As the Iowa basketball schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season slowly begins to assemble, the Hawkeyes made a major announcement on June 18 that it will play a neutral-site game against Alabama on Dec. 21 at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
“These neutral site games create a unique opportunity to play marquee opponents while bringing Hawkeye basketball directly to our fans across Iowa,” said head coach Ben McCollum. “We’re thrilled to have multiple opportunities to play in-state during the 2026-27 season, starting with our return to the Casey’s Center. Combined with our plan for an 18-game home schedule that includes 10 conference contests and Iowa State, it’s an exciting year for our program and our fans.”
It will be the first of a two-game series against the Crimson Tide, with the second game scheduled for an undetermined date during the 2027-28 season in Mobile, Alabama.
The Dec. 21 meeting will be the third all-time between Iowa and Alabama and the first since 2010. The two teams have split their previous two meetings, both played in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
The Hawkeyes went 2-0 against Southeastern Conference opponents during head coach Ben McCollum’s first season in Iowa City, with the program downing Ole Miss in the Acrisure Classic in San Diego before topping top-seeded Florida in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Sweet 16.
This season’s matchup against the Crimson Tide will also be Iowa’s second game from Casey’s Center in the 2026-27 season, beginning with a matchup from the state’s capital against Creighton on Nov. 15.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball announces neutral-site series vs. premier SEC foe
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
