Now that the Big Ten has officially unveiled its “Flex Protect Plus” scheduling model, Big Ten fans and the college football world know what the 2024 and 2025 home and away slates look like across the league.
In this new model without divisions, each team’s schedule features a combination of protected opponents and rotating opponents for universities. The 11 protected matchups will continue to be played annually after the 2025 season, while the other two-play opponents will change after every two seasons. Under this new format, teams will play every other conference opponent at least twice—once home and once away—in a four-year period.
Most Hawkeye fans got exactly what they were hoping for in terms of their protected opponents. Iowa’s protected opponents are Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes are the only Big Ten school to maintain annual games against three protected rivals.
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🔗 https://t.co/AoNgFZWg9h pic.twitter.com/EujtcgesP3— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) June 8, 2023
This ensures that Iowa fans will be able to watch the Hawkeyes try to capture these three trophy games year after year. The annual contest against Minnesota is for the Floyd of Rosedale, the contest against Wisconsin is for the Heartland Trophy and the contest against Nebraska is for the Heroes Trophy.
After topping Minnesota 13-10 last season, the Hawkeyes have now won eight straight in the series. Butkus Award-winning linebacker Jack Campbell’s late interception set up Drew Stevens’ 21-yard, game-winning field goal. The Golden Gophers lead the all-time series 62-52-2, though.
Iowa also beat Wisconsin last season, 24-10. Hawkeye cornerback Cooper DeJean had a 32-yard pick-six and another 41-yard punt return that set up an early fourth-quarter score. The Badgers lead the all-time series, 49-45-2.
Prior to its 24-17 loss to Nebraska in the regular season finale, the Hawkeyes had beaten the Huskers seven consecutive times. Nebraska leads the all-time series, 30-20-3.
The other eight protected matchups are Illinois-Northwestern, Illinois-Purdue, Indiana-Purdue, Maryland-Rutgers, Michigan-Michigan State, Michigan-Ohio State, Minnesota-Wisconsin, UCLA-USC.
As reported earlier today, the Iowa Hawkeyes will indeed play both newcomers USC and UCLA in 2024. Iowa heads to USC as one of its five road dates in league play. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes will be one of the first Big Ten squads to host UCLA as a fellow league member.
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