Iowa football releases updated list of 2023-29 nonconference opponents

Nonconference football in November. A trip to Kinnick by a team from the Sunshine State. Iowa and UNI’s first game since 2018.

All those things are expected to happen in Iowa City following Iowa football’s update of its nonconference opponents Tuesday from 2023-29.

The most unusual part of the schedule news was the game against Massachusetts on Nov. 15, 2025. It will be the first November nonconference game for the Hawkeyes since their 28-19 loss to Western Michigan in 2007.

The reveal did not include any news about the future of the Cy-Hawk rivalry. The current contract between Iowa and Iowa State ends in 2025, but Iowa athletics director Gary Barta has spoken highly of the rivalry and its importance to the state.

While the Big Ten previously unveiled its football schedules through 2025, they could look significantly different if the conference follows the national trend of eliminating divisions.

Barring a change from the Big Ten’s nine-game schedule or the addition of any games with schools from the other Alliance conferences, Iowa will have three nonconference slots for each year.

The two games against Northern Illinois — in 2026 and 2029 — are postponements of the game originally scheduled for 2025 and the 2020 game nixed because of COVID-19.

Future Iowa football nonconference schedules

2023

Sept. 2 vs. Western Michigan

Sept. 9 at Iowa State

Sept. 16 vs. Utah State

2024

Aug. 31 vs. Illinois State

Sept. 7 vs. Iowa State

2025

Aug. 30 vs. Florida Atlantic

Sept. 6 at Iowa State

Nov. 15 vs. Massachusetts

2026

Sept. 5 vs. Northern Illinois

Sept. 19 vs. Northern Iowa

2027

Sept. 4 vs. Ball State

2029

Sept. 15 vs. Northern Illinois

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