Hawkeyes complete 2020 schedule by adding UNI

[Blair Sanderson]

IOWA COMPLETES 2020 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

IOWA CITY, Iowa - - The University of Iowa has added a home date with Northern Iowa to complete its 2020 football schedule. The Hawkeyes and Panthers will open the season Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Kinnick Stadium.

With the addition of Northern Iowa (UNI), Iowa has also announced the movement of the 2020 nonconference game against Northern Illinois (NIU) from Sept. 5 to Sept. 26, also at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes also host Iowa State on Sept. 12, as part of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Iowa opens Big Ten play at Minnesota on Sept. 19, 2020.

Both Northern Illinois (Sept. 1) and Northern Iowa (Sept. 15) are also on Iowa’s 2018 nonconference schedule. Iowa holds a 16-1 series advantage over Northern Iowa, including a 31-23 decision in 2014 in the most recent meeting. The Hawkeyes lead the series with Northern Illinois 8-1, with NIU winning 30-27 in 2013 when the teams last met.

Iowa’s football schedules through 2020 are now complete. The Hawkeyes will host four Big Ten Conference games in both 2018 and 2020, along with the three nonconference dates. Iowa’s Big Ten Conference schedule, through 2021, was announced in September.

2018

Sept. 1 Northern Illinois
Sept. 8 Iowa State
Sept. 15 Northern Iowa
Sept. 22 Wisconsin
Sept. 29 Open
Oct. 6 at Minnesota
Oct. 13 at Indiana
Oct. 20 Maryland (HC)
Oct. 27 at Penn State
Nov. 3 at Purdue
Nov. 10 Northwestern (FW)
Nov. 17 at Illinois
Nov. 23 Nebraska

2019

Aug. 31 Miami, Ohio
Sept. 7 Rutgers
Sept. 14 at Iowa State
Sept. 21 Open
Sept. 28 Middle Tennessee State
Oct. 5 at Michigan
Oct. 12 Penn State
Oct. 19 Purdue (HC)
Oct. 26 at Northwestern
Nov. 2 Open
Nov. 9 at Wisconsin
Nov. 16 Minnesota (FW)
Nov. 23 Illinois
Nov. 29 at Nebraska

2020

Sept. 5 Northern Iowa
Sept. 12 Iowa State
Sept. 19 at Minnesota
Sept. 26 Northern Illinois
Oct. 3 Michigan State
Oct. 10 at Ohio State
Oct. 17 at Penn State
Oct. 24 Northwestern
Nov. 7 at Illinois
Nov. 14 Nebraska
Nov. 21 at Purdue
Nov. 28 Wisconsin

 

[unoHawkeye]

Why

 

[HawkHeel3]

How could they schedule UNI? I thought they couldn't schedule FCS opponents after 2018?

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

How could they schedule UNI? I thought they couldn't schedule FCS opponents after 2018?

This exactly. Hopefully Barta steps away for good and we get a competent AD that knows how to schedule and he does a home and home with someone or a neutral site game... even with someone like Missouri or Virginia where they are really bad but still a Power 5 Conference team...something other than UNI. Nothing against them but they are FCS for Cripes sake

 

[volknut]

Why not have a home and home with Utah or San Diego State or Virginia or someone that is D1?!

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Two byes in 2019. None in 2020. Tough going in 2020.

Adding UNI is asinine, IMHO. The scheduling thing has been debated here for years, and nothing changes. Northern Illinois, UNI, Miami of Ohio...the same scintillating stuff year after year. Until a new regime takes over...new AD, new non-Ferentz HC...nothing will change.

 

[Roy-munson]

How could they schedule UNI? I thought they couldn't schedule FCS opponents after 2018?

Depends how many conference home games you have.. if you have more away game then you can add a fcs team

 

[SWIowahawks]

Yawn!

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

Depends how many conference home games you have.. if you have more away game then you can add a fcs team

So in other words we will be playing UNI every other year for the rest of time starting in 2019?

 

[Roy-munson]

So in other words we will be playing UNI every other year for the rest of time starting in 2019?

Pretty much. Big ten wants every team to have 7-8 home games

 

[cb_Iowa]

MSU, PSU, and OSU three weeks in a row. Fun...

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

Pretty much. Big ten wants every team to have 7-8 home games

That's so dumb. Like I said, I'd rather do home and home or neutral site game with a horrible Power 5 team as opposed to UNI. At least people would acknowledge that they are Power 5, no matter how horrible they might be. If Iowa ever gets into contention for the playoff again, and ISU doesn't really improve that much, we will never make it with one loss because of our non-conference. Just like in 15 when we were only #4 because we were undefeated. I can almost guarantee you if we had lost somewhere in the middle of the season, even to like Wisconsin, we probably would have been like #10-15

 

[rchawk]

This exactly. Hopefully Barta steps away for good and we get a competent AD that knows how to schedule and he does a home and home with someone or a neutral site game... something other than UNI. They are FCS for Cripes sake

I suppose it had to be an opponent to fill the needed seventh home game. I anticipate a debate coming that has been posted here about a thousand times.

