The Iowa Hawkeyes have added the Northern Iowa Panthers to their 2026 football schedule, FBSchedules.com has learned.
A copy of the football game contract with the University of Iowa was obtained from the University of Northern Iowa via a state public records request.
Iowa will host Northern Iowa at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The Hawkeyes will pay the Panthers a $700,000 guarantee for playing the game, according to the copy of the contract.
In their most recent matchup in 2018, the Hawkeyes defeated the Panthers 38-14 at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has won 17 consecutive games in the series since dropping the inaugural matchup in 1898 when UNI was known as Iowa State Normal School.
Northern Iowa is currently a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Panthers advanced to the FCS Playoffs last season, but fell on the road at Eastern Washington and finished the season 6-6 overall and 4-4 in MVFC action.
Northern Iowa is the second scheduled non-conference opponent for Iowa in 2026. The Hawkeyes are also slated to host the Northern Illinois Huskies on Sept. 5 that season.
Iowa is the second Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent on the schedule for Northern Iowa in 2026. The Panthers are slated to open the 2026 season on the road against the Iowa State Cyclones on Sept. 5.
Northern Iowa has never played Iowa and Iowa State in the same season. The Panthers are 1-7 all-time against the Hawkeyes and 6-24-3 against the Cyclones.
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