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Hawkeyes will host two night games this season

Apr 8, 2003
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vs. Pitt (9/19) and vs. Minnesota (11/14).

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IOWA RELEASE

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IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The home schedule for the 2015 University of Iowa football team includes a first: Two games that will kick off under the lights of prime time television. The announcement was made Tuesday by the Big Ten Network (BTN) and the Big Ten Conference.

Iowa's home game against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Sept. 19, and its annual battle for Floyd of Rosedale against Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 14, will be played in prime time and televised live to a national television audience by BTN. Start times for each game will be announced later.

"We're excited about the night game selections. We know our fans enjoy the special electricity that fills Kinnick Stadium when we're playing under the lights," said Gary Barta, the UI's director of athletics.

"We're also appreciative of BTN's interest in our football program and the support we received from our partners on the UI campus and in the community when agreeing to two opportunities for our student-athletes to compete in what is a special environment," Barta added.

The UI has not played a night game at Kinnick Stadium since entertaining Penn State in October, 2012. The 2015 season will mark the first time the Hawkeyes will play more than one game under the lights at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has hosted 10 evening games in Kinnick Stadium, with five of those starting after 7 p.m.

Iowa is 6-4 in night games in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has wins over Northwestern (2011), Penn State (2010), Michigan (2009), Syracuse (2007), Arizona State (2003), and Northern Illinois (1999), and losses to Penn State (2012), Ohio State (2006), Iowa State (2002), and Miami, Florida (1992).

Iowa opens its 2015 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Illinois State. That is the first of seven home games for the Hawkeyes, with North Texas, Illinois, Maryland, and Purdue, in addition to Pittsburgh and Minnesota, visiting Iowa City.

Fans of the Hawkeyes who were season ticket customers in 2014 should note that the deadline for renewal orders is Friday, April 24. Fans of the Hawkeyes who would like to become new season ticket customers should contact the UI Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800 IA-HAWKS.

Current UI students can save $50 on the purchase of their 2015 season ticket if they order by the last day of finals week - Friday, May 15. Current UI students can order their season ticket online by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" link in the upper right hand corner of hawkeyesports.com and follow the instructions for "Student Tickets."

The Hawkeyes will hold their annual open spring practice in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, April 25. Gates open at noon, with practice scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring a canned food item in support of the annual America Needs Farmers Food Drive.

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BIG TEN RELEASE

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CHICAGO – BTN’s 2015 primetime football schedule will feature the conference’s 2014 West Division Champion Wisconsin Badgers, Cotton Bowl Champion Michigan State and Michigan in its first year under new head coach Jim Harbaugh among its contests on six key Saturday nights.

Twelve of the 14 Big Ten schools will play in primetime on BTN, and four of the games are conference contests, including Minnesota at Iowa in the first-ever primetime battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy at Kinnick Stadium.

“Since BTN launched, there has never been more anticipation leading into the football season,” said BTN President Mark Silverman.

The first of BTN’s conference matchups in primetime features Rutgers at Penn State on Sept. 19. Last season in the Scarlet Knights’ Big Ten debut, the Nittany Lions played the spoiler and left Piscataway victorious after a late touchdown drive. This year at Beaver Stadium, Rutgers will look to even the score in this budding rivalry of neighboring state schools.

On Oct. 3, Michigan visits Maryland in a Big Ten East Division clash. The Terrapins defeated the Wolverines 23-16 last year, but with a new regime in place, Michigan has high hopes of returning to the top of the pack. Maryland impressed in its first Big Ten season, finishing the season with a 7-6 record, including 4-4 in conference play.

Michigan State, which ended last season ranked No. 5 in the country after its dramatic comeback victory over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl, visits Rutgers on Oct. 10. The Spartans, a preseason top-10 squad, return quarterback Connor Cook and a number of key cogs on the defensive side who are intent on earning a spot in this year’s College Football Playoff.

BTN closes out its primetime slate on Nov. 14 with the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry game, when the Hawkeyes host the Gophers. Iowa has won six of the last 10, but Minnesota looks to capture the trophy for the second straight season after its impressive 51-14 victory last year.

BTN’s other primetime selections include Pittsburgh at Iowa on Sept. 19, when former Michigan State defensive coordinator and now Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi makes his return to the conference. Also on the schedule are Hawaii at Wisconsin and Ball State at Northwestern.

In all, BTN will televise at least 40 football games this fall. Start times and television arrangements for other early season games will be announced at a later date.

BTN’s Primetime Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 12
South Alabama at Nebraska

Saturday, Sept. 19
Rutgers at Penn State

Saturday, September 26
Hawaii at Wisconsin

Saturday, October 3
Michigan at Maryland

Saturday, October 10
Michigan State at Rutgers

Saturday, November 14
Minnesota at Iowa

*Kent State at Illinois on Friday, Sept. 4 previously announced

*Florida International at Indiana on Sept. 12, Pittsburgh at Iowa on Sept. 19 and Ball State at Northwestern on Sept. 26 will also appear in primetime in the Big Ten team’s home market and on Extra Football Game Channels and BTN2Go elsewhere.


This post was edited on 4/13 2:28 PM by Blair Sanderson
 
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