If you’re checking the scores to see who won the ISU game today, you might notice things are a little quiet on the court for Thursday, January 15, 2026. Neither the Iowa State men’s nor women’s basketball teams have a game scheduled for this specific Thursday. However, the "today" aspect of this search usually means fans are reeling from the high-stakes matchups that just wrapped up over the last 48 hours.
It’s been a rough stretch for Cyclone Nation.
Honestly, the energy in Ames has shifted from "undefeated hype" to "damage control" pretty quickly. The men’s team, which was sitting pretty at No. 2 in the nation, just suffered their first "L" of the season. Meanwhile, the women’s team is struggling to find its footing in a brutal Big 12 conference slate.
The Reality of Who Won the ISU Game (And Who Didn't)
The big headline everyone is still talking about is the men's game from Tuesday night. Iowa State traveled to Lawrence to face a Kansas team that—frankly—most experts thought was vulnerable. Bill Self had recently said his team "sucked."
They didn't suck on Tuesday.
Kansas handed Iowa State a stinging 84-63 defeat. It wasn't just a loss; it was a 21-point dismantling. The Jayhawks led by as many as 26 points. Tre White went off for 19 points, and Darryn Peterson added 16. For the Cyclones, Tamin Lipsey had a night he’d probably like to forget, shooting just 4-of-15 from the floor.
The result? Iowa State is no longer unbeaten. They move to 16-1.
Then you have the women’s team. They played just last night, Wednesday, January 14, out in Boulder. If you're looking for who won the ISU game today in terms of the most recent final score, it’s unfortunately the Colorado Buffaloes. Colorado took down the No. 19 Cyclones 68-62.
Why the Cyclones are Struggling Right Now
It’s not just one thing. It’s kinda everything.
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- Turnovers: In the loss to Kansas, the men’s team—usually so careful with the rock—gave it up 10 times in the first half alone.
- Cold Shooting: The women’s team relied way too heavily on the long ball in Boulder. They hit 11 triples (Sydney Harris had four of them), but when the shots stopped falling in the fourth quarter, they had no Plan B.
- Free Throws: Coach Bill Fennelly has been vocal about this. The women missed seven free throws against Colorado. If they make those, they win. Simple math.
Audi Crooks is still a beast, don’t get me wrong. She had 17 points and 15 rebounds against the Buffs. It’s her eighth double-double of the season. But one superstar can’t carry the whole squad when the team is shooting 43% from the charity stripe.
What Happened to ISU Football?
Some people are still searching for bowl game results, but that ship has sailed. In a move that shocked a lot of folks back in December, Iowa State actually declined a postseason bowl invitation.
Matt Campbell left for the Penn State job, and the program decided to hit the reset button rather than play a late December or early January game with a depleted coaching staff. It was a weird end to an 8-4 season, especially after big wins like the Cy-Hawk game.
Looking Ahead: When is the Next ISU Game?
Since nobody "won" an ISU game today because there wasn't one, fans have to look toward the weekend to see if the Cyclones can bounce back.
The men’s team stays on the road. They head to Cincinnati on Saturday, January 17. That’s a morning tip-off (11:00 AM PST), so you’ll need your coffee ready. Cincinnati is never an easy place to play, and after the blowout in Lawrence, the Cyclones' NET ranking is going to be under a microscope.
The women’s team has a bit more time to stew on their loss. They don’t play again until Sunday, January 18. They’ll be in Stillwater taking on Oklahoma State.
Basically, the "honeymoon phase" of the season is over. The Big 12 is a meat grinder this year. Whether it's the men trying to prove they still belong in the Top 5 or the women trying to snap a four-game skid, the pressure is officially on.
Actionable Steps for Cyclone Fans
- Watch the Cincinnati Spread: Keep an eye on the betting lines for Saturday's men's game. If ISU is a heavy favorite, it might be a "trap" game after such a physical loss to Kansas.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Tamin Lipsey looked a bit banged up in the second half of the Kansas game. Check the local Ames beats for updates on his status before Saturday morning.
- Check the Standings: With the loss, ISU fell to 3-1 in conference play. They are now chasing Houston and Kansas in the standings, so every road win becomes twice as valuable.
The next few days will determine if this week was just a fluke or the start of a mid-season slide. Either way, Hilton Magic is going to be needed more than ever when they finally return home.