Iowa Hawkeyes Host Northwestern Wildcats in Big Ten Showdown: Preview, Predictions, and How to Watch

The Iowa Hawkeyes are set to host the Northwestern Wildcats in a Big Ten football matchup on Saturday, October 26, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. This game marks Iowa’s Homecoming, an event the Hawkeyes have traditionally dominated under head coach Kirk Ferentz, boasting an 18-6 Homecoming record and having won 11 of their last 14 Homecoming games since 2009.

Iowa, currently standing at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten, is looking to bounce back from a 32-20 loss at Michigan State last week. The Hawkeyes have had mixed results this season, with notable wins against Washington (40-16) and Minnesota (31-14), but also significant losses to Ohio State (35-7) and Michigan State.

Northwestern, with a record of 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten, is coming off a tough 23-3 loss to Wisconsin. The Wildcats have faced numerous challenges, including a hazing scandal and playing in a temporary stadium, but they are determined to overcome these obstacles.

The game is expected to be a defensive battle, with Iowa favored by 13.5 to 14.5 points depending on the odds source. Predictions from various analysts suggest a low-scoring game, with Iowa’s defense playing a crucial role in securing a win. Analysts like Mike Hlas, John Steppe, and Rob Gray predict scores ranging from Iowa 17-10 to Iowa 28-12.

Fans can watch the game on the Big Ten Network, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will also be available for live streaming on FoxSports.com, the Fox Sports app, and Fubo. Chris Vosters and Anthony Herron will provide the play-by-play and color commentary, respectively, while Kylen Mills will report from the sidelines.

In addition to the broadcast, the Hawkeye Radio Network will cover the game, with Gary Dolphin on play-by-play and Pat Angerer providing color analysis.