The time for talk is over! The start of the 2026 regular season is officially upon us.
Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes welcome interim head coach Rob Harley and the Northern Illinois Huskies to Kinnick Stadium for the first matchup of the 2026 season. Ferentz is attempting to earn win No. 210, while Harley is looking for his first win as a head coach with any program. The September 5 game will be a "Gold Out" in the stadium, with fans encouraged to wear gold in the stands for game one. The Hawkeyes have eight total returning starters and 31 returning letterwinners, and are ranked No. 22 overall in both the coaches and the AP Top 25 poll.
How to watch Iowa vs. Northern Illinois
Date: September 5
Time: 3:15 p.m. Central Time
Venue: Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, IA)
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: Fubo
Iowa record: 0-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
NIU record: 0-0 (0-0 MAC)
Announcers for Iowa vs. Northern Illinois
Play-by-play: Mark Followill
Analyst: Rhett Lewis
Sideline reporter: Caroline Hendershot
Spread, moneyline and total
Odds are provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
- Iowa: -31.5 (-110)
- Northern Illinois: +31.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Iowa: N/A
- Northern Illinois: +5,000
Total
- Over: 44.5 (-115)
- Under: 44.5 (-105)
Iowa Injuries
- Lance Beeghley (undisclosed): Out
- Lance Ingold (undisclosed): Out
- Kyler Gerardy (undisclosed): Out
- Trent Wilson (undisclosed): Out
- Tyler Brown (soft tissue): Out
Northern Illinois Injuries
- None
Weather (Iowa City, IA)
Forecast provided by AccuWeather
It will be sunny, hot, and humid for the 3:15 p.m. kickoff, with an extreme heat warning in effect for most of the day. The temperature will hover around 92 degrees, but the 64 percent humidity bumps that up to a real feel of 106 degrees, prompting the extreme heat warning. There will be very little cloud cover and a 25 percent chance of precipitation, so it will be a hot one for Iowa's opener against Northern Illinois.
Series history
Iowa holds a 9-1 record in the series, with the only loss on August 31, 2013, at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa also won the previous meeting in the series, winning 33-7 at home on September 1, 2018.
Prediction
Even with a projected two-quarterback system to start the season, the Hawkeyes shouldn't face much adversity against NIU. Iowa's offensive line has elite potential again this season, and with the ability to go at least four deep at running back, the Hawkeyes are well-positioned to have a massive game on the ground. Kamari Moulton should have a field day against an inexperienced NIU defensive front, and he could easily rack up a few rushing touchdowns before it's all said and done.
Moulton rushes for 110 yards and two touchdowns as the Hawkeyes easily handle NIU to start the season 1-0.
Score prediction: Iowa 35, NIU 3
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