Iowa football: Five non-conference matchups we would like to see

By Andrew Wade | Jul 20, 2019

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 2: Running back Akrum Wadley #25 of the Iowa Hawkeyes breaks a tackle by defensive back Duke Dawson #7 of the Florida Gators during a carry in the second quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game on January 2, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 2: Running back Akrum Wadley #25 of the Iowa Hawkeyes slips a tackle by defensive back Marcell Harris #26 of the Florida Gators during a carry in the third quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game on January 2, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Florida Gators

This matchup is all about the bowl games. Three times in the Kirk Ferentz era, the Iowa football team has taken on the Florida Gators in a bowl game, all of which the Outback Bowl.

It’s time though to move this game to a September matchup.

Like Missouri, it would give the Iowa football team an opportunity to build credibility by playing an SEC school and momentum from that potential win over a strong non-conference opponent before heading into Big Ten play.

It would also be huge for tv ratings early in the season. It would be a premier matchup of two high-quality programs from two high-quality conferences, and just like LSU and Wisconsin did, it could be hosted somewhere in Texas like NRG Stadium in Houston or even at Jerry’s world in Dallas.

These teams have squared off just one time in the regular season, but I think adding a few more games to that would be more than welcomed by Iowa football fans everywhere.

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