While football season is in full swing, it is never too early to talk about winter sports — especially college basketball.
The Iowa men’s and women’s basketball teams don’t return to action for another few months, but Big Ten released the conference schedule for the 2024-25 season on Sept. 19, signaling that a new campaign is around the corner.
The women’s squad enters the season with plenty of momentum after going 34-5, reaching the NCAA championship game for the second-consecutive season, losing in an 87-75 heartbreaker to South Carolina.
Despite the losses of superstar Caitlin Clark to the WNBA and head coach Lisa Bluder to retirement, Iowa announced on Sept. 25 that it had sold out all home games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the second-consecutive season — a remarkable moment for new head coach Jan Jensen.
On the other hand, the men’s team struggled in 2023-24, going a measly 19-15 overall and missing out on the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2018. The program is entering a crucial season under head coach Fran McCaffery, who hopes to guide the Hawkeyes back into the Big Dance for the eighth time in his tenure.
Here’s a look at both teams’ schedules for the 2024-25 season:
Men’s team
The men’s team will open the season on Nov. 4 against Texas-A&M Commerce. After two more contests against lower non-conferences foes, Iowa’s first test of the season will be on Nov. 15 against Washington State in the Quad Cities Hoops Showdown.
The game, played in Moline, Illinois, marks the first of three neutral site games the Hawkeyes will play, with matchups against Utah and Utah State on the schedule. The Utah State game will take place on Nov. 22 in the NABC Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, marking the second meeting all-time between the two programs.
Iowa returns to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Dec. 21 for the Utah game. The 3,000-seat venue has often been a great home court advantage for the Hawkeyes, as they have won their last two games in the arena.
Arguably the biggest matchup of the non-conference slate is a contest against in-state rival Iowa State on Dec. 12. Iowa is aiming to get revenge on the Cyclones after losing last year’s matchup 90-65 in Ames. Both teams have alternated wins and losses over the past two seasons, and Iowa State hasn’t won inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 2014.
The Cyclones will most likely enter Iowa City in the top 10, providing a major opportunity for a Hawkeye squad desperate to prove itself after last season’s disappointing finish.
Big Ten play
Since the Big Ten expanded to 20 conference games in the 2017-18 season, Iowa has been forced to play at least two conference games in December. In those contests, the Hawkeyes have compiled a dismal record of 3-12, including a 0-2 mark last year.
Iowa gets Northwestern at home and Michigan on the road this year, both of which present winnable games for the Hawkeyes to get some momentum heading into the rest of conference play.
Iowa avoids road matchups against Michigan State, Indiana, and Purdue, but has tricky road trips against USC, UCLA, and rival Illinois on the schedule. The home slate features matchups against Purdue, Oregon, and Indiana. Three home games will be on the weekend along with two Friday home contests.
Tip-off times and TV schedules will be released at a later date.
Women’s team
Following their season opener against Northern Illinois on Nov. 6, things will immediately heat up with a contest against Virginia Tech as part of the Ally Tipoff on Nov. 10.
Virginia Tech lost its head coach and star player Georgia Amoore to Kentucky in the offseason, but they still present a stiff challenge for Jensen and the new-look Hawkeyes.
After a game against Toledo, Iowa will make the short drive west to Des Moines for a matchup with in-state rival Drake, Jensen’s alma mater, on Nov. 17.
Like the men’s team, the women will also venture to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls for a contest against Kansas on Nov. 20, followed by a return trip to Iowa City to take on Washington State four days later.
The Hawkeyes will then pack their bags and head south to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge against Rhode Island and Brigham Young. This marks Iowa’s fifth time competing in the tournament and the team’s first appearance since 2016.
Following their trip to Mexico, the Hawkeyes will travel to Brooklyn to take on Tennessee in the Women’s Champions Classic on Dec. 7, and then will host in-state rival Iowa State on Dec. 12 in a marquee matchup.
Big Ten play
The highlight of the conference schedule is undoubtedly a contest with USC on Feb. 2. The Trojans narrowly missed out on the Final Four last season and will feature a star-studded lineup headlined by sophomore sensation JuJu Watkins.
The Hawkeyes will also have tricky home games against conference contenders Indiana, Nebraska, and Maryland. The road slate features matchups against Oregon, Washington, Ohio State, Michigan, and Nebraska.
Tip-off times and TV schedules will be out at a later date.