Iowa Hawkeyes 2026 Football Schedule Ranked 15th in Big Ten
By John Damon
The Iowa Hawkeyes check in at No. 15 in the new Big Ten schedule difficulty rankings for the 2026 football season. With a win total projection of 7.5 games and a home matchup against Ohio State, Iowa has a path to be a disruptive force in the conference. However, replacing starters and finding a reliable quarterback remain the biggest hurdles for the program.
What does Iowa's 2026 schedule look like?
According to the new rankings, the Hawkeyes have the 15th hardest schedule in the 18-team Big Ten. Every team ranked below Iowa must play at least one of the big three teams, which includes Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. Iowa draws the Buckeyes at Kinnick Stadium, giving the home crowd a chance to shake up the conference race.
Oddsmakers have set Iowa's win total at 7.5. The team returns only six starters from the previous season. Even with the roster turnover, the program's culture of tough defense and physical play should keep them competitive. The biggest question mark, as it has been for years, is whether the Hawkeyes can find consistent quarterback play to push them over the edge.
Which Big Ten teams have the easiest schedules?
Penn State sits at No. 18 with the easiest schedule in the conference. Former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell takes over in Happy Valley, bringing veteran quarterback Rocco Becht with him. The Nittany Lions avoid Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State entirely, setting the stage for a strong debut season.
Wisconsin ranks No. 17. Badgers coach Luke Fickell is fighting for his job after losing his starting quarterback yet again, but the schedule gives him a chance to reach eight wins. Anything less would be a major disappointment. UCLA comes in at No. 16 under new head coach Bob Chesney, who brings a lot of talent from his previous stop. If the Bruins can beat the middle-of-the-pack teams, they could pull off an upset or two.
Maryland ranks just ahead of Iowa at No. 14. Even with a weaker schedule, the Terrapins are only projected at 4.5 wins. Head coach Mike Locksley somehow kept his job through another losing offseason, but the pressure is on if they fail to reach bowl eligibility for a third straight year. Minnesota sits at No. 13. Gophers coach P.J. Fleck brought in a ton of transfers, including quarterback Drake Lindsey from Arkansas and receiver Perry Thompson from LSU. Paired with running back Darius Taylor, Fleck has no excuse to miss a bowl game.
Who faces the toughest schedules in the Big Ten?
Ohio State claims the top spot as the hardest schedule in the conference. The Buckeyes face a brutal four-week stretch that includes road games at Indiana and USC, plus a home matchup against Oregon. There is a real scenario where the talented roster drops multiple games against top-10 opponents.
Michigan ranks No. 2 in schedule difficulty as new coach Kyle Whittingham takes over. The Wolverines host Oklahoma and Iowa in September, then face Penn State and Indiana in back-to-back October weeks, before road trips to Oregon and Ohio State in November. This is the exact type of schedule that requires a five-star quarterback.
Northwestern ranks No. 3. The Wildcats are the only Big Ten team that has to play road games at Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State this year. If not for a softer non-conference slate, they would easily have the toughest schedule in the nation.
Nebraska sits at No. 4 on the list. The schedule is so daunting that quarterback Dylan Raiola reportedly left his starting role to serve as a backup at Oregon just to preserve his draft stock. The Cornhuskers face Indiana and Oregon in back-to-back weeks, and three of their final four games are on the road. Coach Matt Rhule is in for a long season.
What about the conference contenders and bottom feeders?
Defending national champion Indiana ranks No. 9 in difficulty. Coach Curt Cignetti should have the Hoosiers undefeated heading into a massive two-game stretch against Ohio State and Michigan. If they survive that test, another perfect regular season is well within reach.
Oregon sits at No. 7, with a tough early conference game against a rising USC team and a road trip to Illinois before facing Ohio State. The Trojans themselves rank No. 5, as Lincoln Riley faces the conference's best three teams with College Football Playoff expectations on the line.
Washington ranks No. 6. Returning quarterback Demond Williams showed flashes of greatness last season, but he must take the next step to survive a schedule featuring two of the best three teams in the conference, plus tough road games in Lincoln and Los Angeles.
Illinois ranks No. 10. Even with a quarterback change, this might be Bret Bielema's best shot at making the College Football Playoff. A Week 2 non-conference game against Duke could decide their fate.
Michigan State and Rutgers rank No. 12 and No. 11, respectively. Spartans coach Pat Fitzgerald faces a brutal start to his tenure with a 4.5 win total and a non-conference game against Notre Dame. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is in Year 6 of his second stint, and a home upset to secure a bowl game is probably their ceiling.
At the bottom of the barrel, Purdue looks like the worst Power 4 team in the country. ESPN's SP+ rankings place the Boilermakers at No. 82 overall, the lowest of any major program. Their over/under sits at 3.5 wins, and the money is on the under at -145.
Where does Iowa rank in Big Ten schedule difficulty for 2026?
Iowa ranks No. 15 out of 18 Big Ten teams in schedule difficulty for the 2026 season, meaning they have the fourth-easiest schedule in the conference.
What is Iowa's projected win total?
Oddsmakers have set Iowa's win total at 7.5 games for the 2026 season.
Which Big Ten team has the hardest schedule in 2026?
Ohio State has the hardest schedule in the Big Ten, featuring a brutal stretch against Indiana, USC, and Oregon.
Why did Dylan Raiola leave Nebraska?
Reports indicate Raiola left his starting role at Nebraska to back up at Oregon because he was concerned about the difficult 2026 schedule and wanted to protect his NFL draft stock.