If you could pick 1 guaranteed win...

[ISU_Guy]

There's objectively a debate about this.

I think the Iowa game is more of an IF THEN scenario.

IF beating Utah, Kstate, KU etc, gets us into the Big12 game then I could care less about the loss to Iowa.
Where it stings is when we are a 6-7 win team and lose to Iowa.

I think we do need to recognize that we are on very shaky ground with realignment and there are only so many Big12 teams that are getting to play an SEC or Big Ten team (with a heart beat)
Beating Iowa is good for league perception, especially if they finish top 5 of the BIG.

I am probably in the minority, but I hope Texas wins the SEC this year and many more and becomes insufferable over the next 10 years to the point the SEC implodes.

 

[madguy30]

I think the Iowa game is more of an IF THEN scenario.

IF beating Utah, Kstate, KU etc, gets us into the Big12 game then I could care less about the loss to Iowa.
Where it stings is when we are a 6-7 win team and lose to Iowa.

I think we do need to recognize that we are on very shaky ground with realignment and there are only so many Big12 teams that are getting to play an SEC or Big Ten team (with a heart beat)
Beating Iowa is good for league perception, especially if they finish top 5 of the BIG.

I am probably in the minority, but I hope Texas wins the SEC this year and many more and becomes insufferable over the next 10 years to the point the SEC implodes.

When recently has ISU been a 6 win team and lost to Iowa?

And wasn't ISU a 7 win team last year with a chance toward the end of the season to be in the Big 12 Title Game?

If ISU beats Iowa but goes on to win 3-4 games total or something, I don't see how that does any good for them in future realignment situations.

 

[huntt26]

Kansas State. They are a pretty similar institution to ISU, similar mindsets with their programs, passionate fanbases, etc. However, K-State has had much more success than us in the two major sports (Football and Men's Basketball) in recent history. Conference championships in Football (2 since 2010) and Basketball (2 since 2010), deep tournament runs (3 elite eights since 2010), etc. If they can do it, so can ISU! But... we haven't. That's where I'm at with K-State. I respect what they've done but it sucks we haven't gotten over the hump like they have.

 

[clonebb]

National championship.

 

[CySmurf]

The Iowa responses sadden me. We don't play in the BIG.

Well, we're not surrounded by Jayhawks, Purple Kitties, Mountaineers, Cowboys, Buffaloes, HornFrogs, Bears, Red Raiders, H Cougars, BYU Cougars, Utes, Sun Devils, AZ Wildcats, Knights or Bearcats...we have to endure those insufferable Hawkeyes though. Sorry it saddens you Cydkar...give me the win against the Squawks every time.

 

[Cyclonsin]

I think the Iowa game is more of an IF THEN scenario.

IF beating Utah, Kstate, KU etc, gets us into the Big12 game then I could care less about the loss to Iowa.
Where it stings is when we are a 6-7 win team and lose to Iowa.

I think we do need to recognize that we are on very shaky ground with realignment and there are only so many Big12 teams that are getting to play an SEC or Big Ten team (with a heart beat)
Beating Iowa is good for league perception, especially if they finish top 5 of the BIG.

I am probably in the minority, but I hope Texas wins the SEC this year and many more and becomes insufferable over the next 10 years to the point the SEC implodes.

Iowa has become the punchline of a joke in the national sports media landscape. Virtually every non-Hawkeye outlet has acknowledged and talked about their success as a product of a weak schedule, and it isn't any harder this season.

Beating them won't make even a tiny difference in how the conferences are perceived. Frankly, I don't think any of the OOC games against the P2 would. There's a narrative being pushed, and it won't be disrupted by pesky little data points.

 

[mustangcy]

There's objectively a debate about this.

I mean, tell me a game that has more buzz than the Iowa game? A game where more people are tuning in? A game that has more emotion than the Iowa game? A game that year in and year out is a guaranteed sellout. A game that has more personal every day bragging rights to friends and family around you?

No, there isn't any debate. KState is a great rivalry and game, the games against UT or OU where huge and awesome, I'm sure the Utah game will be great...but its not even in the same ballpark as the energy for Cyhawk. Iowa is the game to win if you had to pick one.

 

[madguy30]

I mean, tell me a game that has more buzz than the Iowa game? A game where more people are tuning in? A game that has more emotion than the Iowa game? A game that year in and year out is a guaranteed sellout. A game that has more personal every day bragging rights to friends and family around you?

