If you are a Hawkeye fan trying to plan your fall around football, you are in the right place. The Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule 2026 is officially out, and it brings a full slate of Big Ten battles, heated rivalry games, and several marquee home dates at Kinnick Stadium. Whether you want to circle games on a wall calendar, share the schedule with your tailgate group, or simply keep a copy at your desk, this guide walks you through the complete 2026 schedule and tells you exactly how to grab a printable PDF version for yourself.
Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule 2026 at a Glance
Before diving into the details, here is the full 2026 Iowa Hawkeyes football schedule in one clean, fan-friendly layout:
| Date | VS / AT | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 25 (Sat) — Spring Football Practice | — | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Sep. 5 (Sat) — Cy-Hawk Series | vs NIU Huskies | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Sep. 12 (Sat) | vs Iowa State Cyclones | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Sep. 19 (Sat) | vs Northern Iowa Panthers | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Sep. 26 (Sat) | at Michigan Wolverines | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI |
| Oct. 3 (Sat) | vs Ohio State Buckeyes | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Oct. 10 (Sat) | at Washington Huskies | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA |
| Oct. 24 (Sat) | at Minnesota Golden Gophers | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN |
| Oct. 31 (Sat) — Homecoming (HC) | vs Wisconsin Badgers | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Nov. 7 (Sat) | at Northwestern Wildcats | Ryan Field, Evanston, IL |
| Nov. 14 (Sat) | vs Purdue Boilermakers | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Nov. 21 (Sat) | at Illinois Fighting Illini | Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL |
| Nov. 27 (Fri) | vs Nebraska Cornhuskers | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA |
| Dec. 5 (Sat) — Big Ten Championship | vs TBD | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN |
All kickoff times are currently listed as TBA on the official site, so check back regularly as the season approaches for confirmed start times.
See also: Oklahoma Sooners Football Schedule 2026 – Printable PDF
How to Get the Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule Printable PDF
Getting a printable PDF of the Iowa Hawkeyes football schedule is simple and free. The best and most reliable source is the official Iowa athletics website. To access the printable version, visit: Printable Schedule PDF
Once you are on that page, look for the Print icon or print option available directly on the schedule page. That feature lets you print the schedule or save it as a printable PDF straight from your browser. Because the official page reflects the most current and accurate information, including any updates to game times, locations, or changes, it is always the smartest place to pull your printable copy from before heading to the printer.
Do not rely on third-party versions of a printable PDF that may already be outdated. Times, dates, and locations can shift before a season kicks off, and the official page is updated in real time. Bookmark it, check it, then print it.
Why Iowa Fans Should Keep a Printable Schedule Handy
A printable schedule is not just a piece of paper. For Hawkeye fans, it is a season-long planning tool. It helps you block off Saturdays for home games before your friends book other plans, figure out which road games are within driving distance, coordinate family visits around big matchups, and keep the full season visible without needing to pull out your phone every time someone asks about the next game.
The 2026 Iowa Hawkeyes football schedule makes a printable copy especially useful because the season includes a mix of significant home games, tough road trips, a well-placed bye week, and a potential Big Ten Championship appearance. There is a lot to track, and having a clean printable version on your fridge, in your office, or inside a game-day notebook makes the whole season easier to follow.
The Biggest Games on the 2026 Iowa Football Schedule
Not all games carry the same weight, and every Hawkeye fan already knows which matchups they will circle first. Here is a breakdown of the games that are going to matter most in 2026.
Iowa State Cyclones — September 12 at Kinnick Stadium The Cy-Hawk Series rivalry is always one of the most emotionally charged games of the year. Playing Iowa State at home in mid-September gives Iowa a chance to claim early bragging rights in the state and set the tone for everything that follows. This is the kind of game that Hawkeye fans talk about year-round, and having it at home in 2026 is a genuine advantage.
Ohio State Buckeyes — October 3 at Kinnick Stadium This is arguably the marquee home game of the entire season. Ohio State is a program that arrives with national attention every year, and getting them at Kinnick Stadium in early October sets up for one of the loudest atmospheres you will see all year. Iowa will need to be sharp and physical from the opening snap, and a win here would immediately shift the conversation around the entire Big Ten race.
