AI is trying to take over sports journalism, so why not see its prediction for the 2026 Hawkeyes?
We're exactly one week away from a live Iowa football game taking place at Kinnick Stadium.
AC/DC's "Back in Black" will soon be played on every loudspeaker in Eastern Iowa, and Iowa City's population will increase by 70,000.
Football season is always an exciting time for fans, media, players, and coaches alike, but as technology continues to increase over the next few years, there's one nagging aspect that seems to be a thorn in our side these days - artificial intelligence.
AI probably has little effect on the sport from a fan, coach, or player's perspective, but the reason why us media folks dread AI is because it is literally trying to take our jobs. There's a lot of outlets that would rather use AI-generated game recaps instead of having an actual writer on-site covering the game.
That trend is terrifying for some of us in the industry, and it's literally why our network exists in the first place and heavily emphasizes having a community section (please join that here so you can chat with Hawkeye fans).
But here's the thing - we all know AI will never be able to replicate the power of actual written journalism. I released my official 2026 Iowa football season prediction on Friday afternoon and began to get curious while writing it.
Can AI predict the Hawkeyes' season? If so, how realistic would its predictions be?
I plugged the question into ChatGPT, and sure enough, it spit out its full game-by-game prediction for Iowa's season.
But was it an actual realistic prediction? I give my reactions to it here.
Sept. 5 vs. Northern Illinois
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa 34, Northern Illinois 10
My Prediction: Iowa 37, Northern Illinois 7
It looks like Chat and I are on the same page here. Northern Illinois is far removed from its early-2010s glory days in the MAC, and it's still weird to think the Huskies are in the Mountain West now.
Sept. 12 vs. Iowa State
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa State 24, Iowa 20
My Prediction: Iowa 27, Iowa State 10
This one would be a shock. Iowa State is a complete unknown under new head coach Jimmy Rogers and will have to navigate the tough atmosphere that is Kinnick Stadium under the lights. I do think the Cyclones keep this game close into the second half, but the Hawkeyes have too much firepower to drop this one at home.
Sept. 19 vs. Northern Iowa
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa 38, Northern Iowa 10
My Prediction: Iowa 44, Northern Iowa 6
Regardless of what happens in Week 2, I think it's safe to say that Iowa rolls all over Northern Iowa in this one. The Panthers just don't have the athletes to match up with the Hawkeyes anymore. ChatGPT agrees.
Sept. 26 at Michigan
ChatGPT Prediction: Michigan 27, Iowa 17
My Prediction: Michigan 21, Iowa 13
I'm starting to get a little worried with how close ChatGPT is to my real predictions. Either way, Chat is on the right track here. A game featuring Kirk Ferentz and Kyle Whittingham on opposing sidelines is almost certainly guaranteed to be a defensive slugfest, but Michigan will pull this one out because of the home field advantage.
Oct. 3 vs. Ohio State
ChatGPT Prediction: Ohio State 28, Iowa 16
My Prediction: Ohio State 38, Iowa 20
ChatGPT is a little more confident about Iowa's chances of keeping this game close than I am. Ohio State's roster is absolutely loaded, and though this one will be at a raucous Kinnick Stadium, a young Hawkeye team could be in for a rough afternoon.
Oct. 9 at Washington
ChatGPT Prediction: Washington 27, Iowa 23
My Prediction: Washington 30, Iowa 27
This has heartbreaking loss written all over it for Iowa. Playing in Seattle on a short week after two physical games will be a task for Ferentz's crew, and ChatGPT agrees with me that this one is probably going to be decided in the final minutes.
Oct. 24 at Minnesota
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa 23, Minnesota 20
My Prediction: Iowa 28, Minnesota 17
ChatGPT is apparently way more bullish on Minnesota than I am. The Gophers have some nice talent on both sides of the ball, but until they prove they can match the Hawkeyes' physicality up front, I don't see them competing against an Iowa team hungry for a win out of its bye week.
Oct. 31 vs. Wisconsin
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa 24, Wisconsin 17
My Prediction: Iowa 31, Wisconsin 17
Very similar predictions here. The atmosphere at Kinnick Stadium is going to be turned up a notch because of the Halloween/rivalry aspect, but both of us see Iowa getting the job done against Wisconsin yet again.
Nov. 7 at Northwestern
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa 27, Northwestern 13
My Prediction: Northwestern 31, Iowa 28
This should be an Iowa victory on paper, but as I wrote in my predictions yesterday, I'm getting strange vibes from this game, so that's why I have Northwestern pulling out a close one. ChatGPT clearly sees it the other way, though.
Nov. 14 vs. Purdue
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa 30, Purdue 17
My Prediction: Iowa 45, Purdue 14
There doesn't need to be much explaining to do here. Purdue figures to be one of the worst teams in the Big Ten yet again, and Iowa is going to be clicking on all cylinders in front of its home fans.
Nov. 21 at Illinois
ChatGPT Prediction: Illinois 24, Iowa 21
My Prediction: Iowa 25, Illinois 22
ChatGPT could very well be correct with this prediction. Illinois is no longer a Big Ten afterthought these days and should be playing in front of a capacity crowd at Gies Memorial Stadium. It's probably going to be a defensive slugfest in Champaign.
Nov. 27 vs. Nebraska
ChatGPT Prediction: Iowa 27, Nebraska 23
My Prediction: Iowa 35, Nebraska 9
This is why humans matter in journalism. If ChatGPT knew a thing about the recent history of the Iowa-Nebraska rivalry, it probably wouldn't have the Hawkeyes winning by just four. Jokes aside, anything can happen in a rivalry game, so a close outcome wouldn't be surprising.
Final ChatGPT Record Prediction: 7-5 (4-5 Big Ten)
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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]
