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Iowa basketball announces premier nonconference showdown in 2026
TL;DR
Iowa basketball will face Creighton in a nonconference game on November 15, 2026, at the Casey's Center in Des Moines, Iowa. This matchup is part of the NCAA's expanded tournament format, allowing teams to secure crucial wins.
Key points
- Iowa will play Creighton in a nonconference game in 2026
- The game is set for November 15 at the Casey's Center
- This matchup is part of the NCAA's expanded tournament format
- Creighton leads the all-time series 9-7 against Iowa
Mentioned in this story
Casey's CenterDes Moines, Iowa
Iowa HawkeyesCreighton Bluejays
The NCAA Tournament is expanding to 76 teams for the 2026-27 season, which is changing how teams set up their schedules. With eight more spots up for grabs, teams can now grab one or two marquee wins each year, which could prove to be the difference when looking at the bubble.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are getting out in front of the schedule changes and bolstering their opponents in 2026. While the Hawkeyes are still finalizing the entire schedule for next season, a premier nonconference showdown against another power-four opponent.
The Hawkeyes have agreed to a matchup against the Creighton Bluejays, who hail from the Big East, that is set at a neutral site between the two programs. Iowa and Creighton are slated to play on Sunday, November 15, at the Casey's Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
This matchup will mark the 17th time that Iowa and Creighton have met up on the hardwood, with the Bluejays owning a 9-7 advantage in 16 all-time meetings.
This showdown allows the Hawkeyes to have an opportunity to pick up a game that could potentially be a Quad 1 win if Creighton has a strong year, or a Quad 2 win to buoy their NCAA Tournament resume.
Entering the 2026-27 college basketball season, Creighton and Iowa are at different points as programs. Iowa is looking to build upon a magical March Madness run to the Elite 8 in head coach Ben McCollum's first season in Iowa City.
Creighton is looking for a big turnaround in 2026-27 after a season that was undoubtedly below the Bluejays' standard. Head coach Doug McDermott and the Bluejays went just 16-18 overall, which saw a sub-.500 (9-11) record in Big East play, culminating in missing the NCAA Tournament. It ended a streak of NCAA Tournament appearances that extended back to 2021 for Creighton.
The matchup, which is set in Des Moines, will play as an extremely neutral venue for both teams. The University of Iowa is 115 miles from Des Moines, just under a two-hour drive, while Omaha is only slightly farther away, at 134 miles from the Casey's Center.
The game comes on the same weekend as the Hawkeyes' penultimate home football game against the Purdue Boilermakers, which is the Military Appreciation Game, on Saturday, November 14.
Q&A
When is the Iowa vs. Creighton basketball game scheduled?
The Iowa vs. Creighton basketball game is scheduled for November 15, 2026.
Where will the Iowa vs. Creighton game take place?
The game will take place at the Casey's Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
What is the historical record between Iowa and Creighton in basketball?
Creighton leads the all-time series against Iowa with a 9-7 record in their 16 meetings.
