Iowa Hawkeyes 2026 Uniform Schedule: Black, Gold, or Something New?

Some things in college football are so iconic that change isn't necessary. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, the classic black and gold color scheme with the unmistakable Tigerhawk logo is exactly that. Iowa rarely strays from its traditional look, but the 2026 season might offer a few surprises for fans in Iowa City and across the state.

Iowa's last alternates, aside from black pants, came in 2023 when they wore yellow tops. The helmets, however, almost never change, and there's no need to. When you turn on the television and see Iowa, you know exactly who they are. But every once in a while, the Hawkeyes get creative. Here's a game-by-game look at what Iowa might wear in 2026.

Week 1: Northern Illinois Huskies

The season-opener at Kinnick Stadium is no debate. Iowa will go with its classic home look to start 2026. Why waste an alternate or shake things up here? It's a straightforward, business-like start to the season.

Week 2: Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State may change its uniforms every week with red, yellow, white, and black all making appearances, but Iowa will stick to its true colors for the Cy-Hawk game. Playing inside Kinnick Stadium under the lights makes the classic black and gold pop even more.

Week 3: Northern Iowa Panthers

This is Iowa's final tune-up before Big Ten play starts. This game needs to be no-frills, clean, and business-like. Expect the uniforms to be as standard as it gets.

Week 4: Michigan Wolverines

Iowa and Michigan have played four times since 2020, yet none have been in Ann Arbor. This is Iowa's first trip to Michigan since 2019. This is a massive game for Iowa, and the traditional road whites make their first appearance.

Week 5: Ohio State Buckeyes

At worst, Iowa should be 3-1 entering this game, and 4-0 at best. They won't pull out the 2017 alternates from when the Hawkeyes dismantled Ohio State, but this could be the spot Iowa tries to have lightning strike twice with alternates. Yellow tops? The banana peel uniforms? A new all-black look? It's a possibility.

Week 6: Washington Huskies

It's a short week road trip out to Washington for a Friday night game, and that's enough to see Iowa shake it up. Iowa has gone black pants with white jerseys just once before, but this could be an opportunity to break them out for a unique night game.

Week 7: Bye

Iowa gets a week off to rest and prepare for the second half of the season.

Week 8: Minnesota Golden Gophers

When Iowa has hosted Minnesota, it has been a spot for Iowa to change it up with all blacks or the inverted yellow top, as they did a few years back. On the road, the Hawkeyes keep it simple out of the bye with the white tops and gold bottoms.

Week 9: Wisconsin Badgers

This is an easy one. It's Halloween! Iowa has had great success when it has broken out the all-black look, which includes a recent win over Wisconsin in 2022. Expect Iowa to pull the same card on Halloween, possibly even getting the fans in all-black too.

Week 10: Northwestern Wildcats

On the road at Northwestern is as old-school Big Ten West as it gets. This game should be rainy, gross, and cloudy, with Iowa's standard road uniforms providing the only pop of color with the yellow bottoms.

Week 11: Purdue Boilermakers

This could be a second game Iowa pulls out the all-black uniforms. What I do expect is to see the American flag Tigerhawk. Iowa has donned this version for a while around Veterans Day, which falls on the Wednesday before this one.

Week 12: Illinois Fighting Illini

A late-season, physical Big Ten game calls for things to be traditional. Iowa rarely shakes it up on the road, and I don't expect anything to change for this one against the Illini.

Week 13: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last time Iowa hosted Nebraska, the Hawkeyes went with the all-black look against their rival. It was an incredibly sharp look contrasting against Nebraska's red and white. This time around, my gut says we see Iowa finish the season in the standard home unis.

Whether Iowa sticks to tradition or breaks out something new, Hawkeye fans can expect a season full of pride, grit, and the unmistakable black and gold.