Big Ten Basketball Schedule Released: Iowa Hawkeyes Face Maryland in Key Conference Matchup

The Big Ten Conference has officially unveiled its complete men's basketball schedule for the 2026-27 season, and Iowa Hawkeyes fans now know exactly when their team will face some of the conference's toughest competition. The schedule release comes as the league continues to expand its footprint with West Coast programs like UCLA and USC joining the rotation.

For Iowa, the conference slate includes a notable home matchup against the Maryland Terrapins, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season. The Hawkeyes will host Maryland as part of their conference schedule, a game that could carry significant postseason implications for both programs.

Maryland's Road to Redemption

The Terrapins are coming off their worst season since joining the Big Ten, but head coach Buzz Williams has assembled a dramatically different roster. Fifth-year forward Pharrel Payne returns healthy, and six transfers plus five-star recruit Baba Oladotun join the program as reinforcements. There is genuine optimism in College Park about a return to postseason play.

Maryland's conference opener takes place December 6 at Ohio State, followed by a home game against Michigan State three days later. That matchup carries extra intrigue, as Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reportedly made disparaging comments about Maryland's program to then-freshman Cam Ward, a Maryland native.

Iowa's Position in the New Big Ten

The expanded Big Ten presents both challenges and opportunities for Iowa. With the addition of West Coast programs, travel demands have increased significantly across the conference. The league used Fastbreak AI to design the schedule, aiming to balance competitive fairness, optimize travel, and support broadcast objectives.

Iowa fans will be watching closely to see how the Hawkeyes navigate the new-look conference, which now features elite programs from coast to coast. The matchup against Maryland represents a winnable home game that could prove crucial in the standings.

Key Games on the Big Ten Calendar

Several matchups stand out on the 2026-27 Big Ten schedule:

• Maryland hosts UCLA and USC back-to-back to open the new year
• The Terrapins travel to Iowa and Indiana in early January
• Maryland celebrates the 25th anniversary of its 2001-02 national championship on February 13 against Indiana
• Maryland closes the regular season with a difficult west coast road trip

Postseason Resume Building

Maryland will play at least nine games against teams that finished in the final AP Top 25 rankings, including eight against Top 15 programs. That challenging schedule should provide ample opportunities to build a tournament resume.

The Terrapins' non-conference slate features seven home games, two games in the DMV area, and three games in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Maryland will also play an exhibition game against West Virginia on October 18.

What This Means for Iowa

For Iowa fans, the schedule release provides a clear picture of the road ahead. The Hawkeyes will need to defend home court against teams like Maryland to position themselves favorably in the conference standings. With the Big Ten's increased depth, every game carries added weight.

The full Big Ten schedule is now available for fans to plan their season. Iowa's complete conference slate, including dates and times, will be released in the coming weeks as television networks finalize broadcast selections.

John Damon is a sports reporter covering Iowa athletics and Big Ten conference news.