Night fever, night fever

It's official. Iowa will try to snap it's three-game losing streak to Northwestern under the lights at Kinnick Stadium, 6 p.m. on Oct. 15.

The Gazette's Scott Dochterman broke the news on his blog.

The Big Ten Network confirmed during its Big Ten Football Report show Wednesday night. This is the only gametime that has been set for the Hawkeyes in 2011. Iowa has lost three straight overall, three straight at Kinnick and five out of its last six against the Wildcats.

The photo above is from last season's night game at Kinnick, an Iowa victory over Penn State.

So, one night game for '11. Iowa had three in 2009 and one three last season, counting the Insight Bowl. One night game is about all you'll ever see at Kinnick. I wrote a story a few years ago, after the inception of the BTN brought the possibility of more night games into the league. Athletics director Gary Barta said Iowa is comfortable with one. Two would stretch the overtime budget, mostly with security.

BTN got Arizona State at Illinois. That's a win for BTN.

North Dakota State at Minnesota is not.

Northwestern is on primetime three times this season, all Big Ten Conference games. No Nebraska? That's a miss for the conference's TV network.

So, officially one night game for Iowa in '11. We'll see about the bowl.

Here's the BTN release:

Big Ten Network Announces 2011 Primetime Football Slate

Eight Big Ten teams will play night games on Big Ten Network this fall

CHICAGO – A trio of October conference games involving Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern and Penn State, a Friday night season opener at Spartan Stadium and non-conference matchups against ACC and Pac-12 foes highlight the 2011 primetime football schedule on the Big Ten Network. Five of the seven games involve 2010 bowl teams.

“We're very excited about our primetime schedule and think it's the strongest we've ever had,” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. “There's always extra electricity in the air for Big Ten night games, and we have some top-quality matchups.”

In all, the network will televise more than 40 games this fall. Start times and television arrangements for other early-season games, including the possibility of other prime time games, will be announced at a later date.

2011 BIG TEN NETWORK PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

Sept. 2, 7:30pm ET Youngstown State at Michigan State

This game will mark just the 10th night game in the 88-year history of Spartan Stadium, and the first since last year's thrilling and memorable overtime victory against Notre Dame. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and the Penguins.

Sept. 10, 7pm ET Virginia at Indiana

First-year Indiana coach Kevin Wilson will make his Memorial Stadium debut under the lights. The teams met two years ago in Charlottesville, but it will be the first time that Indiana has hosted an ACC team in Bloomington since 2000.

Sept. 17, 7pm ET Arizona State at Illinois

The Fighting Illini will play the Sun Devils in Champaign for the first time since 1987, and for only the third time in history. Arizona State will be the first Pac-10/Pac-12 team to visit Memorial Stadium since 1994.

Sept. 24, 7pm ET North Dakota State at Minnesota

Jerry Kill will coach his first home night game as Minnesota's head coach, but it won't be his first night game at TCF Bank Stadium. Kill's Northern Illinois won at Minnesota 34-23 almost a year ago to the day, on Sept. 25, 2010. It will be North Dakota State's first visit to TCF Bank Stadium.

Oct. 8, 7pm ET Michigan at Northwestern

The game will mark just the 13th night game in Northwestern's home stadium history. The primetime contest will be played almost 76 years to the date of the first-ever night game in Big Ten history, when Northwestern hosted Purdue on Oct. 5, 1935, in Evanston.

Oct. 15, 7pm ET Northwestern at Iowa

Iowa will host only its sixth primetime game ever at Kinnick Stadium, and first against Northwestern. The Hawkeyes are 3-2 all-time under the lights in Iowa City, but Northwestern has won the last three meetings at Kinnick Stadium (2006, 2008 and 2009).

Oct. 22, 7pm ET Penn State at Northwestern

In last year's meeting at Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions overcame a three-touchdown deficit and Joe Paterno became the first major college coach to earn 400 career victories. Penn State is one of only two Big Ten teams that are undefeated against a Pat Fitzgerald-coached team.

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Here's Iowa sports info's release, which includes pretty much the history of Iowa in night games:

IOWA-NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL TO BE IN PRIME TIME

IOWA CITY, IOWA - - The University of Iowa's home football contest against Northwestern on Oct. 15 will be televised in prime time from Kinnick Stadium. The game will start at 6 p.m. CT and be telecast by the Big Ten Network (HD). The announcement was made Thursday by the Big Ten Network and the Big Ten Conference.

The home contest against the Wildcats will mark Iowa's only prime time appearance during the regular season. Start times have not yet been set for any other Iowa football games. The upcoming season will mark the third straight season the Hawkeyes have hosted a prime time event. Iowa hosted Penn State a year ago and Michigan in 2009.

Iowa is 5-3 in night games in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has wins over Penn State (2010), Michigan (2009), Syracuse (2007), Arizona State (2003) and Northern Illinois (1999), and losses to Ohio State (2006), Iowa State (2002) and Miami, Fla. (1992).

The Hawkeyes posted a 2-1 record in night games a year ago, falling at Arizona (27-34) before defeating Penn State (24-3) in Iowa City and Missouri (27-24) at the 2010 Insight Bowl. Iowa played four night games in 2009 and won all four. The 2009 night games were against Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Georgia Tech in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl.

The Northwestern at Iowa game is one of 14 Big Ten games to be shown in prime time during the 2011 season.

The Hawkeyes open the season Sept. 3, hosting Tennessee Tech.