The No. 22 Iowa Hawkeyes will host the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday in a Week 1 college football matchup on Big Ten Network.
Kirk Ferentz enters his 28th season as Iowa’s head coach looking to add to his 209 career wins, the most by a head coach in Big Ten history. The No. 22 Hawkeyes will open their season at home against a Northern Illinois team beginning its first year in the Mountain West Conference.
Ferentz has yet to name a starting quarterback, with Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski still competing for the job. Both quarterbacks are expected to play in the season opener, giving Ferentz and the Hawkeyes an opportunity to evaluate the two options in game action.
Northern Illinois, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back after a 3-9 season in 2025. The Huskies enter their first year in the Mountain West with interim head coach Rob Harley leading a significantly revamped roster. With no returning starters on defense and only four on offense, Harley will bring an inexperienced group into Kinnick Stadium for the season opener.
Let’s take a look at the odds for Iowa vs. NIU at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 5.
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Moneyline
- Iowa: -10000 (bet $10 to win $10.01 total)
- Northern Illinois: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Unfold
- Iowa -31.5: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)
- Northern Illinois +31.5: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)
Over/Below
- Over 44.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
- Under 44.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
NIU @ No. 22 Iowa Prediction, Decide
From FOX Sports activities Analysis:
Iowa has constructed a popularity for boring, low-scoring, bodily soccer, and with two new quarterbacks within the combine, do not count on that to vary in Week 1. Ferentz possible will not put an excessive amount of on their plate and can as a substitute lean closely on the working sport. Main rusher Kamari Moulton returns after speeding for 878 yards final season, and the Hawkeyes added L.J. Phillips Jr. by way of the switch portal. Phillips rushed for 1,921 yards and 19 touchdowns at South Dakota final season. Pair him with Moulton and Iowa’s offensive line, and the Hawkeyes ought to have a robust floor sport. That is not a fantastic matchup for Northern Illinois. The Huskies allowed 183.3 speeding yards per sport final season, the fourth-most within the MAC. Even with uncertainty at quarterback, Iowa should not have a lot hassle transferring the ball on the bottom and discovering the top zone. Anticipate the Hawkeyes to regulate this sport from begin to end. Take Iowa to cowl the unfold on this Week 1 matchup.
The Decide: Iowa -31.5
Find out how to Watch Iowa vs.NIU
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
- Time: 4:15 p.m. ET
- TV: BTN
- Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