 

[wneff]

Two byes in 2019. None in 2020. Tough going in 2020.

Adding UNI is asinine, IMHO. The scheduling thing has been debated here for years, and nothing changes. Northern Illinois, UNI, Miami of Ohio...the same scintillating stuff year after year. Until a new regime takes over...new AD, new non-Ferentz HC...nothing will change.

Bye on Halloween in 2020. Just not listed as such.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Yawnx2

 

[large78]

So stupid, but the game will more than likely be competitive cause Iowa seems to play to the level of their competition every game. I would like to see a B1G vs ACC challenge in football.

 

[DodgerHawki]

That's so dumb. Like I said, I'd rather do home and home or neutral site game with a horrible Power 5 team as opposed to UNI. At least people would acknowledge that they are Power 5, no matter how horrible they might be. If Iowa ever gets into contention for the playoff again, and ISU doesn't really improve that much, we will never make it with one loss because of our non-conference. Just like in 15 when we were only #4 because we were undefeated. I can almost guarantee you if we had lost somewhere in the middle of the season, even to like Wisconsin, we probably would have been like #10-15

Hate to break it to you, but even if Iowa replaced UNI with another P5 team (say Oregon State) in 2020, if Iowa loses once it's not making the playoffs. There are certain teams in each league that can make the playoff with 1 loss and others who need to run the table to get in. Iowa is one of the teams that has to run the table to get in.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Why

How could they schedule UNI? I thought they couldn't schedule FCS opponents after 2018?

This exactly. Hopefully Barta steps away for good and we get a competent AD that knows how to schedule and he does a home and home with someone or a neutral site game... even with someone like Missouri or Virginia where they are really bad but still a Power 5 Conference team...something other than UNI. Nothing against them but they are FCS for Cripes sake

Why not have a home and home with Utah or San Diego State or Virginia or someone that is D1?!

This is why

MSU, PSU, and OSU three weeks in a row. Fun...

 

[soybean]

I'd rather do a home & away with Iowa State in every season instead of playing UNI. Playing the Cyclones twice in the same year makes more sense than playing the Panthers once.

Heck, why not play UNI at the UNIDome instead of inflicting Hawkeye fans with such a sorry Kinnick opponent. We could take the gate and UNI could have the concessions.

 

[WhoaNellieCy]

Wow, must be nice to only play michigan, ohio state, penn state 50% of the time.

Looking at 2010-2019 schedules;
- Played Ohio State (3), Michigan (6), Penn State (6) times.
- Played all 3 in same year once in 2010.
- Didn't play any 2014-2015.

All time
- Ohio State leads 46-14; OSU won last 4 back to 2005
- Michigan leads 41-15-4; Iowa won last 2 back to 2013
- Penn State leads 15-12; PSU won last 4 back to 2010

 

[ichawk24]

B1G dropped the FCS ban.

We've scheduled UNI because it is a financial win.

Hilarious that someone is bitching that we were "only" ranked #4 in 2015.

 

[unipanther1999]

Iowa has four home B1G games in 2020, that means all three non-conference games need to be at home to get to seven home games. So neutral site isn't an option that year. Adding a second home and home with another P5 conference school (along with Iowa State) isn't possible. Sure you could play them at home in 2020, but when do you go to their place? At Iowa State in odd years, so that would again mean having 6 home games in a season, which just isn't going to happen.

If you accept that Iowa needs to have 7 home games every year (and the math on that is pretty compelling), then you need a home P5 (which is Iowa State for the foreseeable future) plus two buy games each year Iowa has 4 home B1G games. Northern Illinois certainly makes sense, and instead paying twice as much for a school like Arkansas St. or Akron, why not play UNI? Less money out of Iowa's pocket (and it stays in-state), more local interest, and better attendance. And can you honestly say the average college football viewer knows Arkansas St. is FBS and UNI is FCS? They don't care.

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

B1G dropped the FCS ban.

We've scheduled UNI because it is a financial win.

Hilarious that someone is bitching that we were "only" ranked #4 in 2015.

Not bitching just want to see some better teams in the non conference whether it is at Kinnick, away or neutral

 

[Slappy Pappy]

Would have preferred getting some home and homes going with Hawaii.

 

[soybean]

Iowa has four home B1G games in 2020, that means all three non-conference games need to be at home to get to seven home games. So neutral site isn't an option that year. Adding a second home and home with another P5 conference school (along with Iowa State) isn't possible. Sure you could play them at home in 2020, but when do you go to their place? At Iowa State in odd years, so that would again mean having 6 home games in a season, which just isn't going to happen.

