RON MALY HAS BEEN WATCHING THE PARADE GO BY FOR A LONG TIME. THIS IS ONE OF HIS WEBSITES.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Iowa's 9-Game Big Ten Football Schedules for 2016 and 2017

The Big Ten office announced the conference football schedules for the 2016 and 2017 seasons today. The schedules consist of nine league games each season, with Iowa playing five road games in 2016 and five conference home games in 2017.

Iowa’s Big Ten schedule in 2016 includes homes game against Northwestern, Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska.  Iowa opens Big Ten play Oct. 1, hosting Northwestern.  Iowa plays at Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, Penn State, and Illinois.  The non-conference slate in 2016 includes three straight home games against Miami (Ohio), Iowa State, and North Dakota State.  The first football game between Iowa and Rutgers will take place Oct. 29.

In 2017, Iowa is slated for non-conference games with Iowa State in Ames and North Texas in Iowa City.  An additional nonconference contest is yet to be added.  Big Ten home opponents include Illinois, Penn State, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Purdue.  The Hawkeyes will travel to Michigan State for the Big Ten opener on Sept. 30 and also visit Northwestern, Wisconsin and Nebraska.  

The Heroes Game, matching Iowa and Nebraska, is scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving in both 2016 and 2017.

Iowa will play the other six members of the West Division in each of the two seasons.  Non-division games in 2016 include Rutgers, Penn State and Michigan.  The Hawkeyes plan non-division foes Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State the following season.

Beginning in 2014, the Big Ten football division alignments will feature Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Rutgers in the East Division, and Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin in the West Division.

The Big Ten will hold the 2013 football media dayss and 42nd annual Kickoff Luncheon on Wednesday and Thursday, July 24 and 25, at the Hilton Chicago, featuring all 12 head coaches and some of the nation’s top returning players. The 118th season of Big Ten football kicks off Thursday, Aug. 29, and culminates with the third a league championship game Saturday, Dec. 7. The winner of the title game will earn the Big Ten championship and a chance to play in either the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series national championship game.

Iowa’s schedules for 2016 and 2017:

2016
Sept. 3        Miami (Ohio)
Sept. 10      Iowa State
Sept. 17      North Dakota State
Sept. 24      Open
Oct. 1         Northwestern*
Oct. 8         at Minnesota*
Oct. 15       at Purdue*
Oct. 22       Wisconsin*
Oct. 29       at Rutgers
Nov. 5        at Penn State
Nov. 12      Michigan
Nov. 19      at Illinois*
Nov. 25      Nebraska*

2017
Sept. 2        Open
Sept. 9        at Iowa State
Sept. 16      North Texas
Sept. 23      Open
Sept. 30      at Michigan State
Oct. 7         Illinois*
Oct. 14       Penn State
Oct. 21       at Northwestern*
Oct. 28       Minnesota*
Nov. 4        Ohio State
Nov. 11      at Wisconsin*
Nov. 18      Purdue*
Nov. 24      at Nebraska*

* - Divisional game

[This story was written for Ron Maly by Steve Roe, Iowa's sports information director].