Iowa Faces A Road Test That Could Keep Its Momentum Rolling

In a classic Big Ten showdown, the No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes will clash with Northwestern at the newly unveiled Ryan Field, aiming to extend their dominance in a historic rivalry.

No. 21 Iowa heads to Evanston on November 7 for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff against Northwestern at Ryan Field, with Fox carrying the game and Connor Onion, Robert Griffin III and Alexa Landestoy on the call.

Both teams enter at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play, and Iowa is listed as the betting line favorite.

This will be Iowa’s first visit to Northwestern since 2021, though the Hawkeyes did face the Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2023. The matchup also marks Iowa’s first look at Northwestern’s new Ryan Field, which opened Oct. 2 and has helped the Wildcats go 3-0 since the venue debuted.

The series has long tilted Iowa’s way. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time matchup 55-28-3 in a rivalry that dates to 1897. Iowa has taken four of the last five meetings, and six of the last nine have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Iowa arrives coming off a 30-0 win over Wisconsin that secured bowl eligibility for the 14th straight season and the 24th time in 26 years. That shutout also gave the Hawkeyes 12 since 2018, the most in the country over that stretch, with three coming this season.

Northwestern, meanwhile, slipped out of the top 25 after a road loss to Oregon. The Wildcats are still receiving votes and are viewed as the de facto No. 26 team this week.

Iowa, after a one-week absence, returned to the poll at No. 21.

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