Oklahoma State's Wendell Gregory (4) tackles Iowa State's Aiden Flora (21) in the second half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Iowa State Cyclones at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday Nov. 29, 2025.

Its going to be a big year for the Iowa State Cyclones in 2026.

Over the offseason, it seems like the identity they once had was lost when head coach Matt Campbell left for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Then when players followed, it seemed like a completely new program.

But that doesnt mean they cant succeed.

Iowa State is determined to continue its recent success and hopes to get to a bowl game next season to alleviate the struggles that the offseason possessed.

Lets take a look at ideal kickoff game times for Cyclone away games next season.

Iowa Hawkeyes - Noon Iowa State and Iowa meet every year in the Cy-Hawk Series, one of the best rivalries in college football.

Each year, they typically play at noon as well.

Nothing should have changed for next season, and that should be a positive for the Cyclones.

In this rivalry, Iowa State should hope nothing changes, as in the last few years, they have been immensely successful.

However, the game was announced for 6:30 CT.

It's a bit weird compared to a typical Cy-Hawk game, but it will definitely make the game more intense.

BYU Cougars - Afternoon Lavell Edwards Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the entire country.

And with BYU likely to be a potential playoff team, Provo, UT, might be one of the last places you want to play at night.

Iowa State should have hoped for an afternoon game against the Cougars, but unfortunately, the game will be at night and on a Friday.

That's going to be a really tough one for the Cyclones.

Arizona Wildcats - Afternoon Arizona is also likely to be a great team next year, and a place you arent interested in playing at night.

Its an important game, meaning it likely wont be at noon, but also isnt necessarily a primetime game either.

Its also important to note that Tucson, AZ, is an hour behind Ames, IA, in terms of timing, so they want a time that works for both fan bases.

Baylor Bears - Night The reality is, the Cyclones arent going to be able to go all season without playing a night game on the road.

And the one thats most ideal for them would be Baylor.

Look, playing at McLane Stadium isnt easy, but its also not extremely difficult.

Compared to some of the other stadiums they will have to play, its not a place Iowa State is dreading.

In addition, the lakefront and good vibes feel like much more fun for the Bears at an earlier time, which would provide a disadvantage to the Cyclones.

UCF Knights - Afternoon Finally, Iowa States last away game comes against UCF, a game that they cant lose.

With both teams likely being near the bottom of the conference, this game shouldn't have been a primetime game.

But both should be competing for a bowl game, and therefore provide some intrigue.

Thats why an afternoon game makes the most sense.

But regardless, it's going to be at 5:00 CT and 6:00 local in Florida, which is essentially a primetime game.

Lucca Mazzie is a sports journalist from Menlo Park, CA, and is a part of the Iowa State Class of 2030.

He has been in the sports world since his freshman year in high school, where he has worked with a number of websites such as On3/Rivals and On SI, as well as creating a few of his own websites and podcasts.

He has covered schools such as Stanford, Michigan State, Saint Mary's, and Fresno State in the past, and looks to continue his work at Iowa State..

This article has been shared from the original article on si, here is the link to the original article.