Iowa’s win at Northwestern kept the Hawkeyes moving in the right direction, and the latest bowl projections reflect that. After a 24-10 victory over the Wildcats last Saturday at Ryan Field, Iowa enters Week 11 at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, with several outlets slotting the Hawkeyes into a range of postseason destinations.
The win in Evanston came with a little bit of everything. Hank Brown scored on a 21-yard run and later found Tony Diaz for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Braeden Jackson also flipped the field in a big way, bringing back a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was the second kickoff return score of the season for Jackson.
Now Iowa turns back home for a Saturday night matchup with Purdue at Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 14.
The Boilermakers come in at 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
CT, with NBC carrying the game and Peacock streaming it.
As No. 15 Iowa gets ready for Purdue, here’s where the Hawkeyes are being projected to land:
ESPN has Iowa in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl against Kentucky at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. That game is set for Dec. 30, 2026, at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura also has Iowa facing Kentucky, but in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. That one is scheduled for Jan. 2, 2027 at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
Mark Schlabach of ESPN matches Bonagura on the opponent, projecting Iowa vs. Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.
CBS Sports sends Iowa to the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., with Florida as the projected opponent. That game is set for Dec. 31, 2026, at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
On3 has Iowa in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., against SMU. That matchup is slated for Dec. 26, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
Sports Illustrated projects the Hawkeyes to the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., where Duke would be waiting. That game is scheduled for Dec. 26, 2026, at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
One projection even places Iowa in the College Football Playoff, with a matchup against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. That game would be played Dec. 18 or Dec. 19, 2026, with the time still to be determined.
In Other News...
Iowa Heads Into Purdue With One Big Defensive Unknown
Purdues defense is suddenly in a state of transition heading into its matchup with Iowa after head coach Barry Odom fired defensive coordinator Kevin Kane following the loss to Maryland. Odom pointed to the units poor performance as the reason for the move, but he stopped short of saying who will handle the defensive play-calling against the Hawkeyes, even as he credited his assistants for the work of game planning.
For Iowa, the change adds a wrinkle, but not one that appears to be altering the approach. Kirk Ferentz acknowledged the uncertainty on Purdues sideline, though he said the Hawkeyes preparation stays the same regardless of who is making the calls. In a Big Ten game where field position and details usually matter anyway, Iowa will still be focused on its own plan and the challenge of sorting out a defense with a new layer of uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Opens Big Four Stretch With One Lingering Concern After UConn
Ava Heidens night against Connecticut ended with more than just a bruising loss for Iowa. The Hawkeyes center needed five stitches after taking a cut in the game, and her early foul trouble also played a part in how the matchup tilted in UConns favor during a 91-79 defeat. For a team trying to settle in before the heart of its schedule, it was the kind of game that left both a physical and tactical mark.
Now Iowa turns to Northern Iowa to open its in-state stretch, with the Hawkeyes looking to clean up the issues that showed up against one of the nations top programs. There was also some off-court news for the program, as Iowa announced national letters of intent from 2027 recruits Jada Seubert and Khalia Hartwell, a reminder that the staff is still building for the future even as it tries to steady the present. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Cannot Afford To Slip Now As CFP Pressure Builds
At 7-2 and sitting No. 15 in the College Football Playoff rankings, Iowa has reached the point of the season where every week starts to feel a little heavier. Kirk Ferentz is trying to keep the Hawkeyes from looking too far ahead, stressing the same message he usually leans on this time of year: handle the next opponent, then move on. With Purdue up next, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The bigger picture is hard to ignore, even if Ferentz is trying to keep it out of the locker room. Iowa is chasing double-digit wins and still has a path, however narrow, toward the playoff conversation, which makes the remaining schedule feel like a series of must-answer tests. For a team that has put itself in position to matter in November, the challenge now is staying sharp enough to make the opportunity count. [Read more 🡒]