How many primetime games could the Hawkeyes get? How many times will they be on national TV? I'm predicting it all here.
It's mid-May, which means it's time for one of my favorite offseason exercises of the year.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a media rights nerd, and that is on full display here.
Every media outlet in Iowa City (including HawkeyeRoundtable) will release game-by-game predictions for the 2026 Iowa football season, but you're not going to find this article in many other places.
The article you're about to read is of course my 2026 Iowa football game time/TV predictions. We'll break down every game on the Hawkeyes' schedule and asses what games could be in primetime and what contests you may need to purchase a streaming service to watch.
What is the Big Ten's TV deal?
Before we proceed, let's remind you of the Big Ten's current media contract. Signed in August 2022, the $7 billion contract with NBC, FOX, and CBS runs through the 2029-30 athletic year.
Games on FOX are typically shared with the Big 12 in the "Big Noon Saturday" package in the 11 a.m. window, CBS kicks off in the 2:30 slot, and NBC has the primetime window called "Big Ten Saturday Night."
FOX pays the most money in this deal, which means its gets the first selections in the annual draft the networks hold each summer.
The Prediction
Sept. 5 vs. Northern Illinois
I still can't believe the Hawkeyes opened up the 2025 season against Albany in primetime, but that's not going to happen this year. There's always a chance because of the weak slate and the fact that Iowa attracts a large viewing audience, but the networks will likely want to save the Hawkeyes' home rivalry games for potential primetime spots.
Prediction: 2:30 p.m. on FS1
Sept. 12 vs. Iowa State
It's been 10 years since the Cy-Hawk game has been played under the lights, and it will have to wait at least another season for that to happen. The Big Ten has a loaded slate featuring the likes of Michigan-Oklahoma, Minnesota-Mississippi State, and Oregon-Oklahoma State.
It all depends on which networks have the first pick here, but if it's CBS, I think the Eye Network snatches this rivalry game for second time in three years.
Prediction: 2:30 p.m. on CBS
Sept. 19 vs. Northern Iowa
Notre Dame will take over the primetime NBC slot in Week 3, but it's hard to see this one be played under the lights. The Panthers and Hawkeyes did play a night game in their last meeting (2018) but Iowa is required to have at least two games (one conference game) on Big Ten Network each year.
With Purdue-UCLA destined for a late kick, Iowa-UNI feels destined to air on Big Ten Network.
Prediction: 11:00 a.m. on BTN
Sept. 26 @ Michigan
Michigan is a frequent Big Noon Saturday participant, and it's hard to not see FOX wanting to televise this one. Not only will this be the Big Ten opener for both teams, it's also the Big Ten debut for new Wolverines coach Kyle Whittingham.
Notre Dame-Purdue and Wisconsin-Penn State (Big Ten debut for PSU coach Matt Campbell) are also intriguing matchups that could fall into FOX's lap, but they'll opt to send their Big Noon Kickoff crew to Ann Arbor in Week 4.
Prediction: 11:00 a.m. on FOX
Oct. 3 vs. Ohio State
I put out a Twitter poll on Friday evening asking you all to pick which Big Ten home game you would prefer to have under the lights. Not surprisingly, 50% of you guys chose Ohio State.
Will the networks listen to your pleas? Possibly, but I don't think this game gets played under the lights. FOX loves to throw every Ohio State game on its network that it possibly can, and NBC could opt for the rivalry clash between Michigan and Minnesota in Minneapolis.
This came could fall into any window, but I think CBS picks this one up.
Prediction: 2:30 p.m. on CBS
Oct. 9 @ Washington (Friday)
The kickoff time for this game (8 p.m. CT) was announced last week. Click here for my reaction.
Oct. 24 @ Minnesota
There's three really interesting matchups on the Big Ten schedule in Week 8 - Iowa-Minnesota, Oregon-Illinois, and Indiana-Michigan. Again, it always depends on how the network draft unfolds, but you can make a case for either of those matchups to end up on the league's top TV slots in this week.
This also feels like a week where the Big 12 gets FOX's early slot, so I'm going to play it safe and give the battle for Floyd of Rosedale an afternoon window.
Prediction: 2:30 p.m. on FS1
Oct. 31 vs. Wisconsin
If these predictions are 100% accurate (they obviously won't be), this will be Iowa's first home night game of the season. Two longtime rivals playing under the Kinnick Stadium lights on Halloween just feels right.
Prediction: 6:30 p.m. on NBC
Nov. 7 @ Northwestern
This will be Iowa's first visit to the new Ryan Field. The Hawkeyes will still need one more Big Ten Network conference game to fulfill the contractual agreement, and nothing screams more BTN than Iowa-Northwestern.
Prediction: 2:30 p.m. on BTN
Nov. 14 vs. Purdue
Iowa always seems to have a game or two land on Peacock (NBC's streaming service), and this just feels like the game that will end up on there.
Prediction: 2:30 p.m. on Peacock
Nov. 21 @ Illinois
Oregon-Michigan State, Indiana-Washington, and Ohio State-Nebraska are all matchups the networks may prefer over Iowa-Illinois. NBC will televise Notre Dame-SMU in primetime, so that takes away any realistic shot of the Hawkeyes and Fighting Illini being on NBC. There's a chance it could still be in primetime on FS1 or BTN, but afternoon games in November just feel right.
Prediction: 2:30 p.m. on FS1
Nov. 27 vs. Nebraska (Friday)
Black Friday is always an interesting day for college football television because they're aren't as many games going on. Any game that will attract a large viewing audience will likely be destined for a major primetime slot.
Apologies to those of you having flashbacks from the frigid 2024 Heroes Game, but I think NBC will have no problem televising this rivalry clash under the lights to compete with Texas-Texas A&M, which will almost certainly be in primetime on ABC.
Prediction: 6:30 p.m. on NBC
First Summer Giveaway is OPEN!
Looking for some cool Hawkeye swag to wear during the summer months? Look no further! HawkeyeRoundtable.com will be giving away prizes to lucky members throughout the summer and all you have to enter is follow these very easy and quick (under a minute) instructions to join.
Click here to join the contest!
HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io