IOWA CITY — Opening kickoff for Iowa football’s 2026 season is still more than three months away. With so many variables subject to change, trying to project the Hawkeyes’ strength of schedule this far in advance is anything but an exact science.
But as of mid-May, this looks like an easier slate than the gauntlet Iowa faced in 2025.
Last year, the Hawkeyes took on three teams that had made the College Football Playoff the previous season — Indiana, Oregon and Penn State. Plus, the Hawkeyes went on the road to Iowa State and USC.
This year, Iowa will face only one team that made the College Football Playoff last season — Ohio State.
Even with a schedule that looks less daunting than last season, there are questions about whether this Hawkeye team will be equipped to handle it.
The Hawkeyes had the steady hand of quarterback Mark Gronowski steering the ship last season. It felt like Iowa could remain competitive with just about anybody in the country when Gronowski was in the game. But quarterback play is much more of a wild card entering the 2026 season.
Let’s take a look at Iowa’s 2026 regular-season opponents organized by three tiers.
There is bad news, and there is good news.
Let’s start with the bad news.
Most challenging
And wouldn’t you know, Iowa gets these three opponents in a row to open Big Ten play.
Since Iowa plays Washington on a Friday, that means the Hawkeyes play this trio of games in a span of less than two weeks.
The Hawkeyes will be thrown into the deep end to begin the conference slate.
Thankfully, Iowa gets a bye to take a much-needed breather after the Washington game.
The Buckeyes likely will be the best team Iowa plays during the regular season. The Hawkeyes have the benefit of playing that one at Kinnick Stadium. It’s no cakewalk to beat the Hawkeyes in Iowa City, which was on display last season. Eventual national champion Indiana and Oregon barely escaped with wins in 2025.
At least entering the season, Michigan and Washington do not appear to be on Ohio State’s level, but the fact that Iowa gets both of those on the road heightens the difficulty. The Wolverines have some unknowns in their first season under head coach Kyle Whittingham, but Michigan Stadium (aka “The Big House”) is one of the more challenging environments in the Big Ten. And playing at Washington on a Friday — after having just consecutively faced Michigan and Ohio State — is a tall task.
For reference, Ohio State (first), Michigan (14th) and Washington (17th) are all ranked in the spring update of ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25. Iowa is 19th.
If Iowa can manage to win one of those three contests, it should be considered a success. Anything more than that would put the Hawkeyes on a realistic path to making the College Football Playoff. But it’s also possible that Iowa could lose all three and open Big Ten play 0-3.
Manageable
Now for the good news.
Outside of Michigan, Ohio State and Washington, the rest of Iowa’s schedule is favorable.
The Hawkeyes get a tour of the old Big Ten West, which was scrutinized for being the weaker of the conference’s former divisions. Trophy games against Iowa State, Wisconsin and Nebraska are at Kinnick Stadium this season. Iowa State is facing a massive rebuild after head coach Matt Campbell left for Penn State. It would be a major disappointment if the Hawkeyes don’t beat the Cyclones for the first time since 2023.
It’s possible that Illinois, Minnesota, or Northwestern, all of which are on the road, could be trickier than they initially appear. But barring something unexpected, none of those games appears to be overbearing.
The Hawkeyes have an opportunity to go 7-0 against this group if they take care of business. But that would mean having no letdowns, which isn’t a given, especially considering the uncertainty at quarterback. Two seasons ago, Iowa had frustrating slip-ups on the road at Michigan State and UCLA. Getting through this part of the schedule unbeaten means not allowing that to happen again.
The perceived challenging parts of Iowa’s schedule are not evenly distributed. Six of these seven games come after the Hawkeyes play Michigan, Ohio State and Washington (Iowa State is the lone exception).
So if the Hawkeyes can get through the demanding opening stretch of Big Ten play with signs of life, the rest of the schedule looks much more forgiving.
Must win
It would be a complete disaster if Iowa doesn’t beat both of these teams.
The first three games of Iowa’s 2026 season are at Kinnick Stadium: NIU, Iowa State and UNI.
That three-game stretch can serve as preparation for what Iowa will face ahead. Ideally, Iowa will open the season 3-0 while quickly becoming fit to handle the avalanche of Michigan, Ohio State and Washington.
Because, ready or not, Iowa will be tested.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa football’s 2026 opponents, from most challenging to must win
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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