Iowa Basketball Unveils Nonconference Schedule Featuring Six 20-Game Winners

The Iowa men's basketball team, led by new head coach Ben McCollum, has finalized its 2025-26 nonconference schedule featuring eight home games and several challenging matchups. The season kicks off with a five-game home stretch, including games against Robert Morris, Western Illinois, and Xavier, before traveling to Palm Springs for the Acrisure Classic where Iowa will face Ole Miss and either Grand Canyon or Utah. Ole Miss stands out as a formidable opponent due to their fast, physical style under coach Chris Beard, providing Iowa an opportunity to distinguish itself on a neutral floor. The schedule also includes the Cy-Hawk Series game against Iowa State and neutral site games against Bucknell and UMass-Lowell, with five of the nonconference opponents having won at least 20 games last season. Coach McCollum emphasized balancing the schedule to prepare the team for March while also aiming to improve NCAA Tournament qualifications through strategic matchups. Overall, the slate combines confidence-building games with highly competitive contests designed to test and elevate the Hawkeyes ahead of their Big Ten play.