Next years schedule--who did we piss off at the BIG?

7and5baby

Freshman
Sep 22, 2018
58
93
18
2027 schedule...
lets disregard the 2 OOC games, and the 4 'automatic' games (ISU, NEB, WISKY, MN)

we play...
Oregon
USC
UCLA
INDY
MICH
MARYL

All of these are top-tier teams, except Maryl. And Neb, Wisky, & MN are all traditionally solid teams as well.
 

squeezebox_1

All-Conference
Mar 6, 2018
1,245
1,790
113
That schedule is daunting. It boggles my mind when people talk about 2027 being "the" year for Iowa football. So many variables in play. If they can return everyone, that changes the dynamic, but wow do we need some DL play to step up. it is all going to depend on the transfer portal for most of these teams.
 

Palmerhawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,401
4,792
113
Fans just look at Iowa's roster and see that only a handful of players exhaust their eligibility this year and project a strong team.
But, schedule does matter.
I will say,fwiw, Oregon,USC,UCLA, IU all lose star QBs off this year's team.
As will wis and neb.
Mich and minny are in kinnick.

Stuff changes so radically in off season these days it is near impossible to project.
Purdy might show as ISU 's qb next year in this nutty environment!
 

eyesofhawk

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
3,739
3,536
113
Fans just look at Iowa's roster and see that only a handful of players exhaust their eligibility this year and project a strong team.
But, schedule does matter.
I will say,fwiw, Oregon,USC,UCLA, IU all lose star QBs off this year's team.
As will wis and neb.
Mich and minny are in kinnick.

Stuff changes so radically in off season these days it is near impossible to project.
Purdy might show as ISU 's qb next year in this nutty environment!
Purdy never beat Iowa. So that would be great
 

bulletproof90

Freshman
Oct 9, 2010
27
59
13
2 of the 3 West Coast teams (USC and UCLA) having to come to Kinnick is nice.

We can beat Michigan in Kinnick as well.

@Indiana is tough. @Oregon is as well although if they look like the do this year, that's winnable.

@Nebraska and @Wisconsin are fine, we can beat those two anywhere.

We should be a better team next year, based on who we have returning. And being a developmental program, I'm excited to see how good this team can become after going through the rest of this season, and the gauntlet that is next season.

Go 10-2 or even 9-3 next year and we're a dangerous team in the playoffs.
 

uihawk82

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2021
3,157
4,651
113
2 of the 3 West Coast teams (USC and UCLA) having to come to Kinnick is nice.

We can beat Michigan in Kinnick as well.

@Indiana is tough. @Oregon is as well although if they look like the do this year, that's winnable.

@Nebraska and @Wisconsin are fine, we can beat those two anywhere.

We should be a better team next year, based on who we have returning. And being a developmental program, I'm excited to see how good this team can become after going through the rest of this season, and the gauntlet that is next season.

Go 10-2 or even 9-3 next year and we're a dangerous team in the playoffs.
Nice evaluation. I will be surprised if USC brings much of a defense with them to kinnick. Without knowing how many starters our opponents are losing it is hard to predict which teams will be tough, top opponents.
 
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squeezebox_1

All-Conference
Mar 6, 2018
1,245
1,790
113
Fans just look at Iowa's roster and see that only a handful of players exhaust their eligibility this year and project a strong team.
But, schedule does matter.
I will say,fwiw, Oregon,USC,UCLA, IU all lose star QBs off this year's team.
As will wis and neb.
Mich and minny are in kinnick.

Stuff changes so radically in off season these days it is near impossible to project.
Purdy might show as ISU 's qb next year in this nutty environment!
Agreed, the issue isn't exhausting eligibility as much as it is players leaving early. I don't feel nearly as comfortable replacing 3 lineman again next season. Losing two potential 1st round picks is a tough hill to climb. We've seen how they are progressing with the season, it would be amazing if Iowa could scrounge up the money to keep both Lauck and Pieper, but I see both of them headed to the league.
 

OnlyTheObscure

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
3,572
5,104
113
Iowa is lucky their guaranteed games are against weaker teams. Their schedule would be a lot more difficult almost every year without them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some schools don’t start squawking about strength of schedule bias in league games.
 

Hawkmanic23

All-Conference
Mar 11, 2026
2,668
2,205
113
2027 schedule...
lets disregard the 2 OOC games, and the 4 'automatic' games (ISU, NEB, WISKY, MN)

we play...
Oregon
USC
UCLA
INDY
MICH
MARYL

All of these are top-tier teams, except Maryl. And Neb, Wisky, & MN are all traditionally solid teams as well.
Michigan and Oregon certainly aren’t “top-tier” Big 10 teams this season. At least we get Ohio State off the schedule. Too bad Iowa doesn’t play Penn State next year.
 

HawksRule73

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
894
2,229
93
The schedule won't be as big of a deal come next year with the move to a 24 team playoff. If we can go 9-3 or maybe even 8-4 against that schedule, we should be in the playoff.
 

eyesofhawk

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
3,739
3,536
113
Iowa is lucky their guaranteed games are against weaker teams. Their schedule would be a lot more difficult almost every year without them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some schools don’t start squawking about strength of schedule bias in league games.
And Iowa also has played a part in the challenges of its neighboring teams
 

LetsGoHawks83

All-American
Mar 20, 2015
3,617
7,258
113
The schedule won't be as big of a deal come next year with the move to a 24 team playoff. If we can go 9-3 or maybe even 8-4 against that schedule, we should be in the playoff.

But with the expanded playoff, goals will shift quickly...like BBall. You want to have a better record, better seed, better chance to win game one.

With 24 teams, we'll want Iowa in the playoffs around 50% of the time
 

MeetTheFerentzes

All-American
Sep 6, 2022
2,914
5,771
113
That is a GREAT looking B1G schedule! Such a welcome relief from all the B1G West years. I would hope that these are the types of schedules Iowa’s players want. I can’t wait….
 

7and5baby

Freshman
Sep 22, 2018
58
93
18
Iowa is lucky their guaranteed games are against weaker teams. Their schedule would be a lot more difficult almost every year without them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some schools don’t start squawking about strength of schedule bias in league games.
Mn and Wisky are usually 'ok' to 'good'. I fear Wisky might be back heading towards 'good to great' again, especially since their NIL has picked up. Deby might be a sleeping giant, and have a LOT of CA$H from their fanatical fanbase.
 

Hurricane88

Sophomore
Mar 13, 2024
124
168
43
The way some of the fans talk about this year's team and being a playoff lock dictates how people think about next season.

If this year's team is so good and a "lock" to the playoffs and will "easily handle" the rest of the schedule, then why wouldn't we think next season will be better?
 

Hurricane88

Sophomore
Mar 13, 2024
124
168
43
Mn and Wisky are usually 'ok' to 'good'. I fear Wisky might be back heading towards 'good to great' again, especially since their NIL has picked up. Deby might be a sleeping giant, and have a LOT of CA$H from their fanatical fanbase.
Debby has been a "sleeping giant" for decades now. Let's see how Trae Taylor does, if he even sticks with his commitment. Michigan might be looking for another coach after this season. Oregon as well?

I know I'm one of the people Squeezebox is referring to about next season. I still think it looks favorable. Unless we lose a bunch of starters to the portal.
 

Tippett1

Junior
Oct 17, 2002
129
210
43
I realize Iowa typically has almost everyone come back but you never know, Iowa could lose a bunch of guys in the portal.
 
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