Iowa’s 2026 schedule opens with a clear test of whether the Hawkeyes can get rolling early enough to matter in the playoff picture. The first three games are as friendly as they come on paper, and the math is simple: anything short of 3-0 before Big Ten play begins would make a College Football Playoff run a long shot.
The Hawkeyes start with Northern Illinois in Week 1 and Northern Iowa in Week 3, two games Iowa should be able to handle with superior size, speed and talent. In between comes the Cy-Hawk matchup with Iowa State, still a tricky spot even with the Cyclones carrying a depleted roster after Matt Campbell's departure.
Then the schedule turns ugly in a hurry. Iowa opens Big Ten play at Michigan, hosts Ohio State, and then heads to Washington on short rest for a Friday night kickoff before finally getting a bye week.
That stretch could leave the Hawkeyes at 1-2 or even 2-1 in conference play, which would put them at 4-2 or 5-1 overall with their losses already banked early. That matters, because the playoff committee has shown it can be more forgiving of early defeats if a team is surging late.
After the bye, Iowa goes north to face Minnesota for the Floyd of Rosedale, a trophy game that still carries plenty of weight even if the rivalry has been lopsided for years. If Iowa is sitting at 4-2 or 5-1, this one could be in line for a primetime spotlight.
Minnesota’s own schedule - Eastern Illinois, Mississippi State, Akron, Washington, Michigan and Purdue - gives the Gophers a path to 4-2 or even 5-1 as well, which is why the matchup is being projected for either 2:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. CT.
If it lands in the later window, NBC could have it in its Big Ten primetime slot.
The series itself has tilted heavily Iowa’s way. Since 2000, the Hawkeyes are 20-6 against Minnesota, including 10 wins in the last 11 meetings. Minnesota still holds the all-time edge, 63-54-2, but that margin has been shrinking fast.
And no Floyd of Rosedale conversation is complete without the controversial invalid fair catch call that wiped out Cooper DeJean's touchdown and would have given Iowa the lead late in 2023. That call came in Minnesota’s only win since 2014. The most recent meeting, on October 25 of last year, was a blowout, with Iowa beating Minnesota 41-3 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
In Other News...
Iowa Freshmen Are Suddenly In The Middle Of A Familiar Debate
Iowas 2026 freshmen are already part of a familiar summer conversation in Iowa City: which newcomers can force their way onto the field before anyone expected. The list is a little longer than usual because the roster has a few openings and a few spots where talent can matter quickly, from special teams to the second level of the defense. That includes an Australian punter in Everitt, who is competing with transfer Tanner Philpott for the starting job, plus a local linebacker in Julian Manson whose ranking and fit give him a real chance to get into the mix early.
The more intriguing part for the Hawkeyes is how many different paths there are for this class to matter without anyone promising a breakout yet. A cornerback like Darion Jones can be useful in passing-down packages, and quarterback Tradon Bessinger enters with the kind of depth-chart uncertainty that can change quickly if injuries or inexperience pile up. For Iowa, this is the sort of freshman watch list that feels less like hype and more like a reminder of how often the next man up ends up being a first-year player. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper DeJean Just Gave Iowa Fans More NFL Validation
Cooper DeJeans rise in Philadelphia keeps giving Iowa fans another reason to point and nod. The former Hawkeye defensive back, a second-round pick by the Eagles in the 2024 NFL Draft, has quickly gone from promising rookie to one of the more respected young defensive backs in the league, with his game translating in a way that fits the modern NFL and the kind of versatility Iowa has long prized.
Now the conversation around DeJean is getting bigger than just a breakout season. Coaches, executives and scouts have already placed him among the leagues top cornerbacks heading into 2026, even as the Eagles continue to value his ability to move between slot corner and safety. For Iowa, it is another tidy piece of validation: the program keeps producing defenders who not only reach the NFL, but force teams to figure out exactly how to use them. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawkeyes Are Already Creating A Summer League Debate
The first night of Las Vegas Summer League gave Iowa fans a familiar sight: former Hawkeyes showing up in the same NBA game and making their presence felt. Bennett Stirtz, Payton Sandfort and Josh Dix all suited up for Oklahoma City in its opener against the Lakers, and each found a way to contribute as the Thunder tried to sort out roles and rotations in a 96-84 loss.
Stirtz finished as Oklahoma Citys top scorer with 18 points, while Sandfort added 10 points and seven rebounds and Dix chipped in eight. Elsewhere, Brendan Hausen was on the Memphis roster but did not play in the Grizzlies one-point win over Chicago, leaving Iowa followers with one more reason to keep an eye on how this cluster of former Hawkeyes is being used as the summer schedule unfolds. [Read more 🡒]