How to watch Iowa State Cyclones
Every Iowa State Cyclones game in 2026 and the cheapest legal way to stream them. 7 of 12 games have a TV network so far (ESPN, ESPN+, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, NBC, TNT). School page: Iowa State University.
Cheapest single package
ESPN Unlimited + Fox One bundle + HBO Max Standard: $58.48/mo, $292.40 for 5 months [MD2] [MD4] [MD8] [MD9] [MD22] [MD23]. Keep it all five billing windows (Aug. 29 - Jan. 28).
2026 schedule and networks
| Date | Kickoff | Opponent | TV | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Sep 5 played | 1:00 PM ET | vs Southeast Missouri State Redhawks | ESPN+ | ESPN |
| Sat Sep 12 played | 7:30 PM ET | at Iowa Hawkeyes | NBC | ESPN |
| Sat Sep 19 played | 12:00 PM ET | vs Bowling Green Falcons | ESPNU | ESPN |
| Sat Sep 26 played | 3:30 PM ET | vs Utah Utes conf. | FOX | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 3 | 12:00 PM ET | vs West Virginia Mountaineers conf. | TNT | ESPN |
| Fri Oct 9 | 10:15 PM ET | at BYU Cougars conf. | ESPN | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 24 | TBD | at Arizona Wildcats conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ESPN+ / FOX / FS1 / TNT | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 31 | TBD | vs Oklahoma State Cowboys conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ESPN+ / FOX / FS1 / TNT | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 7 | TBD | at Baylor Bears conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ESPN+ / FOX / FS1 / TNT | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 14 | TBD | vs Cincinnati Bearcats conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ESPN+ / FOX / FS1 / TNT | ESPN |
| Fri Nov 20 | 6:00 PM ET | at UCF Knights conf. | FS1 | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 28 | TBD | vs Kansas State Wildcats conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ESPN+ / FOX / FS1 / TNT | ESPN |
5 of 12 games have no TV network yet. They are priced worst case: you must be able to watch every network in the host conference's TV pool (shown in the schedule). Networks usually announce 6-12 days ahead, so in practice you can often buy less. Pools [SP1] [M-S57] [SP8] [SP9] [SP10] [SP2] [MD20] [MD22] [MD24].
Cheapest month by month
Regular season, full season (with day passes)
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 - Sep 28 | 4 | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) + Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 19 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] | $19.98 |
| Sep 29 - Oct 28 | 3 | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) + Fox One + Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 3 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Fri Oct 9 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 24 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] [MD4] [MD20] | $49.95 |
| Oct 29 - Nov 28 | 5 | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) + Fox One + Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 31 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 7 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 14 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 28 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] [MD4] [MD20] | $57.94 |
| Nov 29 - Dec 28 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Dec 29 - Jan 28, 2027 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Total | $127.87 |
Variants (full season): without day passes $148.95; without an antenna $161.41. Month-by-month assumes you subscribe and cancel each billing window with perfect timing. A free antenna is assumed for ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC/CW (antenna price not researched).
Starting Oct. 1, 2026 (rest of the regular season)
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 - Oct 31 | 4 | ESPN Unlimited + Fox One bundle + Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 3 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 24 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 31 ($4.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD2] [MD4] | $54.96 |
| Nov 1 - Nov 30 | 4 | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) + Fox One + Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 7 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 14 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 28 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] [MD4] [MD20] | $51.95 |
| Dec 1 - Dec 31 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Jan 1, 2027 - Jan 31, 2027 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Total | $106.91 |
Worst case including a conference title game and bowl/CFP run
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 - Sep 28 | 4 | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) + Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 19 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] | $19.98 |
| Sep 29 - Oct 28 | 3 | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) + Fox One + Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 3 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Fri Oct 9 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 24 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] [MD4] [MD20] | $49.95 |
| Oct 29 - Nov 28 | 5 | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) + Fox One + Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 31 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 7 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 14 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 28 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] [MD4] [MD20] | $57.94 |
| Nov 29 - Dec 28 | 6 | ESPN Unlimited + Sling Orange day pass Sat Dec 19 ($4.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] [MD43] [MD20] [MD21] | $36.98 |
| Dec 29 - Jan 28, 2027 | 8 | Sling Orange [MD15] [MD16] | $45.99 |
| Total | $210.84 |
Postseason worst case = conference title game + every CFP network (ABC/ESPN and TNT) + ESPN-family bowls [MD22] [MD24]. Holiday Bowl network TBD, not modeled.
Free trials and student discounts
Shown separately and not used in the cost math above. Offers change often; check before buying.
| Service | Free trial / promo | Student discount |
|---|---|---|
| Fox One | 3-day free trial [MD4] | — |
| ESPN Unlimited | — | No ESPN student price found. Disney+/Hulu student bundle $6.49/mo does not include ESPN Unlimited [MD37] |
| ESPN Unlimited + Fox One bundle | No free trial (fox.com/espn per search; Fox Corp) | — |
| HBO Max Standard | — | HBO Max student $5.49/mo applies to Basic with Ads only, which excludes live sports [MD38][MD8] |
| Peacock Premium | No standing free trial (secondary) | Peacock Premium $5.99/mo for 1 yr (SheerID) [MD39] |
| Sling Orange | Day passes: 1-day $4.99, 3-day $9.99, 7-day $14.99 (+$1/$2/$3 Sports Extra) [MD16]; 50% off first month (affiliate claim) [MD16] | — |
Prices: all services and sources. Conference: Big 12 watch guide.