Iowa’s blowout win over Wisconsin did more than push the Hawkeyes to 6-2. It also gave their bowl outlook a real lift heading into Week 10.
After the 30-0 shutout of the Badgers on Oct. 31, college football media outlets have moved Iowa into the Citrus Bowl conversation. The Hawkeyes, now 3-2 in Big Ten play, have seen renewed confidence from projections as they head into the final stretch of the season.
That next stretch starts on the road. Iowa heads to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the new Ryan Field.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Fox.
The Wildcats are 6-2, 3-2 in the Big Ten, and the matchup comes with No. 20 Iowa carrying momentum into a game against No.
23 Northwestern.
Here’s how the bowl projections are lining up for the Hawkeyes right now:
ESPN has Iowa in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 2, 2027 at 11 a.m. CT on ABC, with Schlabach projecting Iowa vs. LSU.
CBS Sports also slots Iowa into the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., for Jan. 2, 2027 at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
On3 likewise projects Iowa to the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 2, 2027 at 11 a.m. CT on ABC, with Iowa vs. Tennessee.
Sports Illustrated has the Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl as well, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 2, 2027 at 11 a.m. CT on ABC, and projects Iowa vs. Ole Miss.
In Other News...
Iowa's Defense Faces A Northwestern Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Northwestern has started to look a little more dangerous on offense, and that should get Iowa fans attention fast. The Wildcats have gotten more out of quarterback Aidan Chiles as a dual-threat option, and the run game has climbed enough to give the offense a more balanced feel than it had before. For a Hawkeyes defense built on discipline and control under coordinator Phil Parker, that kind of shift changes the conversation from simply stopping one player to managing an entire scheme.
Iowas defense still has the kind of structure that can make life miserable for an opponent, but Northwesterns recent improvements create a test the Hawkeyes cannot overlook. If the Wildcats can keep Chiles moving and keep the rushing attack on schedule, they could force Iowa into more uncomfortable situations than usual. The matchup now feels less like a routine Big Ten grind and more like a chance to see whether Parkers group can adjust quickly enough to keep a surging offense from turning the game into something messier than Iowa would prefer. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Gave Hawkeye Fans A Reason To Believe Again
After a chaotic stretch around the Big Ten, Iowa fans finally have a little more reason to look up the standings and feel something other than frustration. The conference picture keeps shifting from week to week, but the Hawkeyes have at least moved themselves back into the conversation in a league where momentum can disappear fast and every result seems to reshape the pecking order.
The latest post-Week 9 ranking underscores just how crowded and volatile the conference remains, with UCLA sitting at the top and Indiana, Ohio State and USC right behind in a group that still has plenty to prove. For Iowa, the larger takeaway is less about where everyone else landed and more about the opening that still exists if the Hawkeyes can keep stacking competent football while the rest of the league keeps tripping over itself. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa May Have Found An Early Answer While The Offense Lags
While Iowa worked through the usual early-season offensive rust in its 76-54 win over Lipscomb, one freshman gave the Hawkeyes a useful lift. Jaidyn Coon came off the bench in the second half, replacing Isaia Howard, and finished with 12 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes, a solid debut for a player who was asked to step into the flow of a game that still had plenty of first-night unevenness.
What stood out most, though, was not just the scoring. Coach Ben McCollum singled out Coons defensive effort against Lipscombs Takai Simpkins, a sign that the freshman may already have a path to meaningful minutes while Iowa sorts out its shooting. The Hawkeyes did enough on both ends to open the season with a comfortable win, but the way Coon handled his assignment offered a glimpse of a possible early answer if the offense takes longer to come around. [Read more 🡒]