Non-conference guarantees cost Iowa football $5 million next 3 seasons

IOWA CITY — Iowa's non-conference football games decrease from four to three entering this fall, but the program's costs remain high in guaranteed payments to visitors.

Over the next three seasons, Iowa will pay six non-conference opponents a total of $5 million to play at Kinnick Stadium, according to contracts obtained by The Gazette via an open-records request. Three schools — Miami (Ohio), Wyoming, Northern Illinois — each will receive $1 million checks. North Texas picks up $900,000, Northern Iowa $600,000 and North Dakota State $500,000.

This year, Iowa plays Miami (Ohio) and North Dakota State, as well as in-state foe Iowa State, at Kinnick Stadium. In 2017, the Hawkeyes face Wyoming and North Texas at home, and play at Iowa State. In 2018, Iowa meets Northern Illinois, Iowa State and Northern Iowa at Kinnick.

The Cy-Hawk Series between Iowa and Iowa State is scheduled through 2021. Beginning in 2018, the visiting school receives 3,500 tickets instead of 4,000.

Outside of Iowa State, the Hawkeyes have two other non-conference games scheduled beyond the 2018 season. Iowa plays Miami (Ohio) in 2019 for $1.2 million. In 2010, Iowa meets Northern Illinois again for $1.1 million. Both are slated for Kinnick Stadium.

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