If you're hunting for the isu football score today, you're probably going to be a little confused. Or maybe just disappointed.
Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026. If you follow college football, you know the drill: the pads are packed away, the turf is freezing, and the only "football" happening is usually in the NFL playoffs. No "ISU"—whether you mean the Iowa State Cyclones, the Illinois State Redbirds, or the Indiana State Sycamores—is playing a football game today.
But honestly? If you're a fan of Illinois State, you’re likely still recovering from the absolute cardiac arrest that was the FCS National Championship game just a couple of weeks ago.
The ISU Football Heartbreak in Nashville
Let's talk about what actually happened recently because it was historic. On January 5, 2026, Illinois State played for the whole thing. The FCS National Championship against Montana State in Nashville.
It was brutal.
The Redbirds were down 14 points in the fourth quarter. Most people—including probably a few fans at FirstBank Stadium—thought it was over. Then Tommy Rittenhouse went nuclear. He found Daniel Sobkowicz for a leaping touchdown on a 4th-and-1 that felt like it shifted the atmosphere of the entire city. ISU tied it up with five minutes left, forcing overtime.
The score today isn't updated because the season ended in a 35-34 overtime loss. A blocked extra point. That is how close it was. Coach Brock Spack’s crew finished 12-5, which is an incredible run, even if it ended in a way that makes you want to stare at a wall for three hours.
What about Iowa State?
If you’re a Cyclones fan checking the isu football score today, you’re about seven weeks late. Iowa State wrapped up their 2025 season back in late November. They had some massive highs—like that 24-21 win over Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland—but the middle of the season was a bit of a slog with losses to Cincinnati and Colorado.
They finished strong, though. Beating Oklahoma State 20-13 on the road to close out the year.
Right now, the "score" for Iowa State isn't on the gridiron; it's on the court. The No. 16 ranked Iowa State men's basketball team is actually playing Cincinnati today, January 17, at 2 p.m. ET. If you see people talking about "the ISU score," they’re almost certainly talking about Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson trying to survive a road game in the Big 12.
Indiana State and the Rest
Indiana State (the other ISU) finished their football season with a tough 3-9 record. Their last game was way back on November 22 against Murray State. Much like their cousins in Ames, their fans are focused on hoops right now. The Sycamores are actually tipping off against Murray State today at 4 p.m.
It’s easy to get these acronyms tangled, especially when multiple schools use the same initials and all of them have big games around the same time.
Recent ISU Results (The Ones That Mattered)
- Illinois State Football: Lost 35-34 (OT) to Montana State in the National Championship (Jan 5).
- Iowa State Basketball: Today's game vs. Cincinnati (Jan 17).
- Indiana State Basketball: Today's game vs. Murray State (Jan 17).
Why are people still searching for football scores?
Recruiting. Transfer portal. Lingering playoff fever.
The college football calendar has shifted so much that people expect games to be happening 365 days a year. Between the early signing period and the madness of the portal, the "score" is often who is staying and who is leaving.
If you're looking for an actual game with a kickoff, you’ll have to wait until late August 2026. For Illinois State, the focus is on "two more points"—the margin Coach Spack says they need to find in the weight room this winter to flip that championship loss.
What to do next
Since there is no isu football score today, you should probably pivot your attention to the basketball court if you want to support the schools.
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- Check the Iowa State vs. Cincinnati basketball score on Peacock (2 p.m. ET).
- Watch the Indiana State vs. Murray State game at 4 p.m. ET if you're a Sycamores fan.
- Start looking at the 2026 football recruitment rankings, as spring ball is only a few months away.
The pads might be off, but the rivalry and the stats never really stop moving.