From an Iowa State assistant

[PedMaller]

Half the state still lives in sod homes.

The other half’s in trailer parks.

 

[PinkShizzle]

When ISU rises, they start taking their share of in-state recruits. If they're a perennial doormat, it's much easier for Iowa to clean house and leave ISU with the leftovers. This is not hard.

As far back as I can remember ISU has seldom if ever taken their share of in-state recruits offered by Iowa. They will beat Iowa for one or two some years.

In 2025, ISU got three of the top five in-state recruits (#2, 3, and 4) and six of the top 10 (#2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10). Iowa got one in the top 5 (#1) and three in the top 10 (#1, 6, and 8).

Iowa does indeed just about always win the in-state recruiting battle, but not always. A weak Iowa State makes that recruiting battle much easier. With Campbell gone, I'd imagine the Hawks will control the state for recruits.

 

[FranklinHawk]

In 2025, ISU got three of the top five in-state recruits (#2, 3, and 4) and six of the top 10 (#2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10). Iowa got one in the top 5 (#1) and three in the top 10 (#1, 6, and 8).

Iowa does indeed just about always win the in-state recruiting battle, but not always. A weak Iowa State makes that recruiting battle much easier. With Campbell gone, I'd imagine the Hawks will control the state for recruits.

I don't know what the answer is, buy how many of the 6 that ISU pulled in had Iowa offers?

 

[DuddyB]

I don't know what the answer is, buy how many of the 6 that ISU pulled in had Iowa offers?

3. Manske, Robinson and Limbaugh.

 

[PinkShizzle]

I don't know what the answer is, buy how many of the 6 that ISU pulled in had Iowa offers?

Great question. I'm not sure at all. I'd assume most that had Hawk offers went to Iowa. I was just giving overall numbers for commits.

Edit to add that I imagine the Hawks will dominate the in-state recruiting even more now. The head-to-head battles that the Clones may win would probably be for Clone legacy kids and those wanting earlier playing time. Go Hawks!

 

[paednoch23]

Oklahoma has done pretty well with Oklahoma State in the same low population state. They do it by recruiting hard out of state. Nebraska has no one to compete with in their low population state and yet they have pretty much sucked the last 20 years. Texas has all the resources in the world and struggles to make the CFP. It's about the quality of your staff. Always has been. Always will be.

Nebraska doesn’t have money issues.

 

[GoUIowa]

I don't believe that the existence of ISU, or any other program for that matter, has anything to do with the fate of Iowa athletics and vice versa. I think that belief exists only in the minds of fans who want to blame a rival for their own team's shortcomings.

This is dead wrong.

 

[ketelmeister]

The point is Iowa and Iowa State football have been on about an even par for the last decade. And in recent years the head to head has gone Iowa States way. Iowa has been better in women’s basketball with Clark, but that is now about even. And Iowa State has had the much stronger basketball program in the past 15 years. Just reality. The new football coach may or may not keep the program at Campbells level, but the portal changes that and he might surprise people.
And instate recruiting doesn’t mean much, it’s talent and wins and losses

 

[Jonesy5960]

Nebraska doesn’t have money issues.

They still suck.

 

[Jonesy5960]

This is dead wrong.

Ok.

 

[QCHawkeye]

Iowa State has always been a basketball school since Johnny Orr.

 

[Anon1750875978]

Nebraska doesn’t have money issues.

Spending it wisely, they do.

Nebraska, after all these years, still hasn't learned that winning in the B1G is about strong line play.