The Cy-Hawk Series against Iowa State in Week 2. A road trip to Michigan before September ends. And Ohio State visiting Kinnick Stadium right behind it. The Iowa Football Schedule 2026 delivers rivalry stakes and ranked competition inside the season’s first month.
Iowa Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | NIU Huskies | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | 4:15 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Iowa State Cyclones (Cy-Hawk Series) | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | 7:30 PM | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Northern Iowa Panthers | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | 4:00 PM | FS1 |
| Sat, Sep 26 | at Michigan Wolverines | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 9 | at Washington Huskies | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | 9:00 PM | FOX or FS1 |
| Sat, Oct 17 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 24 | at Minnesota Golden Gophers | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | 3:00–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Wisconsin Badgers (Homecoming) | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | at Northwestern Wildcats | Ryan Field, Evanston, IL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Purdue Boilermakers | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | at Illinois Fighting Illini | Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | 12:00 PM | CBS/Paramount+ |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
The Cy-Hawk Rivalry Opens the Toughest Month of the Year
Iowa Football Schedule 2026 opens against NIU before the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series against Iowa State arrives on September 12, a Saturday night showdown on NBC. Northern Iowa gives Iowa City a home date before the schedule turns to one of the most demanding four-game stretches in the country.
Michigan, Ohio State, and a Late-Night Trip to Seattle
A road trip to Michigan opens the toughest stretch of the season, followed immediately by Ohio State visiting Kinnick Stadium on October 3. A Friday night road trip to Washington follows, kicking off at 9:00 p.m. ET — three ranked opponents inside a three-week window, capped by a well-earned bye on October 17.
Minnesota, Then Wisconsin for Homecoming
A road trip to Minnesota opens the back half of October before Wisconsin visits Kinnick Stadium for Homecoming on October 31 — a manageable stretch compared to what came before it.
A Road Trip to Northwestern, Then a Home Stretch to Close
A road game at Northwestern opens November before Purdue visits Iowa City. A trip to Illinois follows before the regular season closes with a Friday, Thanksgiving-week home game against Nebraska. If Iowa is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington packed into a three-week span, Iowa faces one of the most demanding stretches in the entire Big Ten before October even reaches its midpoint. The Iowa football home games in 2026 include the biggest matchup of the year in Ohio State, but how the Hawkeyes navigate that opening gauntlet will decide where the season goes from there.
FAQ
Q: When does Iowa play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Iowa Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against NIU on Saturday, September 5, at Kinnick Stadium.
Q: When is Iowa vs Ohio State 2026?
A: Iowa vs Ohio State 2026 is set for Saturday, October 3, at home at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, with Ohio State visiting.
Q: How many home games does Iowa play in 2026?
A: Iowa has seven Iowa football home games in 2026 at Kinnick Stadium: NIU, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Nebraska.
Q: What is Iowa’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from Michigan (road) through Ohio State (home) and Washington (road) — September 26 through October 9 — is the toughest stretch on the Iowa Big Ten schedule 2026.
