Iowa Hawkeyes Projected for Music City Bowl in Early Postseason Forecasts
Week 1 of the college football season is in the books, and while the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones both opened with victories, early bowl projections are already giving Iowa fans a reason to start planning their December travel.
ESPN's bowl experts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach released their first full postseason projections of the 2026 season, and both have the Hawkeyes landing in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl in Nashville on Wednesday, Dec. 30, against South Carolina.
For Iowa State fans, the picture is a bit murkier. The Cyclones didn't crack either expert's initial bowl projections, though the season is young and plenty can change over the next three months.
Hawkeyes vs. Gamecocks in Nashville?
Both Bonagura and Schlabach project Iowa (1-0) to face South Carolina in the Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The projection comes after the Hawkeyes opened their season with a convincing win, though the opponent and final score were not detailed in the initial report. Iowa fans will be watching closely as the season unfolds to see if the team can climb higher in the bowl pecking order.
College Football Playoff Picture Takes Shape
Beyond Iowa's bowl outlook, the 2026 season brings a new 12-team College Football Playoff format that has reshaped the postseason landscape.
Under the new rules, the four highest-ranked teams receive first-round byes. The other eight teams will play first-round games at campus sites on Dec. 18-19, with the quarterfinals beginning Dec. 30.
The national championship is set for Monday, Jan. 25, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Big Early Results Shake Up Projections
Several Week 1 results caught the attention of bowl prognosticators:
- UMass snapped a 16-game losing streak with a 37-21 upset of Rutgers, earning the Minutemen a spot in early bowl projections.
- LSU dominated Clemson 51-10 in Lane Kiffin's debut as head coach, vaulting the Tigers into playoff quarterfinal projections.
- Power 4 conference champions will now receive automatic bids to the CFP, along with the highest-ranked Group of 6 team.
Notre Dame's Special Status
The Fighting Irish are guaranteed a playoff spot if they finish among the top 12 teams, regardless of conference affiliation. Both ESPN experts currently have Notre Dame in the field, with Bonagura projecting the Irish to reach the national championship game against Ohio State.
What This Means for Iowa
For Hawkeye fans, a Music City Bowl appearance would mark another solid bowl season for the program, though many will hope for a better destination as the season progresses. The projection places Iowa in a competitive SEC matchup that would give the team a chance to showcase its brand of football on a national stage.
Iowa's path to a higher-profile bowl will depend on how the team performs in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes have traditionally been a program that exceeds early expectations, and a strong conference season could move them up the bowl ladder.
Bowl Season Kicks Off Dec. 12
The 2026-27 bowl season begins Saturday, Dec. 12, with the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The postseason runs through the national championship game on Jan. 25.
ESPN's experts will update their projections weekly until the actual matchups are announced Sunday, Dec. 6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Iowa Hawkeyes projected to play in a bowl game?
Both ESPN bowl experts project Iowa to face South Carolina in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 30.
Did Iowa State make the early bowl projections?
No, Iowa State did not appear in either ESPN expert's initial bowl projections after Week 1.
When is the College Football Playoff National Championship?
The CFP National Championship is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 25, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
How does the new 12-team playoff format work?
The four highest-ranked teams receive first-round byes. The other eight teams play first-round games at campus sites, with Power 4 conference champions receiving automatic bids.
This article was adapted from ESPN's bowl projections published Sept. 8, 2026.