UND and Iowa Reschedule Their 2027 Season‑Opener to August 28

In a move that surprised a few fans but made sense on the calendar, the University of Northern Dakota and the University of Iowa announced that their 2027 football matchup will now be the very first game of the season. The two programs have agreed to play on August 28 at Iowa’s iconic Kinnick Stadium, essentially swapping the original date for an earlier slot.

What does this mean for the Fighting Hawks? Their non‑conference schedule now opens with a trip to Long Island University on September 18, giving them a week to regroup after the early season trip to Iowa City. The change also frees up the later date that had been penciled in for the Hawkeyes, allowing them to keep a smoother flow into their Big Ten slate.

The matchup itself is steeped in history. The last time these two teams met on the gridiron was nearly a century ago – Oct. 9, 1926, in Iowa City – when the Hawkeyes rolled past the Panthers 40‑17. Fast‑forward to today, the Panthers (now Fighting Hawks) sit at a crisp 3‑0 record and are ranked No. 6 in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25. Their most recent victory came against LIU, a 2026 home win that underscored the program’s resurgence.

Both schools see the early kickoff as a win‑win. For Iowa, it provides a high‑profile home game to kick off the year, energizing the fan base and giving the team a chance to iron out any early‑season kinks before diving into Big Ten action. For UND, the early test in front of a massive crowd at Kinnick offers priceless exposure and a chance to prove they can compete with Power‑Five opponents.

Coach Kirk Ferentz of Iowa welcomed the adjustment, noting that “starting the season with a solid conference rival like Northern Iowa sets the tone for what we want to accomplish.” Meanwhile, UND’s head coach expressed excitement about the “unique opportunity to showcase our program on a national stage right out of the gate.”

As the calendar flips to summer, fans on both sides will be busy planning travel, tickets and game‑day rituals. One thing is certain: the Aug. 28 clash at Kinnick is shaping up to be a memorable opener that bridges a storied past with an eager future.