Northern Iowa strength of schedule
2026 weekly schedule
H · 2 
A · 3 
H · 4 
A · 8 
H · 9 Tougher than average Easier than average · number = opponent's win total
Northern Iowa 2026 opponents
| Wk | Opponent | Site | Opp wins | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Drake | vs | 8 | Played |
| 3 | Iowa | @ | 9 | Played |
| 4 | Illinois State | vs | 12 | Played |
| 8 | Southern Illinois | @ | 7 | Upcoming |
| 9 | Indiana State | vs | 3 | Upcoming |
Opponent strength = each opponent's win total in 2025, its last full season (records-based, no betting win totals are used). Schedule and records from CollegeFootballData. See the full conference strength-of-schedule ranking.
Northern Iowa Panthers 2026 opponents by win total, week by week. Bars above the 6.4-win FBS average are tougher than average.
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Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Northern Iowa schedule in 2026?
Northern Iowa faces a tougher than average schedule in 2026. Its opponents averaged 7.8 wins in 2025, above the 6.4-win FBS average.
How is Northern Iowa strength of schedule measured?
Each opponent is rated by its 2025 win total (a full season, so early-season results don't skew it) and averaged across the Northern Iowa 2026 schedule.