If you accept that Iowa needs to have 7 home games every year (and the math on that is pretty compelling), then you need a home P5 (which is Iowa State for the foreseeable future) plus two buy games each year Iowa has 4 home B1G games. Northern Illinois certainly makes sense, and instead paying twice as much for a school like Arkansas St. or Akron, why not play UNI? Less money out of Iowa's pocket (and it stays in-state), more local interest, and better attendance. And can you honestly say the average college football viewer knows Arkansas St. is FBS and UNI is FCS? They don't care.

We know.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Saw the title and the first thing in my head: "Trot out the dead horse, there's gonna be people lining up to take a whack at it".

Came into this thread to laugh at the meltdown.

 

[unipanther1999]

We know.

I know many of you do, but some seem to always think UNI is taking of place of Alabama or Clemson, rather than another random MAC/SunBelt team. If you want to play different P5 schools, you have to adjust the Iowa State contract. That's the only way.

 

[IAHWKGUY]

MSU, PSU, and OSU three weeks in a row. Fun...

And on top of that, PSU and OSU are back to back road games.

 

[QChawks]

 

[ichawk24]

Not bitching just want to see some better teams in the non conference whether it is at Kinnick, away or neutral

Yes, you're bitching. Iowa plays 10 P5 teams every year. This year, there are only four teams in the country playing 11 P5 teams.

Are you suggesting that we play 11 P5 teams? It is not a reasonable expectation to have Iowa play 11 P5 teams.

 

[WhoaNellieCy]

I know many of you do, but some seem to always think UNI is taking of place of Alabama or Clemson, rather than another random MAC/SunBelt team. If you want to play different P5 schools, you have to adjust the Iowa State contract. That's the only way.

Ya, has to make sense from a revenue, scheduling (i.e. when playing 0 or 1 of PSU, OSU and Michigan), and recruiting benefit standpoint.

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

 

[anon_2zMXH429BhxV1Npk]

Thank god, I was worried that spot would be filled with someone different for a change.

 

[Urohawk]

I say play all B10 schools and drop this non-conference crap. Every year the B10 would make the playoffs even with 2 losses. The strength of schedule couldn't be argued against. Or just allow one non-conference game so we could play Iowa State, Illinois play Mizzou, Meatchicken play ND, PSU play Penn if they grow a pair, etc.

Games would be better attended and increase revenue at weaker schools like when Iowa travels to NW as opposed to NW playing Nevada. No conference championship. B10 team gets to rest and recuperate for the play offs. Anyone who survives that crucible would be a force to be reckoned with.

 

[HawkNole09]

I say play all B10 schools and drop this non-conference crap. Every year the B10 would make the playoffs even with 2 losses. The strength of schedule couldn't be argued against. Or just allow one non-conference game so we could play Iowa State, Illinois play Mizzou, Meatchicken play ND, PSU play Penn if they grow a pair, etc.

Games would be better attended and increase revenue at weaker schools like when Iowa travels to NW as opposed to NW playing Nevada. No conference championship. B10 team gets to rest and recuperate for the play offs. Anyone who survives that crucible would be a force to be reckoned with.

Ooh. I like this idea. Problem is getting in enough home games. But in theory I like it.

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

Yes, you're bitching. Iowa plays 10 P5 teams every year. This year, there are only four teams in the country playing 11 P5 teams.

Are you suggesting that we play 11 P5 teams? It is not a reasonable expectation to have Iowa play 11 P5 teams.

Well, I think it is

 

[DavenportHawk8]

SEC does it, but they do it in November. I don't care either way, at least we are getting a "quality" opponent in UNI. They will always be somewhat relevant in FCS.

I mean we could schedule NW state or some other Sun Belt school and beat them by 90+. Playing UNI isn't all that bad. I realize some people look at it as a slap in the face, but it come down to $$.

 

[myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

Wow, must be nice to only play michigan, ohio state, penn state 50% of the time.

Looking at 2010-2019 schedules;
- Played Ohio State (3), Michigan (6), Penn State (6) times.
- Played all 3 in same year once in 2010.
- Didn't play any 2014-2015.

All time
- Ohio State leads 46-14; OSU won last 4 back to 2005
- Michigan leads 41-15-4; Iowa won last 2 back to 2013
- Penn State leads 15-12; PSU won last 4 back to 2010

I must say it was pretty cool seeing ISU beat Oklahoma for the one and only time in my life time! Pretty big smack talk from a fan of a team that historically wins 3 games a year and gets beat by UNI on a regular basis.

 

[JoelBittner]

I seem to recall after the NDSU disaster many posters telling people to shut up because FCS games were a thing of the past.
As long as Gary is here they will never be in the past.

 

[83Hawk]

Some of you have unrealistic expectations. It is one thing to say "schedule more P5 teams". It is quite another to actually be able to do this.