The Iowa Hawkeyes have added the Ball State Cardinals to their 2027 football schedule, FBSchedules.com has learned.
A copy of the football game contract between Iowa and Ball State was obtained from Ball State University via a state public records request.
Iowa will host Ball State at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2027. The Hawkeyes will pay the Cardinals a $1.6 million guarantee for playing the game, according to the copy of the contract.
Iowa and Ball State have met three times on the gridiron and all three games were contested in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cardinals in each of those contests — 56-0 in 2005, 45-0 in 2010, and 17-13 in 2014.
The 2027 matchup between the two schools is the first non-conference contest scheduled for both Iowa and Ball State. The Hawkeyes can schedule two more non-conference opponents while Ball State will need to schedule three more.
Iowa is currently 4-2 so far in their Big Ten-only season. The Hawkeyes’ next scheduled contest is at the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Ball State (3-1), a member of the Mid-American Conference, is also playing a conference-only schedule in 2020. The Cardinals are next scheduled to play on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Central Michigan Chippewas.
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