Five Biggest Hawkeye Basketball Games for the 2026-27 Season

Cullen Joens Oct 15, 2026

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum, front, looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Coming into the season, there are a lot of questions to be answered about this year’s team. Can the year one momentum under Ben McCollum carry over? How will the offensive production look after losing your top three scorers in Bennett Stirtz, Tavion Banks, and Alvaro Folgueiras? Does this year’s group have what it takes to compete in a tough conference like the Big Ten? Who will charge offensively with the absence of Bennett Stirtz?

While the Hawkeyes do have a tough schedule in the stacked Big Ten and against tough non-conference opponents, here are the five games that hold the most weight in contributing to a successful season.

Purdue (#24 in KenPom)

Coming into the December 1 matchup against a preseason top-25 team like Purdue, Iowa will have to answer many questions. Can they match up down low against other Big Ten teams? Year in and year out, Purdue seems to have tall big men who can compete down low. Matt Painter has deployed a seven-footer in their front court every season since 2012. Can AJ Hammons, Issac Haaa, Matt Haarms, and Zach Edey pass the torch to 7’4” center Daniel Jacobson? Jacobson’s development is something to watch for leading into this contest. 7’3” Saint Mary’s transfer Andrew McKeever will be asked to take on tall skilled big men all year. Projected starter Cam Manyawu also has experience taking on players bigger than him, as he was the team’s starting center last year.

Purdue will also have to find its footing during this game after losing two of its best players from last year in Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn. Playing a tough team like Purdue is difficult enough, but it becomes much harder when you have to play on the road in one of the toughest environments in college basketball.

This team will have to show that it can stay composed and overcome tough roadblocks to win this game. If Iowa is able to pull out a tough, gritty win against a team like Purdue on the road, it would definitely help its case to make the NCAA Tournament if the Hawkeyes end up on the bubble.

Iowa State (#6 in KenPom)

The December 10 matchup against preseason top-25 Iowa State is sure to be a fun one. Iowa State is returning fifth-year senior Tamin Lipsey and sophomore guard Killyan Toure. The Cyclones are also bringing in two four-star transfers in point guard JaQuan Johnson from Bradley and sophomore forward Tre Singleton.

This matchup is especially important because Iowa will be playing a potential top-10 team in the nation at home in a rivalry game. Iowa is looking to break a three-year losing streak against Iowa State.

T. J. Otzelberger is generally known for having top defensive teams in the nation, so this will be a good test to see if Iowa’s offense has what it takes to make a run in March. Iowa State will be playing without star Killyan Toure after he tore his shoulder in August. The Cyclones also lost their two leading scorers from last season, Momcilovic and Jefferson.

If Iowa proves it can hang with great teams such as Iowa State, that would be a huge confidence boost and would look great on the team’s resume.

Maryland (#53 in KenPom)

Maryland really intrigues me this year in the second year of the Buzz Williams era. Maryland didn’t have much success last season, but with the addition of the No. 9 player in the class, Baba Oladotun, I think this team could potentially turn some heads.

Through the transfer portal, the Terrapins also picked up three four-star transfers in senior point guard DJ Wagner from Arkansas, junior guard Bishop Boswell from Tennessee, and sophomore forward Tomislav Buljan from New Mexico.

This year, Maryland brings a lot of size that could potentially test the Hawkeyes’ bigs down low. Iowa has a lot more depth than Maryland, however. Andrew McKeever, Cam Manyawu, Trevin Jirak, and Joey Matteoni all have the potential to hold their own down low against this Maryland team.

One big advantage the Hawkeyes have over Maryland is that the game is in Carver-Hawkeye Arena , with the crowd on their side. With Iowa’s unselfish style of play, the Hawkeyes should be able to pull out a tough, gritty win in the January 9 contest.

Michigan State (#7 in KenPom)

Michigan State has proven to be one of the best teams in the Big Ten and in the nation under head coach Tom Izzo. Michigan State is bringing back Big Ten preseason Player of the Year Jeremy Fears, a great playmaker who can also knock down shots. The Spartans also return senior forward Coen Carr, who has displayed his freakish athleticism time and time again.

Iowa has the luxury of playing this Michigan State team at home. Last year, Iowa was routed to open conference play at the Breslin Center, which was a big wake-up call for the team.

I think Iowa has the advantage when it comes to wing play this year. Sophomore guard Tate Sage is prepared to make a huge leap this year, as is junior forward Cooper Koch. I could definitely see the Hawkeyes being able to slow down Jeremy Fears with the great perimeter defense of Kael Combs, Ty’Reek Coleman, and Isaia Howard.

This will be a tough game for Iowa, but if the Hawkeyes are able to pull out the win in this February 16 contest, it would be a huge boost to their NCAA Tournament resume.

Illinois (#4 in KenPom)

After a hard-fought loss against Illinois in the Elite Eight last year, Iowa looks to get revenge on a familiar foe.

Illinois has to replace freshman guard Keaton Wagler who was picked 5th in the NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Illini were quick to replenish as they picked up the No. 14 player in the class, Quentin Coleman. Illinois also returns four starters: David Mirkovic, Jake Davis, Tomislav Ivisic, and Andrej Stojakovic.

If Iowa wants to win a game like this, they’ll need to outrebound Illinois. Once again, Iowa’s wing play will have to be the deciding factor in this game. Tate Sage and Cooper Koch will need to step up in a big way.

With this being the last game of the regular season, a win would be a huge confidence boost heading into March.

Closing Statement

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum answers questions during men’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (John Charlson/The Daily Iowan)

Conference games will be huge for the Hawkeyes to have a successful season. If they are able to hang around with the best teams in the Big Ten, it will translate to success in the postseason.

Iowa’s defense will have to be heavily relied on, especially with the question of who will be the team’s main scorer this season. For Ben McCollum, that should be no issue because he has shown that he can win games with his defense. Ty’Reek Coleman, Isaia Howard, Jaidyn Coon, and Andrew McKeever are all going to be important for this team on the defensive side of the ball.

Home-court advantage could also play a big role in the team’s success, as Coach McCollum has made it a point that he wants people to come out and watch the games.

If Iowa is able to win three of these five games, the Hawkeyes should have a very successful season and potentially make a big postseason run.