The 1940 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts (later renamed Iowa State University) in the Big Six Conference during the 1940 college football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach James J. Yeager, the Cyclones compiled a 4–5 record (2–3 against conference opponents), finished in fourth place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 132 to 118. ^{[1] [2]}

Tom Smith was the team captain. ^[2] No Iowa State player was selected as a first-team all-conference player. ^[3]

Iowa State was ranked at No. 103 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940. ^[4]

They played their home games at Clyde Williams Field in Ames, Iowa.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 21	2:00 p.m.	Luther*	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	W 27–0	7,249
September 27	9:15 p.m.	at Denver*	DU Stadium Denver, CO	L 7–14	13,651	[5]
October 5	2:00 p.m.	Kansas	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	W 7–0	7,491	[6]
October 11	8:00 p.m.	at Marquette*	Marquette Stadium Milwaukee, WI	L 25–41	15,000	[7]
October 19	2:00 p.m.	at Missouri	Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO ( rivalry)	L 14–30	12,457
October 26	2:00 p.m.	Oklahoma	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	L 7–20	11,424
November 9	2:00 p.m.	Drake*	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	W 7–6	5,444
November 16	2:00 p.m.	at Kansas State	Memorial Stadium Manhattan, KS ( rivalry)	W 12–0	7,936
November 23	2:00 p.m.	at No. 8 Nebraska	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	L 12–21	17,541	[8]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

References