Iowa Hawkeyes

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 3 · 2026

The Week 3 job

Beat Northern Iowa and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

…

…

FS1

Game forecast

Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa <1%Iowa >99%

Iowa

By importanceWatch plan

…

…

BTN

Priority 1

Akron

at

Root for

Minnesota

Root for Minnesota3.6-point playoff boost

Minnesota visits your schedule in week 8: keep them ranked.

41% if Minnesota wins37% with the other result3.6-point differenceIowa playoff chance

…

…

ESPN+

Priority 2

Root for

Miami (OH)

at

Cincinnati

Root for Miami (OH)1.8-point playoff boost

Miami (OH) winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

42% if Miami (OH) wins40% with the other result1.8-point differenceIowa playoff chance

…

…

ABC

Priority 3

Root for

LSU

at

Ole Miss

Root for LSU1.6-point playoff boost

LSU winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

42% if LSU wins41% with the other result1.6-point differenceIowa playoff chance

53 more games that don't move your needle

Syracuse at Pittsburgh · ESPN

Miami at Wake Forest · ESPN

Florida State at Alabama · ABC

Georgia at Arkansas · ABC

Florida at Auburn · ESPN

Troy at Missouri · SECN+

New Mexico at Oklahoma · ESPN2

Mississippi State at South Carolina · SEC Network

Kennesaw State at Tennessee · SEC Network

UTSA at Texas · SECN+

Kentucky at Texas A&M

NC State at Vanderbilt · SEC Network

Tulane at Kansas State · ESPN2

Northern Illinois at Arizona · TNT

BYU at Colorado State · CBS

Colorado at Northwestern

Bowling Green at Iowa State · ESPNU

Arkansas State at TCU · ESPNU

Georgia State at UCF · ESPN+

Utah State at Utah · FOX

Virginia at West Virginia · ACC Network

Houston at Texas Tech · FOX

Kansas at Arizona State · FS1

North Carolina at Clemson · ESPN

SMU at Louisville

Stanford at Duke · The CW Network

Virginia Tech at Maryland

Western Kentucky at Indiana · Peacock

UTEP at Michigan · BTN

Kent State at Ohio State · FOX

Buffalo at Penn State · BTN

USC at Rutgers · CBS

Purdue at UCLA · BTN

Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin · Peacock

James Madison at San Diego State · The CW Network

Fresno State at San José State · FS1

North Texas at Texas State · USA Network

UConn at Southern Miss · ESPN+

East Carolina at Old Dominion · ESPN+

Florida International at Florida Atlantic · ESPN+

Western Michigan at Rice · ESPN+

Temple at Toledo · CBSSN

UAB at Louisiana · ESPN+

Nevada at Middle Tennessee · ESPN+

Wyoming at Central Michigan · ESPN+

Charlotte at App State · ESPN+

Ball State at Liberty · ESPN+

Ohio at South Alabama · ESPN+

Louisiana Tech at Baylor · ESPNU

Coastal Carolina at Delaware · CBSSN

Georgia Southern at Jacksonville State · ESPN+

Marshall at Missouri State · CBSSN

Michigan State at Notre Dame · NBC

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 3, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.