Hawkeyes at Soldier Field? Bears Exit Opens Door for Iowa
The Chicago Bears are packing up and heading to Hammond, Indiana. While Illinois leaders might fret over losing their iconic NFL franchise, a massive opportunity just opened up for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Soldier Field could soon sit empty on fall Sundays, but it might just become the ultimate neutral site for Big Ten football on Saturdays.
College football is changing fast in 2026. Neutral site games are the new normal, and geographic footprints are expanding. Iowa already recruits heavily from the Chicago area. Now, the Hawkeyes have a chance to plant their flag firmly in one of the largest media markets in the country.
A Massive Alumni Base Waiting in the Windy City
If you spend a fall weekend in Chicago, you will see a sea of black and gold. The city is a melting pot of college football fans, but the Hawkeyes always show out. According to the Chicago Iowa Club, the Chicagoland area is home to more than 30,000 University of Iowa alumni.
That is an incredible number for a city located over three hours from Iowa City. Consider the other major cities near Iowa. Minneapolis is almost five hours away. St. Louis is over four hours away. Kansas City is a four and a half hour drive. Chicago is the closest mega-market, and the fan support is already entrenched.
The Chicago Iowa Club lists nine different bars and restaurants across the city and its suburbs for official watch parties. Moving a game to Soldier Field gives these suburban families easier access to live Hawkeye football. It is a win for the fans who make the program what it is.
Following the Free Market Playbook
Iowa basketball has already proven this model works. The Hawkeyes play Creighton in Des Moines to expand their footprint and give fans a unique experience. Playing a game at Soldier Field would be the same concept, but on a much grander scale.
We are seeing this trend across the country. Wisconsin and Notre Dame are playing at Lambeau Field this upcoming season. If Big Ten teams can turn historic NFL venues into neutral sites, Iowa should absolutely explore the same economic opportunity.
The biggest hurdle is giving up a home game at Kinnick Stadium. That is a huge ask for the university's revenue and the loyal Iowa City fanbase. The smart business move is to keep the traditional home schedule intact. Iowa could transform a scheduled road game into a neutral site matchup at Soldier Field. Alternating as the home and road team each year in Chicago is another practical option on the table.
Finding the Right Opponent
Not every game belongs in Chicago. The Cy-Hawk rivalry is staying put in Ames and Iowa City. The Black Friday matchup against Nebraska is not moving. You can also rule out shifting historic trophy games against Wisconsin or Minnesota.
The schedule requires flexibility, but the right opponent makes it an easy sell. A game against Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, or even Indiana makes perfect sense. It suits both fan bases with a neutral site in a massive city within driving distance for everyone. Fans get a road trip, and the university gets a prime market showcase.
Time to Make a Move
This is all hypothetical right now. The legwork to organize something of this magnitude would be enormous. However, the location, the support, and the stadium are all sitting there waiting for a tenant.
It is 2026 in college football. Pipe dreams are not as unrealistic as they used to be. The Bears are leaving the city. The market is hungry for football. The Iowa Hawkeyes have the alumni base and the brand power to step up and claim it.