Iowa and Iowa State will both hit the road as underdogs in Week 8 of the college football season, with the No. 15 Hawkeyes laying a touchdown at Minnesota and the Cyclones getting 10 points at No. 25 Arizona, according to opening lines posted by ESPN.com on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2026.
The lines come after one of the wildest weekends in the 90-year history of the AP poll. As CBS Sports reported, five of the top seven teams lost on the same afternoon for the first time since the poll began in 1936, leaving only six unbeaten teams standing at midseason: BYU, James Madison, Miami, Texas Tech, UCLA and Utah.
Hawkeyes Favored by a Touchdown in Minneapolis
Iowa (5-1, 1-1 against AP Top 25 teams) travels to Huntington Bank Stadium as a 7-point favorite over Minnesota (4-2). Kickoff is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on FS1.
DraftKings lists the Hawkeyes at -278 on the money line, with the Gophers at +225. The over/under sits at a low 40.5 points, a number that fits both programs' reputations for defense-first football.
ESPN's Football Power Index projects Iowa to win by 12 points, giving the Hawkeyes an 80% chance to leave Minneapolis with a victory. A win would keep Iowa firmly in the hunt for a spot in the Big Ten title conversation as the season hits its back half.
Cyclones Face a Ranked Test in the Desert
Iowa State (3-3, 0-3 against ranked opponents) draws the tougher assignment. The Cyclones are 10-point underdogs at No. 25 Arizona (5-1), with a 7:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff Friday night on ESPN2.
The money line has Iowa State at +260 and Arizona at -325. The FPI projects the Wildcats to win by 9.6 points with a 76% probability of victory. Iowa State is still searching for its first win over a ranked team this season, having dropped all three tries so far.
Week 8 Features Only Two Ranked vs. Ranked Matchups
After the chaos of last weekend, Week 8 calms down considerably. Only two games pit ranked teams against each other, and both carry real stakes.
No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1) visits No. 19 Texas (4-2) in Austin, where the Longhorns are 3.5-point favorites despite back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Florida. DraftKings set the total at 52.5. The Rebels are 3-1 against ranked teams this season, the best mark in the country among top 25 teams, while Texas is 2-0 against ranked foes.
The other marquee matchup sends No. 14 Houston (6-1) to Salt Lake City to face No. 10 Utah (6-0), one of the remaining unbeatens. The Utes are favored by 6.5 points with a total of 56.5. Sports Illustrated noted that Texas Tech, BYU and Utah continue to dominate the Big 12 to open the season, though the Utes face their toughest test yet against the Cougars.
Miami Holds the Top Spot and a Massive Spread
No. 1 Miami (6-0) opens the weekend as a 20.5-point favorite at home against Pittsburgh (5-2), with a noon kickoff on ESPN. The Hurricanes are -1800 on the money line, and the FPI gives them a 92% chance to win outright, projecting a 21.3-point margin.
No. 2 BYU (6-0) is a 6.5-point favorite at UCF in a 3:30 p.m. game on Fox, while No. 6 Indiana (6-1) is a 7-point favorite at Michigan in the noon window on Fox. No. 9 UCLA (6-0) hosts Michigan State as a 14-point favorite on CBS.
Other Notable Lines Around the Top 25
- No. 8 Texas Tech (-10.5) at Cincinnati, noon, FS1
- No. 11 Tennessee at South Carolina (-2.5), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
- Texas A&M at No. 13 Alabama (-14.5), 3:30 p.m., ABC
- No. 12 Kentucky (-11.5) hosts Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
- No. 16 USC (-3) at Wisconsin, 7:30 p.m., NBC
- No. 18 LSU (-8.5) at Auburn, noon, ABC
- No. 21 Boise State (-13.5) at Washington State, 6 p.m., USA Network
- California at No. 23 SMU (-18.5), noon, The CW
- Rutgers at No. 24 Northwestern (-16.5), noon, Peacock
All odds are courtesy of DraftKings via ESPN.com and are subject to change. All kickoff times are Eastern.
What It Means for Iowa Fans
For Hawkeye fans, Saturday's trip to Minneapolis is the kind of game that decides seasons. Iowa controls its path in the Big Ten West race, and a road win over a 4-2 Minnesota team would keep the Hawkeyes on track before the November gauntlet arrives. The FPI's 80% win probability suggests the oddsmakers like Iowa's chances, but rivalry games in Minneapolis have a long history of ignoring the spread.
The Cyclones, meanwhile, need a statement win to salvage their bowl positioning and quiet a frustrated fan base after an 0-3 start against ranked teams. Arizona has looked the part since joining the Big 12, and Iowa State will need its best road performance of the year to flip the script in Tucson.
Both games land on a packed Saturday slate that gives Iowa households plenty of reason to stay glued to the couch after the harvest work wraps up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the point spread for Iowa vs. Minnesota in Week 8?
Iowa is favored by 7 points on the road against Minnesota, with the over/under set at 40.5 points. ESPN's FPI projects the Hawkeyes to win by 12.
What is the point spread for Iowa State vs. Arizona?
Iowa State is a 10-point underdog at No. 25 Arizona, with the over/under at 51.5 points. The FPI gives the Wildcats a 76% chance to win.
How many ranked vs. ranked games are on the Week 8 schedule?
Only two: No. 7 Ole Miss at No. 19 Texas and No. 14 Houston at No. 10 Utah.
Where can I watch Iowa vs. Minnesota?
The Hawkeyes and Gophers kick off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on FS1.