.

Fubo carries local NBC affiliates via its Pro, Elite, Premier and Fubo Sports plans. DirecTV includes NBC in standard plans and Sling offers NBC through Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue and Sling Select. It is not available on the base Sling Orange plan. Hulu + Live TV and Peacock also give subscribers access to NBC. While Peacock’s base plan, Peacock Select, airs NBC, other major live sporting games, like the NFL, are available on Peacock Premium.

Below is a breakdown of where to watch the Iowa State vs. Iowa NCAA college football game without cable.

DirecTV

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Five-day free trial
$64.99 per month
185+ channels

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Hulu + Live TV

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Three-day free trial
$89.99 per month
100+ channels

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Sling

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$19.99 per month
50+ channels

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Peacock

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$8.99 per month
50+ channels

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