Iowa vs. Minnesota: Minnesota Gophers Football Game Guide

Iowa vs. Minnesota is a Big Ten rivalry game at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The matchup is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff in Minneapolis, Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−05:00). That is 7:30 p.m. UTC on the same Saturday. The game is listed on FS1, with streaming on FOX One; Gopher radio coverage is also available. Floyd of Rosedale, the bronze pig trophy, is at stake.

Iowa vs. Minnesota at a glance

Minnesota Athletics lists the game at 2:30 p.m. and names Huntington Bank Stadium as the site. The official FOX game page lists FS1 and FOX One and gives the kickoff as 3:30 p.m. Eastern and 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Converting those listings gives 2:30 p.m. in Minneapolis and 7:30 p.m. UTC.

Why Floyd of Rosedale matters

This is more than a regular-season meeting. The schools have met every year since 1931, and Minnesota’s official preview calls this the 120th meeting overall and the 92nd game played for Floyd of Rosedale. The traveling trophy is a bronze hog linked to a 1935 wager between the governors of Iowa and Minnesota. It measures about 15.5 inches high and 21 inches long, according to the Gophers’ game notes.

Minnesota entered the scheduled game with the larger overall series lead, 63–54–2, but Iowa had won the last two meetings, including a 41–3 result in Iowa City in 2025. Iowa’s pregame notes also say the Hawkeyes had won five straight games at Minnesota. The long-term series record therefore gives the Gophers historical context, while the recent run explains why Floyd is an immediate target for the home team.

The matchups to watch

Minnesota’s passing game against Iowa’s defense

Drake Lindsey was the key quarterback storyline in Minnesota’s pregame notes. Through six games, he had completed 127 of 196 passes for 1,335 yards, with nine touchdown passes and five interceptions. The Gophers’ preview highlighted his efficiency and his recent stretch of multiple touchdown passes. Against a Hawkeye defense that had limited opponents to 84.7 rushing yards per game through its first six contests, Minnesota’s ability to keep the offense balanced could matter. If Iowa’s front makes early-down runs difficult, Lindsey’s decisions on second and third down become especially important.

Iowa’s ground attack and a new starting quarterback

Iowa arrived after a 41–24 road win at Washington. In that game, running back Kamari Moulton produced a career-high 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski completed 14 of 19 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns in his first college start. Those are pregame reference points, not a promise that the same production will repeat. The practical question for viewers is whether Iowa can sustain its rushing threat and give Hecklinski manageable passing situations against a home crowd.

On Minnesota’s side, the Homecoming setting adds a familiar crowd atmosphere, but the matchup is decided on the field. Watch how the Gophers handle Iowa’s rushing downs, whether Minnesota can protect the pocket long enough for Lindsey to find receivers, and how both teams perform on third down and in the red zone. Those observations explain the flow of the game without assuming a winner or inventing an injury report.

How to watch or follow the game

The national television listing is FS1. FOX’s game page also lists FOX One as its streaming option. Check the current channel lineup and account requirements for your television or streaming provider before kickoff, since access can depend on your package and location. If you are away from a screen, Minnesota Athletics lists the Gopher Radio Network, including KFAN FM 100.3, SiriusXM channels 179, 231, or 955, and the SXM app.

For a running scoreboard, team statistics, and game updates, use the official Minnesota game center. It is a useful option if you are listening on radio, following the matchup at work, or want a box score after the broadcast. The FOX game page lists the television and stream options.

Kickoff time and daylight saving details

Use Minneapolis time for the stadium: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00). The corresponding start is 7:30 p.m. UTC on October 24, 3:30 p.m. EDT on the East Coast, and 12:30 p.m. PDT on the West Coast. These are same-day conversions; none crosses midnight.

Minneapolis is still on daylight saving time on October 24. NIST lists the 2026 U.S. daylight-saving period as running through November 1, when clocks move back at 2 a.m. local time. That means Central Daylight Time, not Central Standard Time, is the correct label for the game date. International viewers should use the UTC time or convert from their own city and date rather than applying a fixed offset year-round.

Pregame records and official sources

Minnesota’s game preview lists the Gophers at 4–2 overall and 2–1 in Big Ten play entering the matchup; Iowa was 5–1 overall and 2–1 in the conference. Those are records before this game, not updated standings. The official pages below provide the schedule, roster notes, coverage links, and game-center information used for this guide.

• Minnesota Athletics’ game preview and notes
• Iowa Athletics’ Floyd of Rosedale game notes
• Big Ten’s official Iowa schedule
• Minnesota’s official game center
• FOX’s Iowa–Minnesota watch page
• NIST daylight-saving schedule for 2026

Confirm the listing with your provider and the schools’ official game pages if you are watching later or traveling to the stadium. Broadcast schedules, stream access, and live-stat pages can change or update during game day.