The Iowa Hawkeyes have added the UT Martin Skyhawks to their 2028 football schedule, FBSchedules.com has learned. A copy of the game contract between Iowa and UT Martin was obtained from the University of Tennessee at Martin through a state open‑records request.
Iowa will host UT Martin at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, September 2, 2028. The Skyhawks will receive a $500,000 guarantee for the matchup, according to the contract.
The 2028 contest will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs. It will also be UT Martin’s first game against a Big Ten opponent.
UT Martin competes in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) at the FCS level. The Skyhawks finished the 2025 season 6–6 overall and 6–2 in conference play.
With the addition of UT Martin, Iowa now has two non‑conference opponents scheduled for 2028. Two weeks after hosting the Skyhawks, the Hawkeyes are slated to welcome Western Michigan to Kinnick Stadium on September 16.
The Big Ten has previously announced each team’s conference opponents for 2028. Iowa will host Illinois, Nebraska, Rutgers, and Wisconsin, while traveling to Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, and USC.
UT Martin now has three non‑conference opponents lined up for 2028, including two FBS foes. The Skyhawks will open the season at Central Arkansas on August 24 and later travel to Alabama on Sept.16 for another $500,000 guarantee game.
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I still don’t get these games.i know that they give the FCS schools money they definitely could use, but why?
Can’t Iowa at least play a MAC, or another G6 school?
Well, Kevin Kelley can elaborate because he knows the details much better than I do …. but an FBS tomato can costs something like 3x what an FCS tomato can costs.
Most people I know prefer cheaper tomatoes.
I’m not defending the scheduling practices but merely trying to answer your question.
I get the tomato theory, but the fans will still pay top dollar for tickets to go to these games through season ticket packages and third parties. I would think that the fans and alumni who support these programs would prefer a better opponent for their dollar each week.