Three night kickoffs for the Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY — Winning brings interest and that brings night games for college football stadiums. Iowa's 12-0 2015 season checked a lot of boxes and so the Hawkeyes have three night games this season.

After two years without night games at Kinnick Stadium, the University of Iowa landed two last season. Two again will happen in 2016, with another night game waiting on the road.

For the first time since 2002, the Hawkeyes will play host to state-rival Iowa State for a prime-time kickoff on Sept. 10 at Kinnick Stadium. On Nov. 5, BTN also will televise Iowa's road trip to Penn State. Kickoffs for both games is 6:30 p.m., according to a BTN release on Monday. The Gazette first reported three night games for Iowa on April 28.

Iowa's other night game for 2016 is Nov. 12 against Michigan at Kinnick Stadium. The kickoff is 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

Iowa's pair of night games at Kinnick last season were hugely entertaining — Marshall Koehn's 57-yard field goal on the game's final play that beat Pitt and then beating Minnesota, 40-35, in the first-ever Kinnick night game between the longtime rivals.

Iowa athletics director Gary Barta said in 2012 that he preferred the Iowa State game be played during the day. Obviously, that stance has changed.

Why? He believes the University of Iowa is now better at hosting night games, with 2015 as an example.

'I think the more we host night games, the more comfortable we get,' Barta said. 'We don't get to decide unilaterally if we get a night game. That's a television decision. But our fans have responded well, (they) love the night games, that's been clear. That's one of the things we've learned as we've hosted. I'm not going to rule anything out, but that will be a decision that the TV networks will make.'

The first night game in the Iowa-Iowa State series was in Ames in 1999. In 2002, the rivalry game kicked off at 5 p.m. at Kinnick Stadium. The Cyclones won both of those games, including a massive comeback after a 24-7 deficit in 2002. In 2013, Iowa-ISU played at 5 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The Hawkeyes won that one and the series has gone back and forth in the last two seasons.

Iowa last played a night game at Beaver Stadium in 2009, a game that Iowa won, 21-10, and was televised on ABC. Iowa's last meeting with Penn State was 2012, also a night game and a 38-14 route in favor of Penn State. Iowa's last night game against Michigan was 2009 at Kinnick, also an Iowa victory, 30-28. Since 2010, the Hawkeyes are 5-2 in games played at 5 p.m. or later.

The Michigan game is Iowa's 'Blackout' for the 2016 season, similar to the night game a year ago against Minnesota. Fans will be encouraged to wear black clothing to the game. The Michigan contest also will be Iowa's recognition of Veterans Day/Military Appreciation Game.

The Cy-Hawk game has been designated as Iowa's 'Black and Gold Spirit Game,' with the annual stripping of Kinnick Stadium set for the evening in-state meeting.

When the Hawkeyes visit Penn State, it will be Military Appreciation Day and Seats for Service Members at Beaver Stadium.

BTN announced its selection of prime time games Monday. All evening kickoff requests must receive the consent of the Big Ten Conference and the home team before being confirmed, according to the release.

'Competing for the Cy-Hawk Trophy under the lights in Kinnick Stadium will provide a great atmosphere for our fans, and will serve as a showcase for our historic venue to a national audience,' Barta said in a statement. 'We are excited to host two night games for the second straight season. Being selected for three prime time games overall is a reflection of our past success and respect for our product.'

UPDATE: Homecoming game times announced

Television arrangements for the entire slate of games on BTN will be announced at a later date.

IOWA 2016 TV SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 — Miami (Ohio) at Kinnick Stadium: TBA

Sept. 10 — Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium: 6:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Sept. 17 — North Dakota State at Kinnick Stadium: TBA

Sept. 24 — At Rutgers: TBA

Oct. 1 — Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium: TBA

Oct. 8 — At Minnesota: TBA

Oct. 15 — At Purdue: TBA

Oct. 22 — Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium: TBA

Oct. 29 — Bye week

Nov. 5 — At Penn State: 6:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Nov. 12 — Michigan at Kinnick Stadium: 7 p.m. (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2)

Nov. 19 — At Illinois: TBA

Nov. 25 — Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium: TBA

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com