The Floyd of Rosedale is back on the line Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis, as No. 15 Iowa visits Minnesota in a Big Ten border battle with real conference-race stakes. Iowa is a 7.5-point road favorite, and the spread has ticked up half a point since it opened at 7. The total sits at 41, unchanged from the open. Both teams come off a bye, and Iowa will hand the ball to a backup quarterback who just had the best game of his young career. Here is our full breakdown and best bet.
Last Updated: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Iowa vs. Minnesota — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis MN |
| When | Saturday, October 24 – 3:30 PM ET |
| TV | FS1 |
Iowa vs. Minnesota Betting Preview
Iowa enters at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes’ only loss came on October 3, when then-No. 5 Ohio State beat them 31-14. (Our Ohio State vs. Iowa prediction covered that matchup.) Iowa answered with a 41-24 road win at Washington on October 9, then used its bye to get healthy.
That Washington win reshaped the quarterback picture. Jeremy Hecklinski started in place of the injured Hank Brown, who had started the first five games. Hecklinski went 14-of-19 for 202 yards and three touchdowns, according to the Associated Press recap. Kirk Ferentz has named Hecklinski the starter again for Minnesota. Running back Kamari Moulton was the real story in Seattle, however. He piled up a career-high 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
Minnesota sits at 4-2 and 2-1 in the conference. The Gophers beat Washington and then Michigan, 20-14, before a flat 41-13 loss at Purdue on October 10. That game exposed the biggest worry for P.J. Fleck’s team. Minnesota ran for just 25 yards on 12 carries, and a muffed punt handed Purdue a short field. (We previewed that one in our Minnesota vs. Purdue prediction.)
Quarterback Drake Lindsey carries the Minnesota offense. He has completed 127 of 196 passes for 1,335 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions through six games, per the official Gophers game preview. Javon Tracy is his top target with 32 catches for 375 yards. Minnesota will be shorthanded, though. Its final availability report listed defensive lineman Riley Sunram, tight end Pierce Walsh, and offensive linemen Brett Carroll and Ashton Beers among those ruled out. Iowa will be without defensive backs Tyler Brown and Kyler Gerardy and offensive lineman Trent Wilson.
History adds weight. This is the 120th meeting, and Minnesota leads the all-time series 63-54-2. Iowa, in contrast, owns the trophy series 46-43-2 and has won the last two meetings, including a 41-3 rout in Iowa City last October. It is also Homecoming in Minneapolis.
Iowa vs. Minnesota Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | -7.5 (-105) | -290 | O 41 (-105) |
| Minnesota | +7.5 (-115) | +240 | U 41 (-115) |
Odds accurate as of Saturday, October 24, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
Iowa vs. Minnesota — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Iowa | 73% | 27% | Minnesota |
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Iowa vs. Minnesota Prediction — Is the Hook Worth Taking in a Rivalry?
The case for Iowa is easy to make. The Hawkeyes have the better record, the better ranking, and a ground game that just shredded a Big Ten defense. Minnesota’s run game, meanwhile, all but disappeared at Purdue. If the Gophers can’t move the ball on the ground, Lindsey will face too many long passing downs. The public agrees. Iowa has drawn 73% of spread bets, and the line has crept from 7 to 7.5.
Still, the price tells a more nuanced story. The Minnesota side carries -115 juice at +7.5, while Iowa sits at -105. That pricing suggests the market values the hook on the home side despite the lopsided ticket count. Rivalry games also tend to defy form. Iowa’s offense is built to shorten games. Ball-control football keeps the margin tight, and a backup quarterback on the road adds variance to the Hawkeyes’ passing game.
What would make us wrong? Another 200-yard rushing day for Moulton, or another special-teams mistake from Minnesota, could turn this into a repeat of last year’s blowout. However, a conservative Iowa game plan with a modest total points to a one-score game. In that script, getting more than a touchdown with the home team has value.
The Pick: Minnesota +7.5 (-115)
Iowa vs. Minnesota Prediction — Can Either Offense Break a Low Number?
A total of 41 is low, but this matchup has earned it. Iowa wants to run the ball, chew clock, and win field position. Minnesota’s rushing struggles also point to stalled possessions and punts rather than quick strikes. Hecklinski is also making just his second straight start.
The over has a path, too. Iowa scored 41 points at Washington, and Lindsey can stack completions when he has time. A defensive or special-teams touchdown could also push this past the number quickly. Even so, the likeliest game script is a slow, physical rivalry game. The market agrees enough to price the under at -115.
The Pick: Under 41 (-115)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The moneyline does not offer a compelling angle on either side. Iowa at -290 implies roughly a 74% win probability, which is a steep price for a road team starting a backup quarterback in a rivalry game. Minnesota at +240 implies about 29%, and the Gophers’ run-game problems make that hard to back outright. Instead, we prefer to express our view through the spread and the total, which pair naturally. A grinding game keeps both the score and the margin down.
Iowa vs. Minnesota picks summary:
- Spread: Minnesota +7.5 (-115)
- Total: Under 41 (-115)
NCAAF Iowa vs. Minnesota FAQ: Saturday October 24, 2026
What time does the Iowa vs. Minnesota game start?
Iowa vs. Minnesota kicks off at 3:30 PM ET (2:30 PM CT) on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The game is the 92nd meeting for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy and doubles as Minnesota’s Homecoming game. Both teams enter the matchup coming off a bye week.
What channel is the Iowa vs. Minnesota game on?
The Iowa vs. Minnesota game airs nationally on FS1. Tim Brando handles play-by-play, Devin Gardner provides analysis, and Josh Sims reports from the sideline. Fans can also stream the game on FOX One, which requires a subscription or a TV provider sign-in.
Where are Iowa and Minnesota playing?
Iowa and Minnesota play at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of the Gophers. The FieldTurf stadium holds 50,805 fans. This is the 120th all-time meeting between the Big Ten border rivals, and Minnesota leads the overall series 63-54-2.
Who won the last meeting between Iowa and Minnesota?
Iowa won the last meeting 41-3 in Iowa City on October 25, 2025. That victory extended the Hawkeyes’ winning streak in the series to two games. Iowa also leads the all-time trophy series 46-43-2 heading into Saturday’s game in Minneapolis.
Who is starting at quarterback for Iowa and Minnesota?
Jeremy Hecklinski starts at quarterback for Iowa, and Drake Lindsey starts for Minnesota. Hecklinski replaced the injured Hank Brown in Iowa’s 41-24 win at Washington and threw three touchdown passes. Lindsey has thrown for 1,335 yards and nine touchdowns through Minnesota’s first six games.