No night kickoffs for the Hawkeyes

Iowa didn't like missing out on night games in 2013, but athletics director Gary Barta and head coach Kirk Ferentz kind of got it.

They knew Iowa's dismal 4-8 in 2012 would probably shut them out of prime time. Tuesday, Iowa learned the 8-5 it put up last season didn't do the trick, either.

The Big Ten Network announced its prime time kickoff schedule. It includes six kickoffs ranging from 5 p.m. to 8 central time. The Hawkeyes weren't listed in any of those.

Iowa was shut out for a second straight year. This year, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue join the Hawkeyes. Big Ten newcomers Rutgers and Maryland are on the list. Maryland will play host to Michigan State on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Rutgers will have two night games, playing host to Penn State on Sept. 13 (7 p.m.) and Michigan on Oct. 4 (6 p.m.).

Iowa's last appearance on an ABC prime-time game was 2009 when it hosted Michigan and won, 30-28. Earlier in 2009, Iowa also played on ABC/ESPN prime time at Penn State, a 21-10 victory. In 2010, Iowa hosted Penn State for a 7 p.m. ESPN regional game, winning 24-3. Iowa's last night game was Oct. 20, 2012, at Kinnick Stadium against Penn State, a 38-14 PSU victory. In 2009, coming off a 9-4 season in '08, Iowa played three night games -- at Penn State, Michigan and at Michigan State.

When the night times were announced last season, Iowa just gritted its teeth and took it. Zero was no big surprise.

'It is what it is. I like where we sit,' Barta said last spring. 'As Kirk (Ferentz) told his players, we know one thing, they're going to put in that time slot the teams they believe will generate the best television rating, which translates into the teams having the most success.'

This year, it feels as though it's more Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany playing the TV sets card. Each one of the night games the BTN released Tuesday includes a traditional power (Nebraska, for example), the east coast or major metro (Northwestern). The six ABC night games released earlier this spring included Ohio State and/or Michigan in four games.

The Big Ten's TV rights come up for bid after the 2016 season.

BTN Primetime Selections

All times Central

Saturday, Sept. 13

7 PM – Penn State at Rutgers

Saturday, September 27

5 PM – Cincinnati at Ohio State

8 PM – Illinois at Nebraska

Saturday, October 4

6 PM – Michigan at Rutgers

Saturday, October 18

6:30 PM – Nebraska at Northwestern

Saturday November 15

7 PM – Michigan State at Maryland

Here's the ABC/ESPN schedule:

Sept. 6

Virginia Tech at Ohio State, 7 p.m. CT, ESPN

Sept. 20

Miami at Nebraska, 7 p.m. CT, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2

Oct. 4

Nebraska at Michigan State, 7 p.m. CT, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2

Oct. 11

Penn State at Michigan, 6 p.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2*

Oct. 25

Ohio State at Penn State, 7 p.m. CT, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2

Nov. 1

Illinois at Ohio State, 7 p.m. CT, ABC or ESPN or ESPN2

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@sourcemedia.net