Iowa has been playing football since 1916, which is shorter than most Power 5 programs that started playing in the late 1800s. There are over 50 schools that Iowa has not yet played, but the number of schools Iowa has not beaten in program history.
The Hawkeyes have two schools that they have faced and not technically beat, but also not technically lost to. Iowa faced BYU and Air Force in 1958 and 1991 before college football did away with ties. The Hawkeyes tied with both BYU and Air Force, while they have not beaten them, they have just tied with them, which means they are not technically on this list.
So here are the teams that Iowa has not been able to beat in order chronologically based on their last matchup date.
Overall record: 0-1
First meeting: 10/10/1931
Second meeting: 10/10/1931
Last score: 29-0
Iowa and Texas A&M have a short history together with only one matchup and you have to go all the way back to the 1930s to find it. There wasn't much to the game as the Aggies won 29-0.
Iowa was still a fairly young program at the time when they met Texas A&M as they had just started playing football in 1916. They were younger compared to all the programs that started in the late 1800s.
Of course, this would be a matchup that would interesting to see again, and right now with the College Football Playoff expanding, it opens the door for a lot more matchups. The Aggies have a new coach this year and the Hawkeyes have been in the Big Ten title game, but going up against Goliath.
The Aggies vs. Hawkeyes matchup could happen with the bigger playoff and Iowa can avenge their one loss to Texas A&M.
Overall record: 0-1
First meeting: 10/7/1978
Second meeting: 10/7/1978
Last score: 13-9
It is not a big surprise that Iowa and Utah have only met once in program history. Iowa and Utah are not close whatsoever so it is no surprise that these teams have only met one once, but it is slightly surprising it was only once in the regular season.
The matchup was back in the late '70s and it was a close one as Utah won it 13-9. The Hawkeyes struggled this season going just 2-9 which included an eight-game losing streak.
Utah will be joining the Big 12 in the summer of 2024, so more matchups could be a possibility with the Big 12 and Big Ten, so this matchup could happen again soon.
Overall record: 0-3
First meeting: 11/20/1965
Second meeting: 8/29/1992
Last score: 24-14
NC State and Iowa have met three times and it seems like the Wolfpack has the Hawkeyes number. Iowa is 0-3 against NC State, but they haven't met for almost 30 years. With the proximity of these schools, you would think there would be more meetings, but they have only met twice in the regular season and once in a bowl game.
The first matchup came in 1965 when NC State and Iowa met in the final game of the season, and the Wolfpack helped the Hawkeyes by bringing an end to their season. The Hawkeyes finished that season 1-9 and on an eight-game losing streak.
The second matchup was in a bowl game, the Peach Bowl to be specific. Iowa ended the season 6-4-3 after the loss to NC State, they lost the bowl game 28-23 in what was a close matchup.
The final matchup came in 1992 when instead of NC State and Iowa ending the season, they started each other's seasons. NC State handed Iowa a loss to open their season and the Hawkeyes finished the season 5-7.
Overall record: 0-4
First meeting: 11/24/1950
Second meeting: 9/5/1992
Last score: 24-7
Just like how NC State seemed to have Iowa's number, Miami seems to also be an Achilles heel for Iowa. The Hawkeyes are 0-4 against the Hurricanes with every meeting taking place in the regular season.
The first matchup dates back to 1950 when the Hawkeyes lost 14-6 in a low-scoring affair. It was 16 years before these teams met again in the regular season where again Miami took home the win, but this time in beat down fashion winning 44-0.
The third matchup seemed to be the best for Iowa as they were able to put 21 points on Miami, but the Hurricanes still won 48-21. The final matchup came just under 30 years ago when these teams met early in the 1992 season. The game was closer than others, but Miami still took home the 24-7 win.
It doesn't seem like Iowa will get the chance to get one on Miami anytime soon, but with how these programs are going, it could be an interesting one.
Overall record: 0-2
First meeting: 9/17/1988
Second meeting: 9/26/1992
Last score: 28-12
Colorado has made a couple of moves from conference to conference but was never in the Big Ten. With the Buffaloes making the move back to the Big 12 in the summer of 2024, a matchup could be in the horizon in the regular season, but postseason games are more likely.
Iowa and Colorado played just two games four years apart, but Iowa struggled in both those seasons that they played the Buffaloes. However, Iowa put up a good fight in both matchups losing by three points in the first game, but by 16 in the second game.
With Deion Sanders at the helm at Colorado, it seems like Colorado is the team everyone wants to beat, so maybe administrators will want to get a high-powered coach on their stomping grounds for a chance to beat them.
Overall record: 0-2
First meeting: 9/15/1979
Second meeting: 12/30/2011
Last score: 31-14
It is surprising that Iowa and Oklahoma have only played twice in program history with how close these schools are to each other. Oklahoma is getting ready to move to the SEC, the Sooners would be a great high-powered opponent Iowa could get to boost their resume.
The first time these programs met was back in 1979 when they met in the regular season and Iowa lost 21-6 to Oklahoma. The second meeting was during the postseason in the Insight Bowl back in 2011. Oklahoma took home to a convincing 31-14 win in a season where Iowa barely made it to a bowl game with a 7-6 record.
Overall record: 0-1
First meeting: 1/1/2016
Second meeting: 1/1/2016
Last score: 45-16
It took 100 years for Iowa and Stanford to meet since the Hawkeyes began playing football in 1916. These teams met just eight years ago in 2016 in the Rose Bowl. Stanford didn't have to travel too far to play in this game while the Hawkeyes made the almost cross-country trip.
The Hawkeyes went undefeated in the regular season, a perfect 12-0 with seven straight wins over ranked opponents. They had five wins over opponents ranked in the top 10. Everything was rolling for the Hawkeyes and they looked like they had a real shot at the College Football Playoff. However, they met Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship and lost 16-13 and lost their playoff hopes.
So the Hawkeyes had to settle for a date with Stanford in the Rose Bowl. It was a rough game for Iowa as they lost 45-16 and was a rough way for the Hawkeyes to end what seemed like a very successful season.
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