On October 10, Kansas and Iowa will play the first Division I college baseball game at the Field of Dreams Ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa, at 2 p.m. ET. The matchup is an exhibition that falls outside the regular college baseball season, offering a unique autumn backdrop framed by harvest‑season cornfields.
The Black‑Sladen ballpark, famous for its appearance in the 1989 Kevin Costner film, previously hosted two Major League Baseball games — a 2021 showdown between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox and a 2022 contest between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. MLB plans a third game this August, while the site has also been used for high school and senior competitions.
Kansas entered the previous season as Big 12 champions with a 22‑8 conference record and a 45‑18 overall mark, advancing to a NCAA super regional where they fell to eventual national champion Oklahoma. Iowa, under head coach Rick Heller, finished 15‑15 in Big Ten play and 33‑23 overall, concluding the year with a loss to Purdue in the conference tournament.
A New Chapter for a Beloved Landmark
The game will be staged roughly 80 miles from the University of Iowa in Iowa City and about 400 miles from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, making the venue a distinctive neutral site for fans traveling from both states. The surrounding fields will soon host a minor‑league contest between the Iowa Cubs and St. Paul Saints on August 11, and will serve as the home of the Dyersville Dreamers of the Northwoods League beginning next year.
Beyond the exhibition, the ballpark is being expanded with dedicated youth baseball and softball fields, reflecting a broader commitment to community‑level sport. The upcoming college game underscores how the historic site continues to blend nostalgia with new opportunities for athletic development, highlighting the growing collaboration between collegiate programs, professional leagues and local organizers.