The Hawkeyes survived a difficult 2025-2026 schedule, finishing with a 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten) record, and the schedulers did Iowa no favors again this season.
All four of Iowa's losses last season were against ranked teams, including No. 16 Iowa State, No. 11 Indiana (the eventual National Champion), No. 9 Oregon, and No. 17 USC.
If the Hawkeyes had won at least one of those games, there is a good chance they would've made their first College Football Playoff.
With the 2025-2026 season now behind us, the program is focused on next season, with another tough schedule on the horizon.
Iowa starts the 2025 Big Ten Conference schedule with Michigan and Ohio State
The program released its schedule for the 2026-2027 college football season, and the Hawkeyes have a tough stretch of games to start the Big Ten Conference slate.
Official times and networks to be announced at a later date ⏳ pic.twitter.com/neg0g0Kkvi
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) January 27, 2026
After two straight in-state rivalry games against Iowa State and Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes head to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to battle the Michigan Wolverines, and then return home to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Iowa did not play either squad last season, and starting the Big Ten Conference schedule with two of the three past National Champions is a tough break for the Hawkeyes.
After a challenging two-game stretch against two recent National Champions, Iowa heads on the road to battle Washington and then Minnesota in the annual battle for the Floyd of Rosedale.
Ohio State (No. 2), Michigan (No. 4), Minnesota (No. 8), and Washington (No. 9) all finished in the top ten of the Big Ten Conference standings next season, and could all potentially be ranked when Iowa plays them.
Iowa's path to its first-ever CFP is not going to be easy next season, but if it can start the conference schedule off strong, there is a good chance they make the 12-team field.