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The 2016 Iowa football schedule is one of the most manageable in the Big Ten West. Can the Hawkeyes take advantage of the major breaks?

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2016 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule

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2016 Iowa Hawkeyes

Sept. 3 Miami Univ.
Sept. 10 Iowa State
Sept. 17 North Dakota State
Sept. 24 at Rutgers
Oct. 1 Northwestern
Oct. 8 at Minnesota
Oct. 15 at Purdue
Oct. 22 Wisconsin
Oct. 29 OPEN DATE
Nov. 5 at Penn State
Nov. 12 Michigan
Nov. 19 at Illinois
Nov. 25 Nebraska

Non-Conference Games Miami University, Iowa State, North Dakota State

Games vs. the East at Rutgers, at Penn State, Michigan

5 Keys to the Schedule

– It’s an interesting start to the season, even if the non-conference slate looks nice and sweet on paper. Miami University is a layup, but Iowa State is always a fight of a rivalry game, even if the Cyclones aren’t good. North Dakota State is a nightmare of a no-win situation – it’s the FCS’s superpower in a dangerous game worthy of national attention.

– The Hawkeyes can’t ask for much more out of the first two months of the season. There’s a run of three road games in four weeks to start the Big Ten season, but Rutgers, Minnesota and Purdue is a manageable slate, with Northwestern coming to Iowa City.

– Facing Penn State on the road will be tough, but that comes off a week off. Playing Michigan from the East isn’t fun, either, but at least that’s at home. The other interdivision date is at Rutgers – there’s no Ohio State or Michigan State.

– The biggest West games are at home, hosting Northwestern, Wisconsin and Nebraska. The Hawkeyes can’t ask for anything more.

– WATCH OUT FOR … the road game at Minnesota. Iowa fans always invade Minneapolis, but it’s still a dangerous date. As long as there aren’t any major whiffs, beat the Gophers, and Iowa should be 7-0 before facing Wisconsin.

2017 Non-Conference Games Wyoming, at Iowa State, North Texas