The 2025-2026 Iowa Football schedule is shaping up during the offseason. Multiple game times have been announced over the past few weeks.
Some notable times include the home opener against UAlbany on August 30 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time, the first Big Ten conference matchup against Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey, on September 19 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and the Cy-Hawk Rivalry game against Iowa State.
The 2025 football version of the Cy-Hawk rivalry is notable because it will be the feature matchup for Fox Sports on September 6.
Starting the year off STRONG 💪📈🔥
— Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) May 29, 2025
Week 1️⃣: @OhioStateFB 🌰
Week 2️⃣: @CycloneFB 🌪️
Week 3️⃣: @NUFBFamily 🐾
Which campus do you want to see us at next?! 👀 pic.twitter.com/WzP4oCLsqs
The "Big Noon Kickoff" crew will travel to Ames, Iowa, on September 6 to feature the Iowa versus Iowa State rivalry. The game will kick off at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.
Iowa has dominated the football Cy-Hawk rivalry over the past decade. Iowa has won seven of ten matchups, including six straight from 2015 to 2021. It has evened out over the past three matchups, with Iowa State winning two of three.
That includes the 2024 matchup in Iowa City, where the Cyclones won on a last-second, 54-yard field goal by kicker Kyle Konrady.
The Iowa offense will look drastically different this season with superstar running back Kaleb Johnson in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and new quarterback Mark Gronowski under center.
Gronowski will look to lead a dismal Hawkeyes offense in his first year under center. While at South Dakota State, Gronowski accumulated 10,330 passing yards and 93 touchdowns, with 1,767 rushing yards and touchdowns.
Gronowski was also named the FCS Heisman winner in 2023.
The Hawkeyes aim to improve on the offensive side of the football in year two under Offensive Coordinator Tim Lester and will face their first real test in Ames on September 6.