The Iowa Hawkeyes used to be the nation’s standard 11 a.m. CST kickoff as a Big Ten game to get the day underway. As things have changed, Iowa has produced a quality string of seasons and their games gain more traction. Thus, their kickoffs have drifted away from the early slot.
Personally, THANK GOODNESS, for that. Kicking off less and less games at 11 a.m. CST is one of the best things the Hawkeyes have had happen to them in recent memory. That time is just no good for a football game. That time slot needs to be strictly reserved for Northwestern hosting Rutgers in a game that is 38 degrees, misting, and sees more punts than first downs in the first half. True Big Ten fans, myself included, will subject themselves to that cruel and unusual torture, but no fan wants that time slot for their own team.
That said, there is a flurry of times we see Iowa kickoff at. They have their out of conference schedule, standard Big Ten games, an occasional Friday game, and one or two night kickoffs each season.
With it narrowed down to five different kickoffs, it is only right we rank the Hawkeyes’ best kickoff times from worst to best for fans. The rankings are based on a combination of time, fan activities, the atmosphere that time can produce, and even a little bit of tradition tossed in.
All of these times will be on the upcoming 2022 schedule so whether this ranking hits home or ruffles some feathers, everyone will have their chance to watch the Hawkeyes in their own personal prime time.