How To Watch Iowa Hawkeyes Men’s Basketball
✦ Edited and fact-checked by Junior Sports Writer Alex Vejar, who has more than 10 years of experience covering sports.
A look at the 2025–2026 Hawkeyes
I have to admit that watching Iowa basketball is rarely boring, even if it’s sometimes stressful. The program is coming off a season that felt a bit like a rollercoaster, missing that deep tournament run we all crave.
But the Hawkeyes are entering a new era after the firing of longtime coach Fran McCaffery at the end of last season. Ben McCollum takes over a team that went just 17–16 overall in 2024–2025.
The question I have is whether the influx of McCollum’s former players from Drake will make the kind of impact it takes to elevate the program. After all, this is the Big Ten, and there Iowa always has big expectations.
I wrote this guide to help you find every single Iowa game this season so you can see if they pull it off.
2025–2026 Iowa men’s basketball TV schedule
The Hawkeyes have a fascinating slate this year, especially with the integration of the new West Coast conference members. The January clash against UCLA is going to be a massive style contrast that I cannot wait to watch. You will also want to circle the late-season matchup against Michigan on March 5, as that could have major seeding implications.
Most of these games will air on the Big Ten Network (BTN), FOX, and CBS. But the media rights deal means a significant chunk of the schedule, including some marquee conference games, are exclusive to streaming. You will need to be prepared to switch between traditional cable channels and digital platforms to catch the full season.
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Morris Colonials | Tuesday, Nov. 4 | 8:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Western Illinois Leathernecks | Friday, Nov. 7 | 7:00 p.m. | B1G+ |
| Xavier Musketeers | Friday, Nov. 14 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| Southeast Missouri State Redhawks | Tuesday, Nov. 18 | 8:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Chicago State Cougars | Thursday, Nov. 20 | 7:00 p.m. | B1G+ |
| Ole Miss Rebels | Tuesday, Nov. 25 | 9:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network |
| At Grand Canyon Lopes | Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 9:30 p.m. | — |
| At Michigan State Spartans | Tuesday, Dec. 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium |
| Maryland Terrapins | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 4:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| At Iowa State Cyclones | Thursday, Dec. 11 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1 |
| Western Michigan Broncos | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 3:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Bucknell Bison | Saturday, Dec. 20 | 6:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| UMass Lowell River Hawks | Monday, Dec. 29 | 5:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| UCLA Bruins | Saturday, Jan. 3 | 6:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium |
| At Minnesota Golden Gophers | Tuesday, Jan. 6 | 8:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | Sunday, Jan. 11 | 12:00 p.m. | FOX |
| At Purdue Boilermakers | Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| At Indiana Hoosiers | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 2:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Tuesday, Jan. 20 | 8:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| USC Trojans | Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| At Oregon Ducks | Sunday, Feb. 1 | 8:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Washington Huskies | Wednesday, Feb. 4 | 11:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Northwestern Wildcats | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 3:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Maryland Terrapins | Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 6:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Purdue Boilermakers | Saturday, Feb. 14 | TBD | TBA |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 9:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| At Wisconsin Badgers | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 4:00 p.m. | TBA |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | 9:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Penn State Nittany Lions | Saturday, Feb. 28 | 12:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Michigan Wolverines | Thursday, March 5 | 8:00 p.m. | TBA |
| At Nebraska Cornhuskers | Sunday, March 8 | 5:00 p.m. | FOX |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for Iowa men’s basketball
If you want the most complete coverage without signing a long-term cable contract, I recommend Hulu + Live TV. It carries the Big Ten Network, FOX, and FS1, which covers the vast majority of the Hawkeyes’ broadcast schedule. It’s a reliable service that I use often because the interface is clean and it includes ESPN Select for when you want to switch gears to other sports.
Unfortunately, a live TV subscription alone is not enough this year for Iowa fans. You need a Peacock Premium subscription to catch several exclusive matchups. NBCUniversal has exclusive rights to roughly 40 to 50 Big Ten games this season. Without it, you will miss pivotal matchups that you cannot find on any other channel.
How to watch Iowa men’s basketball FAQ
How can I watch Iowa for free?
You can watch games airing on FOX, CBS, and NBC for free by connecting an over-the-air antenna to your TV, though this will not get you the games on cable-only networks like BTN.
How can I stream Iowa without cable?
I recommend subscribing to Hulu + Live TV, which provides live access to BTN, CBS, and FOX, covering the bulk of the schedule.
Can I watch Iowa on Peacock?
Yes, and you should, because Peacock holds the exclusive streaming rights to a large slate of Big Ten games that will not air on standard television.
How can I watch Iowa in March Madness?
The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament airs across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, so you will need a provider that carries all four channels to see every round.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com editorial team cross-referenced the official Iowa men’s basketball schedule with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. Using those details, we selected our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
This guide is updated regularly throughout the season to ensure our information is accurate. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
