Iowa, Big Ten unveil full 2024 football schedule

IOWA CITY — Rivalries will bookend Iowa football’s 2024 Big Ten Conference schedule, with the Hawkeyes opening conference play against Minnesota and ending conference play against Nebraska.

In between those games, Iowa’s 2024 conference slate, released Thursday afternoon, appears to be significantly more difficult than it has enjoyed this year.

The only 2023 foe ranked in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings is No. 11 Penn State. Next year, No. 1 Ohio State, No. 5 Washington and No. 19 UCLA are on the schedule. To make matters even more difficult, the games against Ohio State and Washington are in back-to-back weeks.

After three nonconference home games, Iowa will have consecutive road games to start Big Ten play for the first time since 1971.

Iowa's bye weeks will be on Sept. 28 and Nov. 16.

Iowa also will have two road games on opposite coasts — at UCLA on Nov. 9 and at Maryland on Nov. 23 — in a three-week window.

Iowa’s season-ending game against Nebraska will be on Black Friday. Other games could potentially move from Saturday to Friday as well.

The 2024 season will be the first for the Big Ten without divisions since 2010. The top two overall teams in the conference will go to the championship game in Indianapolis.

The Hawkeyes are the only team with three protected rivalries as part of the Big Ten’s updated scheduling model. The Heartland Trophy game against Wisconsin will be Nov. 2 at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31 vs. Illinois State

Sept. 7 vs. Iowa State

Sept. 14 vs. Troy

Sept. 21 at Minnesota

(Bye week on Sept. 28)

Oct. 5 at Ohio State

Oct. 12 vs. Washington

Oct. 19 at Michigan State

Oct. 26 vs. Northwestern

Nov. 2 vs. Wisconsin

Nov. 9 at UCLA

(Bye week on Nov. 16)

Nov. 23 at Maryland

Nov. 29 vs. Nebraska

(Nonconference games are italicized.)

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com