No, there isn't any debate. KState is a great rivalry and game, the games against UT or OU where huge and awesome, I'm sure the Utah game will be great...but its not even in the same ballpark as the energy for Cyhawk. Iowa is the game to win if you had to pick one.

If you live in small town Iowa or something and are stuck in the 80s or 90s I can totally see these things being a thing.

I live out of state and hardly anyone knows when the two teams play.

When ISU beats someone good later on I'll get some comments though.

Winning over the long haul is better than some early September game.

 

[theshadow]

The guaranteed win pick should always be the game that has the lowest possible chance of winning. And that's going to be the hardest conference game about 99% of the time.

 

[Malty Flannel]

Haven’t read the other replies, but my order is:

1) Kansas State - protect the Jack and keep them out of the CCG
2) Utah - don’t want a 1st year team to win the conference and beating them in SLC would easily be the most impressive win of the year
3) Iowa - **** Iowa

 

[mustangcy]

If you live in small town Iowa or something and are stuck in the 80s or 90s I can totally see these things being a thing.

I live out of state and hardly anyone knows when the two teams play.

When ISU beats someone good later on I'll get some comments though.

Winning over the long haul is better than some early September game.

Right....live in a small town and stuck in the 80's/90's to care about beating our biggest (INSTATE) rival...got it.

I get you don't live in Iowa, so ISU is just a team you follow but never have to really discuss with anyone not on the internet...but not living in Iowa isn't an excuse to not know who ISU's biggest rival is. You don't have to live in a small town to know Iowa is our biggest rival and most intense game every single year. Sheesh..

 

[jctisu]

I mean, tell me a game that has more buzz than the Iowa game? A game where more people are tuning in? A game that has more emotion than the Iowa game? A game that year in and year out is a guaranteed sellout. A game that has more personal every day bragging rights to friends and family around you?

No, there isn't any debate. KState is a great rivalry and game, the games against UT or OU where huge and awesome, I'm sure the Utah game will be great...but its not even in the same ballpark as the energy for Cyhawk. Iowa is the game to win if you had to pick one.

I mean there clearly is a debate because this thread is doing just that…

 

[besserheimerphat]

Haven't read the thread, but Utah easily for me. Assuming everything else goes as anticipated, that's the game that determines whether or not we play in the conference championship. I think we beat KSU at home this year. We'll be just as amped for Farmaggedon as they are - there's no way it's a let-down game.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Big picture KSU or Utah would be very nice wins, but beating the Squawks at their place this year has to be at the top of the list.
This team has the talent to beat all three teams or lose to everyone of the them. Just once I would like to see us come out on a roll and continue that throughout the entire season.

 

[bsaltyman]

I would pick Baylor. It’s an early season conference game that I’ll be able to take the kids to. Also, **** Baylor.

 

[cyfan92]

Was Iowa, Is Iowa, and will continue to be Iowa..

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Guaranteed win this year? Probably Utah since it would shatter their home field advantage wet dream. Otherwise the Squawks cause **** Iowa.

 

[Cyched]

Well, we're not surrounded by Jayhawks, Purple Kitties, Mountaineers, Cowboys, Buffaloes, HornFrogs, Bears, Red Raiders, H Cougars, BYU Cougars, Utes, Sun Devils, AZ Wildcats, Knights or Bearcats...we have to endure those insufferable Hawkeyes though. Sorry it saddens you Cydkar...give me the win against the Squawks every time.

I’d be fine being surrounded by Cougars

 

[ISU_Guy]

When recently has ISU been a 6 win team and lost to Iowa?

And wasn't ISU a 7 win team last year with a chance toward the end of the season to be in the Big 12 Title Game?

If ISU beats Iowa but goes on to win 3-4 games total or something, I don't see how that does any good for them in future realignment situations.

I did say 6-7 win ISU team lose to Iowa. you had to make me look didn't you

I guess it has only been 5 seasons out of 24.

2023 - 7 - Loss
2021 - 7 - Loss
2019 - 7 - Loss
2012 - 6 - Win
2011 - 6 - Win
2009 - 7 - Loss
2005 - 7 - Win
2004 - 7 - Loss
2002 - 7 - Win
2001 - 7 - Win

that being said....
I still think the most satisfying win this year would be on the road at UTAH. I hope they end up 3rd or worse in the league.

 

[Malty Flannel]

If Iowa was at home I'd go with Iowa. But after Tang-gate last year, the KSU rivalry, while not what Iowa is, is certainly more than it was. Combine that with protecting the Jack and likely conference standing implications, and its more important to me to beat KSU at home this year in late November than Iowa on the road in early September