Northern Illinois did not pick up a first down until the third quarter, and it came on a penalty. Watch Northern Illinois vs Iowa highlights on FOX Sports or stream on FOX One. The Week 1 late-afternoon window of the 2026 college football season came from Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, IA on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET / 1:15 p.m. PT.

No. 22 Iowa won 40-0 in the 11th meeting between the programs, pushing the all-time series to 10-1.

Northern Illinois vs Iowa Highlights

Iowa led 33-0 at halftime and had the shutout well in hand by then. Kamari Moulton ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, breaking off scores of 50 and 37 yards and piling up 132 in the first quarter alone — his previous career high for a full game was 114. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski split the quarterback work in a competition Kirk Ferentz still called back-and-forth afterward, combining for 205 yards and a touchdown each, and Tony Diaz caught seven balls for 84 yards and a score. Evan James added a 77-yard punt return touchdown among 108 return yards. Northern Illinois managed 14 yards in the first half, did not record a first down until the third quarter, and got that one on a pass-interference call against Iowa, finishing with 120 total yards to Iowa’s 507. It was the 19th shutout of Ferentz’s tenure and Iowa’s second season-opening shutout in three years, in front of 69,250. Rob Harley was making his debut as NIU’s interim head coach in the program’s first season in the Mountain West. You can stream Northern Illinois vs Iowa recaps on FOX One. Every FOX College Football broadcast streams on FOX One, along with highlights, expert coverage and on-demand FOX programming. Start your 3-day free trial and watch on supported devices.

Where to Watch Northern Illinois Huskies vs Iowa Hawkeyes Football

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Missouri vs Kansas — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Oklahoma vs Michigan — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Wake Forest vs Purdue — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Howard vs Indiana — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Arizona vs BYU — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Duke vs Illinois — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Utah State vs Washington — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Bowling Green vs Nebraska — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch San Diego State vs UCLA — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Western Illinois vs Wisconsin — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Ohio State vs Texas — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch North Dakota State vs Air Force — 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Louisiana vs USC — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026
Week 1 — Watch UMass vs Rutgers — 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch UAB vs Illinois — 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
Week 1 — Watch Indiana State vs Purdue — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Toledo vs Michigan State — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Fresno State vs USC — 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Week 1 — Watch North Texas vs Indiana — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Ohio vs Nebraska — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Ball State vs Ohio State — 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Boston College vs Cincinnati — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Marshall vs Penn State — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Northern Illinois vs Iowa — 4:15 p.m. ET / 1:15 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Abilene Christian vs Texas Tech — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Clemson vs LSU — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Hampton vs Maryland — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch South Dakota State vs Northwestern — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Central Michigan vs New Mexico — 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
Week 1 — Watch Louisville vs Ole Miss — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Iowa leads this series 10-1 across 11 meetings that began in 1985. Northern Illinois’ lone win is a memorable one — 30-27 at Kinnick Stadium in 2013 — but the Hawkeyes have taken every other meeting, including 33-7 on Sept. 1, 2018 and the 40-0 shutout on Sept. 5, 2026. That 2026 result was Iowa’s most lopsided win in the series since a 57-3 rout at Kinnick in 1986: the Hawkeyes held the Huskies to 120 total yards and did not allow a first down until the third quarter.