Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

For whatever reason, I want to see McNamara do well.  Seems like a good kid.

I agree with you on both counts. 

Kirk Ferentz when told Donald Trump would be in attendance for this weekend's game: Great. So will 60,000 other people

I don't regard Iowa State as a great rival. ISU replaced Notre Dame on our schedule. Having gone to Catholic grade school as a kid in Dubuque, I'd rather see Iowa play Notre Dame. That said, I was watching player interviews today, and they really seem to like the Iowa State rivalry game, in Ames, and give kudos to the environment.
https://www.hawkcentral.com/videos/sports/college/iowa/football/2023/09/05/tory-taylor-sarcastically-remembers-humble-modest-iowa-state-fans/8391149001/
Luke Lachey excited about returning to Iowa State environment (hawkcentral.com)
If your time is very limited view the first 2 minutes of the Tory Taylor interview. He is from Australia and if you expect anyone to downplay the Cyclones it might be him.
That said, Luke Lachey grew up in Ohio, and his dad was an Ohio State great O-Lineman. And he thinks the playing environment is worth noting in Ames.
Who would have thought that Moo-U, was a misnomer for Rude-U?

the cyclone fans do get up for the hawkeyes in Ames

I've been to a couple of them

I have been to one Iowa State "home game," at Arrowhead, against my Seminoles. I walked up and down the tailgate rows and met more people I know from Iowa State than I ever knew at Iowa tailgates in Iowa City after I graduated from U of I. This was about 20-years ago, and most Cyclones were from my adopted hometown in Manchester, IA. ISU came up 1-yard short at the end of the game. This was the beginning of the end of the Bobby Bowden era.

Iowa State has 5 players out total due the gambling investigation.

 I'd bet the Farm but Brian is the great equalizer

I don't regard Iowa State as a great rival. ISU replaced Notre Dame on our schedule. Having gone to Catholic grade school as a kid in Dubuque, I'd rather see Iowa play Notre Dame. That said, I was watching player interviews today, and they really seem to like the Iowa State rivalry game, in Ames, and give kudos to the environment.
https://www.hawkcentral.com/videos/sports/college/iowa/football/2023/09/05/tory-taylor-sarcastically-remembers-humble-modest-iowa-state-fans/8391149001/
Luke Lachey excited about returning to Iowa State environment (hawkcentral.com)
If your time is very limited view the first 2 minutes of the Tory Taylor interview. He is from Australia and if you expect anyone to downplay the Cyclones it might be him.
That said, Luke Lachey grew up in Ohio, and his dad was an Ohio State great O-Lineman. And he thinks the playing environment is worth noting in Ames.
Who would have thought that Moo-U, was a misnomer for Rude-U?

When a state has multiple P5 teams, I'd prefer to see them play every year.  Even some that aren't quite that (WVU-Marshall) I enjoy a good bit

To me it's a no-brainer that Iowa and Iowa State should play every year.  It's good for the state. They have been doing it since 1977.  Everybody that goes to Iowa knows somebody at ISU and vice versa.  It's a fun game to travel to for opposing fans.  Plus they are both P4 schools from the same state and both draw over 55k to it's games. Academic ranks are similar although each school has its own strengths.  It makes perfect sense to play.  I just find it bizarre there are so many people would rather Iowa drop ISU as an opponent to play some random FBS school instead.  What's the fun in that?

Outside of looking for more variety, I don't see a reason to stop it.

I too like the in-state matchups. Gonna miss UCLA/Cal and USC/Stanford, although I guess they could play OOC. 

What's the future of WSU/uw? OrSU/UO? Those are probably dead soon. Don't see that since the "state" schools are not gonna be in a power conference anymore.