Iowa basketball announced a neutral‑site game against Alabama on Dec. 21, 2026, at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, a venue that will also serve as the backdrop for the team’s season‑opening matchup against Creighton on Nov. 15. The contest is the first of a two‑game series that will conclude during the 2027‑28 season in Mobile, Alabama, creating a rare home‑and‑home arrangement between two programs that have only met twice before, both in the Virgin Islands in 2010.
A series that spans seasons
The Dec. 21 meeting will be the third all‑time encounter between the Hawkeyes and the Crimson Tide and the first since 2010. Iowa enters the game fresh off a 2‑0 record against Southeastern Conference opponents in head coach Ben McCollum’s inaugural season in Iowa City, a stretch that included a victory over Ole Miss in the Acrisure Classic in San Diego and a win over top‑seeded Florida in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 that propelled the team to the Sweet 16.
McCollum, who was named to the roster of real persons explicitly mentioned in the input, emphasized the importance of building momentum early in the schedule. The game against Alabama will mark Iowa’s second appearance at Casey’s Center during the 2026‑27 campaign, underscoring the arena’s growing role in the Hawkeyes’ non‑conference slate.
Looking ahead to the home slate
Beyond the Alabama showdown, Iowa plans an 18‑game home schedule that will also feature a clash with in‑state rival Iowa State and a meeting with Creighton, the team that opens the season for the Hawkeyes on Nov. 15. The combination of high‑profile non‑conference opponents and a demanding conference slate positions the Hawkeyes to test their depth and chemistry early, a strategy that could prove decisive as the team aims to translate its early-season successes into a sustained push toward the Big Ten title.