The No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes sit inside the College Football Playoff conversation as Week 10 of the 2026 season kicks off, and a full Saturday slate of games involving teams ranked ahead of them could clear a path up the rankings. Iowa does not take the field until the evening window, when it travels to Northwestern for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff in Evanston, according to Black Heart Gold Pants.
A Week 10 viewing guide from Yahoo Sports breaks down the games Hawkeye fans should track before Iowa's kickoff, and the short version is simple: cheer for the higher-ranked team in almost every one of them.
Why this Saturday matters for Iowa
Kirk Ferentz has never spent much energy on where his team sits in the weekly CFP Top 25, but the No. 19 Hawkeyes are part of the playoff discussion with the season entering its decisive stretch. Every result involving a team above Iowa in the rankings carries a direct consequence for where the Hawkeyes land next week.
The math is straightforward. Iowa controls what it can by winning at Northwestern, but losses by teams such as Missouri, Ohio State, and Notre Dame would allow the Hawkeyes to climb without doing anything beyond taking care of their own business.
Morning games to watch before Iowa kicks off
No. 9 BYU at No. 3 Utah
The Holy War kicks off at 11 a.m. on ABC from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, though the 10 a.m. local start time is a sore spot for anyone who believes rivalry games belong in prime time. Yahoo Sports notes that BYU already owns a loss to a struggling UCF team, which makes a second defeat potentially damaging for the Cougars when the committee adjusts the rankings.
No. 7 Texas at No. 18 Missouri
This 11 a.m. kickoff on ESPN from Columbia may be the most important game of the day for Iowa fans. Missouri would be eliminated from playoff contention with a third loss, and a Texas win would open the door for the Hawkeyes to move up at least one spot if they handle Northwestern.
Yahoo Sports calls Texas's No. 7 ranking hard to justify, but the rooting interest here has nothing to do with respect for the Longhorns and everything to do with thinning the field ahead of Iowa.
Afternoon windows bring more playoff stakes
No. 5 Alabama at No. 14 LSU
Alabama visits Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge for a 2:30 p.m. game on ABC, and Yahoo Sports argues a two-loss Tide team that was blown out by Tennessee has no business near the top five. The practical read for Iowa fans: cheer for Alabama. A third Alabama loss should push the Tide toward elimination, while an LSU defeat would be a serious blow to Lane Kiffin's resume in his first season in Baton Rouge.
No. 23 Oregon at No. 12 Ohio State
Ohio State hosts Oregon at 2:30 p.m. on CBS in Columbus, and this one cuts directly against convention for Big Ten fans. Yahoo Sports recommends Hawkeye viewers root against the Buckeyes, who still face a tricky closing schedule against Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan. An Ohio State loss could knock the Buckeyes out of the playoff picture entirely, while an Oregon win would vault the Ducks back into the conversation.
No. 6 Kentucky at No. 13 Tennessee
Kentucky, at 7-1 under offensive coordinator Will Stein, has quietly built a playoff case that includes a win over LSU. A victory at Neyland Stadium at 5:15 p.m. on ESPN would prove the Wildcats are a legitimate contender, and it would also help Iowa's position, since a Tennessee loss removes another team from the pool competing for at-large spots.
The nightcap: Miami at Notre Dame
The marquee game of the day has No. 1 Miami traveling to No. 11 Notre Dame in South Bend, a matchup Yahoo Sports bills as Catholics vs. Convicts Part II. The Hurricanes lost receiver Malachi Toney but remain loaded with talent and enter the game as 7.5-point underdogs with something to prove.
For Iowa, the rooting interest is clear. Notre Dame's No. 11 ranking signals the committee is not impressed by the Irish's soft schedule, and a loss Saturday would likely eliminate them from playoff contention. A Miami win removes one more name from the board ahead of the Hawkeyes.
What Iowa needs to do its part
None of the weekend chaos matters if Iowa stumbles at Northwestern. The Hawkeyes are coming off one of their most complete performances of the season, a win over Wisconsin that featured the Flying Tomato trick play and a defensive front that overwhelmed Luke Fickell's Badgers, Black Heart Gold Pants reported.
Win in Evanston, and the Hawkeyes enter the final month of the regular season in position to benefit from every upset elsewhere on the schedule. Lose, and the entire Week 10 rooting guide becomes irrelevant.
FAQ
What time does Iowa play Northwestern?
Iowa kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.
Where is Iowa ranked in the CFP Top 25?
The Hawkeyes are No. 19 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, putting them in the playoff conversation entering Week 10.
Which Week 10 games matter most for Iowa's playoff chances?
According to Yahoo Sports, the games with the biggest impact are Texas at Missouri, Oregon at Ohio State, and Miami at Notre Dame, since losses by Missouri, Ohio State, or Notre Dame would help Iowa climb the rankings.