Iowa collegiate athletic season preparations and updates

Collegiate athletic programs in Iowa are progressing through their 2026-27 season preparations and early competitions.

Iowa State University has released schedules for men’s golf, football, women’s soccer, and volleyball. The men’s golf team is set to begin its season in mid-September, while the football team prepares for an opener against Southeast Missouri State. The women’s soccer team is preparing for a Cy-Hawk matchup against the University of Iowa.

The University of Iowa has released upcoming schedules for rowing, women’s basketball, and men’s wrestling. The rowing team, led by head coach Jeff Garbutt, will compete in nine events starting in October, including home matches against Indiana and Drake, the Princeton Chase, and the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis.

The women’s basketball team’s nonconference schedule includes matchups against Towson, Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Montana State, Drake, Southern, and Northern Illinois, alongside high-profile challenges against UConn, Vanderbilt, and Iowa State. The men’s wrestling team, under head coach Tom Brands, has announced a schedule featuring thirteen duals and one tournament, beginning November 13 against Bellarmine.

In football, the Iowa Hawkeyes enter Week 5 with an undefeated 4-0 record following a last-second victory over Michigan. The team is scheduled to host the Ohio State Buckeyes at Kinnick Stadium as home underdogs. The matchup is highlighted by the first visit to the University of Iowa campus by ESPN’s College GameDay in 20 years, with production crews setting up on the Pentacrest. Key players for Iowa include tight end DJ Vonnahme, running back Braeden Jackson, and safety Anthony Hawkins.