McCollum continues to schedule big non-conference games, something the Hawkeyes have long needed to increase their national reputation.
Ben McCollum continues to change Iowa men's basketball each day.
That's not a surprising statement to read if you listened to McCollum's optimistic introductory press conference in March 2025, but promising a massive overhaul is one thing - following through with it is another.
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While winning on the court obviously was the most important thing for McCollum, engaging a disgruntled fanbase was right up near the top of the list. Iowa didn't have record-shattering attendance in 2025-2026, but the energy and enthusiasm in the building was far different than the record-low figures we saw in 2024-2025.
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Another goal for McCollum was to schedule big non-conference games. He was very vocal about this when I sat down with him last summer for a story I was working on for The Daily Iowan. It took a year for McCollum to make good on that promise, but he's delivered the Hawkeyes a loaded non-conference slate in 2026-27.
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The hefty out-of-conference schedule in question? Matchups against Creighton and Alabama at the Casey's Center in Des Moines. I've already talked about the Creighton game (Nov. 15) in a previous article, so we're going to focus in on this highly-anticipated showdown against Alabama on Dec. 21.
Look, Creighton is a fantastic program, but scheduling the Bluejays is something that isn't out of the ordinary for Iowa. The two teams previously met in Des Moines back in 2011, and playing there is such a natural move for both programs anyway since they are both located just 90 minutes from Des Moines.
Convincing Alabama is a completely different ballgame, however. The Crimson Tide have been one of college basketball's elite teams under head coach Nate Oats, consistently earning top-10 rankings and earning a Final Four berth in 2024.
The Final Four appearance is obviously the highlight of the Oats era, but Alabama has participated in the second weekend in five out of Oats' seven years in charge.
Earning the right to play a program of this caliber is something most coaches strive for, but few actually achieve. McCollum is one of those lucky ones, and this December matchup is going to serve as a great measuring stick for his rising Hawkeye program.
Beating a likely top-15 Alabama squad isn't going to be easy for Iowa, but win or lose, the benefits of playing such a game are enormous. A win would give the Hawkeyes a major NET ranking boost, and a loss, while stinging for a moment, solidifies Iowa's overall strength of schedule.
Both of these factors are crucial when it comes to earning a high seed in the NCAA tournament, and the national respect is always much higher when you're willing to play the big dogs, too.
Hawkeye fans would've loved to see this game be played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but considering students are away on winter break by this point, it's a win-win to bring a prestigious matchup to the largest metro area in the state.
Oh, and before this article was scheduled to be released, McCollum continued the scheduling push with another neutral site game in Iowa, this time against Virginia Tech in Sioux City.
Combine these matchups with the already-confirmed road game at Xavier and home clash with Iowa State, and you've got one of the top schedules in the land.
Two years ago, Fran McCaffery was scheduling Alabama A&M and going nowhere with it. Iowa's national reputation was in the toilet, and McCaffery's tenure was slowly sinking.
But all it took to push the needle upward was change, and the Hawkeyes continue to bask in McCollum's brilliant moves.
Iowa men's basketball continues to increase its national presitige.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