Michigan Wolverines — September 26 at Ann Arbor The trip to Michigan Stadium is one of the toughest road environments in college football. Playing in front of more than 100,000 fans at one of the most storied stadiums in the country is a real test of a program’s mental toughness. This game on September 26 comes just two weeks after the Iowa State rivalry, which means the Hawkeyes will need to be focused and rolling by that point in the schedule.
Wisconsin Badgers — October 31 at Kinnick Stadium (Homecoming) Homecoming weekend at Kinnick is always a special atmosphere, and having Wisconsin as the opponent adds a layer of Big Ten rivalry intensity to an already festive game day. This late-October matchup could carry major conference implications depending on how the first half of the season plays out.
Nebraska Cornhuskers — November 27 at Kinnick Stadium The Friday after Thanksgiving against Nebraska is one of those games that college football fans appreciate because of its setting and its stakes. A late-November rivalry game at home gives Iowa a chance to close the regular season strong in front of their home crowd, and a win could make a real difference in bowl positioning or Big Ten standing heading into December.
Road Games That Could Define the Season
The 2026 road schedule is legitimately demanding. Trips to Michigan, Washington, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Illinois require the Hawkeyes to perform consistently away from the friendly confines of Kinnick Stadium. The back-to-back road weeks in late September and mid-October, with the bye on October 17 sandwiched in between, give Iowa a natural breather to reset before the Minnesota game on October 24. That bye week placement looks smart on paper and could be valuable for managing depth and injuries heading into the stretch run.
For fans thinking about road travel, a printable schedule helps you plan far enough in advance to lock in hotels and flights, especially for a trip like Washington in Seattle on October 10.
Home Game Atmosphere and Special Days
The 2026 home schedule at Kinnick Stadium is stacked with themed game days that make the experience even better. Beyond the rivalry energy that comes with Iowa State and Nebraska, the home slate is expected to feature special designations like FryFest, Hall of Fame Weekend, Gold Out, Homecoming, Black Out, Military Appreciation Day, and Senior Day. Each of those themes adds a layer to the atmosphere that goes beyond the football itself. If you are picking home games to attend in person, any of those theme days are worth the trip.
Big Ten Championship Picture
The schedule closes on December 5, 2026, with a potential Big Ten Championship appearance at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The opponent is listed as TBD, which means Iowa needs to earn that spot. Based on the schedule, the path to Indianapolis runs through a strong home finish and consistent road performances across November. It is absolutely within reach if the Hawkeyes stay healthy and take care of business at Kinnick.
Conclusion
The Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule 2026 is a compelling slate from top to bottom. It features early rivalry heat with Iowa State, a massive home test against Ohio State, a challenging road stretch through Michigan and Washington, and a late-November finish against Nebraska on Thanksgiving weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first game on the Iowa 2026 football schedule?
The regular-season opener is on September 5, 2026, at home against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The official schedule also lists a spring football practice on April 25, 2026, at Kinnick Stadium.
Is the Iowa State rivalry game on the 2026 schedule?
Yes. Iowa hosts Iowa State on September 12, 2026, at Kinnick Stadium as part of the Cy-Hawk Series. It is one of the most anticipated games on the entire schedule and comes early in the season, making it a tone-setter for the year.
Are game times confirmed for the 2026 Iowa football schedule?
Not yet. As of late April 2026, the official schedule page lists kickoff times as TBA for all 2026 regular-season games. Fans should keep checking the official schedule page at hawkeyesports.com for updates as the season gets closer.
What are the biggest home games for Iowa in 2026?
The most talked-about home games on the 2026 Iowa Hawkeyes football schedule are Iowa State on September 12, Ohio State on October 3, Wisconsin on October 31 (Homecoming), and Nebraska on November 27. Additional home games against Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, and Purdue also fill out a strong schedule at Kinnick Stadium.