Hawkeyes News Round-Up: Many 2024 schedule kickoff times announced, Sandfort returns

The Iowa Hawkeyes know when half of their regular season games will kickoff.

On Thursday, the Big Ten announced the kickoff times and network channels for dozens of conference and non-conference games. For the most part, this locked in the first three weeks for the conference.

Iowa's known kickoff times for the 2024 season are:

• Week 1 vs. Illinois State at 11 AM on the Big Ten Network
• Week 2 vs. Iowa State at 2:30 PM on CBS
• Week 3 vs. Troy at 3 PM on Fox Sports One
• Week 8 vs. Northwestern at 2:30 PM
• Week 10 at UCLA at 8 PM on Fox (Friday game)
• Week 12 vs. Nebraska at 6:30 PM on NBC (Friday game)

Nearly all of Iowa's road games (Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan State, Maryland) still have unanounced kickoff times. The only home game without a kickoff time is Week 9 against Wisconsin, which has already been designated as Iowa's Black Out Game.

Payton Sandfort Announces Return to Iowa

Payton Sandfort announced Wednesday night he has withdrawn his name from the 2024 NBA Draft to play for the Hawkeyes for one more season.

“This process has been an unbelievable experience and thanks to everyone for all the help along the way,” Sandfort said on social media. “But my heart is still in Iowa City, unfinished business. Trust in God’s plan always.”

Sandfort returns to a Hawkeye team that looks a bit different. Head coach Fran McCaffery added Manhattan F Seydou Traore and Morehead State PG Drew Thelwell via the Transfer Portal, and both should join Sandfort in the starting lineup.

In 2023, Sandfort averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 44.6% from the floor, 37.9% from three and 91.1% from the free throw line. He also recorded the program's first triple-double against Penn State as Iowa made a late-season push to the NCAA Tournament that ultimately fell short.

Sandfort drew NBA attention during that stretch, but as a fringe second-round pick, his decision to return to Iowa City is a welcome one. Hopefully, his presence on the roster, along with the new additions around him, is enough to get the Hawkeyes back into the NCAA Tournament.