IOWA CITY — Iowa football’s first three conference games in 2026 have gotten a lot of attention.
The Hawkeyes will embark on a brutal stretch in which they play Michigan (away), Ohio State (home) and Washington (away) to open Big Ten play. To make things even more difficult, the Washington game is on a Friday, which means that after playing powerhouse Ohio State, the Hawkeyes go to the Pacific Northwest on short rest.
That those three teams are all ranked in the preseason coaches poll — Ohio State (1), Michigan (16) and Washington (19) — further underscores how challenging that stretch is expected to be, especially with two of them on the road.
Understandably, those three games have been a major talking point ahead of the 2026 season.
But what are some other intriguing matchups?
Here are some opponents that don’t have the flash of Michigan, Ohio State, or Washington, but could be more quietly dangerous for the Hawkeyes.
Minnesota
Mercifully, Iowa gets a bye week after that three-game gauntlet against Michigan, Ohio State and Washington.
But what comes after that?
A trip to Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Iowa plays its first three games of the 2026 season at Kinnick Stadium, all against non-conference opponents. But then it goes on the road for three of its next four — with Ohio State being the only home game.
If Iowa can’t salvage at least one win against Michigan, Ohio State and Washington, the Hawkeyes would arrive in Minneapolis carrying the weight of a 0-3 Big Ten record and in dire need of righting the ship. If Iowa were to lose its first four conference games of 2026, the season outlook would look rather grim.
That’s why the matchup with Minnesota has the potential to be pivotal.
Iowa has dominated this series lately, including a 41-3 throttling at Kinnick Stadium last season. But the Golden Gophers have been consistent under head coach P.J. Fleck, winning at least eight games in four of the last five seasons.
Minnesota brings back quarterback Drake Lindsey. Iowa teed off on Lindsey last season, forcing him into three interceptions, including a pick-six by Zach Lutmer. But that was one of Lindsey’s worst games of the year. He threw for nearly 2,400 yards with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 18-to-6 in 2025.
In theory, this is a game that Iowa should win. But it’s also one that could be tricky if Iowa isn’t careful.
Northwestern
The Wildcats feature a fascinating offensive coordinator-quarterback tandem, both of whom were brought in this offseason.
Northwestern hired Chip Kelly, the former NFL and college head coach. Kelly was also the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ohio State when the Buckeyes won the national championship two seasons ago.
Shortly after hiring Kelly, Northwestern landed a commitment from transfer Aidan Chiles. There isn’t much question about the former Michigan State quarterback’s talent, but he ultimately did not pan out in East Lansing.
There is history between Chiles and Iowa. Two seasons ago, Chiles got the best of Phil Parker’s defense when he threw for 256 yards and ran for 51 yards as the Spartans took down the Hawkeyes in a perplexing loss.
Assuming Chiles is Northwestern’s starting quarterback by the time Iowa meets the Wildcats on Nov. 7, this could be a compelling rematch. Chiles has already solved the riddle of the Hawkeye defense before, which is not an easy thing to do.
Northwestern has won at least seven games in two of the first three seasons under head coach David Braun, who took over under difficult circumstances following the departure of Pat Fitzgerald.
Also, this meeting between Iowa and Northwestern will be played at the new Ryan Field, a state-of-the-art project costing more than $800 million.
Illinois
Under head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini have won at least nine games each of the last two seasons, including 10 in 2024. Those 19 wins are more than Iowa’s 17 during that span, a notable feat considering the Hawkeyes’ reputation.
But now, Illinois will have to deal with life after quarterback Luke Altmyer, who has been crucial in the program’s recent success.
A lot can change between now and this game on Nov. 21, but at least entering the season, the two teams are projected to be on a similar tier in the league. Iowa (8th) was picked one spot ahead of Illinois (9th) in the USA TODAY Big Ten preseason poll. Minnesota is right behind Illinois in 10th.
Illinois is Iowa’s final road game of the regular season. This is, of course, the week before Iowa hosts Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium. Depending on how good Illinois actually is, this feels like a potential trap game. The Hawkeyes can’t let the Nebraska rivalry cause them to look past a potentially solid opponent on the road.
The good news, as Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz outlined in May, is that “our teams tend to be a little bit better at the end of the year, historically.”
Therefore, Iowa will, in theory, be ready for whatever Illinois throws its way in November.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Top 3 under-the-radar games on Iowa football schedule in 2026
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Hawk Central
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By Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
