The Iowa Hawkeyes have unveiled a portion of their 2026‑27 men’s basketball schedule, a slate that promises early tests and late‑season opportunities. The announcement, made public on June 16, outlines a mix of non‑conference road trips and home games that will shape the team’s path toward the NCAA Tournament.
A schedule built for challenge
The non‑conference portion includes contests against Eastern Illinois, Creighton, Xavier, Iowa State and South Dakota. Creighton will meet Iowa at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, while Xavier travels to Iowa City in November. The much‑anticipated rivalry with Iowa State is set for December 10 at Carver‑Hawkeye Arena, a venue that has witnessed three straight victories by the Cyclones.
Coach Ben McCollum has emphasized that the schedule is designed to pit the Hawkeyes against high‑level competition early and often. By arranging games against power‑conference programs such as Creighton and Xavier, McCollum hopes to fine‑tune his squad’s intensity and improve its résumé for postseason selection.
In the Big Ten, Iowa will face a gauntlet of road opponents, including trips to Illinois, Purdue, Nebraska and Michigan. Home fans can look forward to matchups against Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin, each of which brings a different tactical challenge. The conference slate also features contests with Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota and other traditional rivals.
Several key players will return to the roster, among them point guard Tamin Lipsey and forward Milan Momcilovic, while forward Joshua Jefferson adds depth on the wing. Notably, Pryce Sandfort, who previously starred for the Hawkeyes, will return to Carver‑Hawkeye Arena this season as a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a move that adds a subplot to the upcoming games.
Last season, several conference opponents — including Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio State — earned NCAA Tournament berths, underscoring the competitiveness of the Big Ten. Iowa’s schedule, therefore, not only tests the team against elite competition but also positions it within a landscape where many of its rivals are already accustomed to March success.