Iowa State football: Cyclones-Hawkeyes series receives contract extension

The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series will officially include football every year through the 2021 season, receiving a four-year extension from the previous contract.

September 14, 2013; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Tad Ecby (6) runs after a catch and avoids the tackle by Iowa Hawkeyes safety Tanner Miller (5) at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa beat Iowa State 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA Today Sports

Both athletic directors from each school officially made the announcement on Wednesday. From the Cyclones’ official website:

"The state’s annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series clash on the gridiron is here to stay. School officials from both Iowa State and Iowa announced today that a contract extension has been signed to continue the football series through 2021.“We are excited to extend our contract with the University of Iowa in football through the 2021 season,” Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard said.  “This game is very important to the residents of this state and I am pleased both institutions are committed to continuing the rivalry. Rivalry games are great for college football.”"

With conference realignment destroying in-state rivalries, like Texas-Texas A&M, it was wondered if this series would extend past its current contract year of 2017. The Cyclones only have three non-conference games on their schedule after adopting a nine-game conference season when the Big 12 dropped to 10 teams.

The worry is over for now, however, and the series will continue on for at least eight more years. The current final game in the contract would be played at Jack Trice Stadium. There was a 43-year hiatus in this series before finally resuming again in 1977.