Iowa Football Kicks Off 2026 Season: The Great Unifier
IOWA CITY, Iowa — As Iowa heads into a contentious gubernatorial election season, one tradition promises to bring the state together: college football. The 2026 Iowa Hawkeyes season opens Saturday against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium, and for many Iowans, it's a welcome escape from the political crossfire.
In a state of 3.2 million residents, few things transcend the partisan divide. But according to lifelong Iowan and HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz, three things hold the state together: Casey's pizza, beer, and college football.
“You'd be very hard-pressed to create an argument from those three things,” Schultz writes. “Casey's pizza (specifically breakfast pizza) should be the state-legislated food at this point.”
Why Iowa Football Unites Like Nothing Else
Schultz argues that while powerhouse programs like Alabama and Michigan draw corporate crowds more interested in networking than the game, Kinnick Stadium offers something different: genuine unity.
“When the Hawkeyes score a touchdown, strangers high-five and hug one another, and when the officials make a bad call, the chorus of different voices boo the referee,” he observes from the press box.
That sense of community extends beyond the stadium walls. Tailgates in the parking lots transform strangers into friends over a shared love of black and gold.
Hawkeyes Open as Heavy Favorites
Iowa enters Saturday's opener as a 31.5-point favorite over Northern Illinois. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. on BTN. The game marks the first step before next weekend's highly anticipated Cy-Hawk rivalry matchup against Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium.
Sports as a Bridge Across Differences
“Politics or whatever differences they may have will never come up in conversation, because their shared connection of cheering for Iowa outweighs their discrepancies,” Schultz writes.
“That's the beauty of sports right there. There's nothing else on this planet that brings a diverse crowd together than sports.”
For Iowans weary of political division, the football season offers a chance to reconnect with neighbors, friends, and fellow fans over something that unites rather than divides.
Welcome to the 2026 Iowa football season.
Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. He can be reached at bradschultz@roundtable.io.