Iowa City is getting another national spotlight, and this time Fox is bringing the whole “Big Noon Kickoff” crew to town for Iowa’s Week 9 matchup with Wisconsin.
The show’s stop in Iowa City comes after ESPN’s “College GameDay” and “The Pat McAfee Show” turned downtown into a college football destination before Iowa’s Week 5 game against Ohio State. That weekend drew plenty of attention, featured appearances from former Hawkeyes Caitlin Clark, Dallas Clark, and others, and even included a $1 million donation from Pat McAfee to the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The game itself didn’t go Iowa’s way, but the campus buzz did not fade with it.
Now the attention swings back to Kinnick Stadium for another big Saturday. Fox announced on October 25, 2026 that “Big Noon Kickoff” will be on hand for the annual Heartland Trophy battle between Iowa and Wisconsin, with the network’s pregame show starting at 10 AM ET.
GET READY, IOWA CITY!
Big Noon Kickoff is headed to Iowa as the No. 25 Badgers take on the Hawkeyes.
Join the crew starting at 10 AM ET on FOX! pic.twitter.com/zPkMvvUINZ
- FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 25, 2026
The matchup carries plenty of weight. Iowa dropped from No. 15 to unranked this week after losing to Minnesota, while Wisconsin arrives at No. 25 after hammering No.
16 USC. The Badgers will be looking to stay in the rankings and make a statement on the road.
Iowa, meanwhile, has plenty to play for beyond the trophy. The Hawkeyes want to even the all-time series at 49 wins apiece and add another ranked victory to the résumé.
There’s history here too, and Iowa has had the upper hand lately. The Hawkeyes have won the last four meetings, including last season’s 37-0 win in Madison, and Wisconsin will try to flip that script in what figures to be a charged environment at Kinnick.
With “Big Noon Kickoff” in the mix, the stage only gets bigger. Since launching in 2019, the Fox pregame show has gone head-to-head with ESPN’s “College GameDay” and carved out its own place in the college football calendar. Iowa City gets another turn in the spotlight, and the Hawkeyes now have a chance to make the most of it.
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Iowa's QB Uncertainty Just Got More Concerning Before Wisconsin
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Kamari Moultons absence from the chart stands out most after his injury, and Xavier Williams now sits atop the running back spot as Iowa sorts through the backfield without him. Beyond that, the defensive and special teams listings remain steady, leaving the offense and especially quarterback to carry the biggest questions into a matchup that already figures to be tight. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Suddenly Has A Backfield Question Heading Into Homecoming
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The updated chart also includes changes at quarterback, left guard and on the defensive side, adding another layer of intrigue to a week that was already going to draw plenty of attention in Iowa City. With multiple spots shifting and the backfield now in flux, the Hawkeyes will spend the next stretch sorting out how their lineup looks as they head into a key home date. [Read more 🡒]
Reece Vander Zee Sends Clear Message As Iowa Tries To Reset
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Now Iowa heads into a matchup with Wisconsin with Vander Zee pointing the focus back toward response and resilience. His message was straightforward: keep fighting, lean on the leadership in the room and use the setback as a chance to improve, which is the kind of tone the Hawkeyes need as they try to reset. [Read more 🡒]