The answer to why Iowa State is playing a game at Arkansas State on Saturday is economics.

No. 14 ISU (3-0 overall, 1-0 Big 12) is traveling to Jonesboro, Arkansas for a matchup against Sun Belt Conference opponent Arkansas State (1-1). The Cyclones will spend Friday night in Memphis before the 3 p.m. Saturday game at Centennial Bank Stadium .

Jonesboro is a place that’s just simply hard to get to. It’s more than a nine-hour drive from Ames, and the closest major airport is in Memphis, which leaves an hour drive to Jonesboro. So, why is ISU playing there on Saturday? It saves the ISU athletic department up to $4 million.

In 2014, the Cyclones and Red Wolves announced the home-and-home series for 2024 and 2025. Arkansas State played at ISU for free in 2024, and ISU plays at Arkansas St

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