Iowa, UNI will play in Iowa City in 2026

Hawkeyes, Panthers to meet for first time since 2018

Jun. 27, 2022 2:33 pm, Updated: Jun. 28, 2022 3:51 pm

Iowa running back Mekhi Sargent (10) is tackled by Northern Iowa linebacker Chris Kolarevic (48) in Iowa’s 2018 win over UNI. It was the last time the two in-state schools played each other. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

IOWA CITY — Iowa football has added Northern Iowa to its 2026 schedule, as first reported by FBSchedules.com and later confirmed by The Gazette via a public records request.

The game will be Saturday, Sept. 19 in Iowa City.

It will be the first matchup between the in-state schools since 2018.

Iowa will pay UNI $700,000 for the game, according to the contract, and allot up to 3,000 tickets for UNI’s fans and marching band. UNI has to pay for any tickets requested.

The date with UNI is the second non-conference game on Iowa’s schedule in 2026, per FBSchedules.com, joining the Northern Illinois game also in Iowa City.

The Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois contracts likely leave Iowa with one non-conference game remaining to schedule with either Iowa State for the Cy-Hawk game, a team in the three-conference Alliance or another foe.

Iowa athletics director Gary Barta said in 2021 he and Kirk Ferentz “love playing” Iowa State every year, and Barta believes the rivalry is “good for our state.”

The scheduling calculus changes, though, if the Big Ten would go to an eight-game conference schedule.

Iowa has a 17-1 advantage in the all-time series against the Panthers, with the lone loss coming in 1898. All 17 wins have been in Iowa City.