Hawkeyes' Historic Sioux City Game
Iowa Men's Basketball Faces Virginia Tech in Historic Sioux City Neutral-Site Game
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Key Points
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Iowa enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 season, advancing to the Elite Eight and earning the program's 30th NCAA Tournament appearance while totaling 24 wins, including wins over several higher-ranked seeds.
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Ben McCollum, a Storm Lake, Iowa native and four-time national champion at Northwest Missouri State, is in his first year as Iowa’s head coach and has already guided the Hawkeyes to 20+ wins and a deep NCAA Tournament run in his debut season.
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Virginia Tech’s returning core includes two top scorers from last season—Amani Hansberry (14.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG) and Ben Hammond (13.2 PPG, 43.1% 3-point shooting)—along with contributors Isaiah Elohim and Miles Heide, who help bolster the Hokies’ roster.
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Beyond VT, Iowa’s 2026-27 non-conference slate features Xavier on the road and Iowa State at home, plus Creighton and Alabama in Des Moines, highlighting a robust in-state neutral-site and high-major lineup.
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Virginia Tech finished 19-13 (8-10 ACC) last season and did not participate in the NCAA Tournament; the Hokies have not appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2022.
Iowa men's basketball will play Virginia Tech at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City on November 10, 2026 — the first time the Hawkeyes have ever played a game in Sioux City KCRG. The neutral-site matchup is part of a 2026-27 non-conference slate that also features Creighton, Alabama, Xavier, and Iowa State, giving first-year head coach Ben McCollum a loaded schedule heading into his sophomore season.
Tickets go on sale June 26 KTIV. Tip-off time and TV designation will be announced later.
McCollum Returns to His Northwest Iowa Roots
Ben McCollum grew up in Storm Lake, Iowa — roughly 65 miles from Sioux City. His connection to the region is a driving force behind the game's location KCCI. McCollum said, "Bringing this team to Sioux City is a priority for us. It's about connecting with Hawkeye fans in Western Iowa who have supported this program for decades but rarely get to see us in their backyard."
McCollum came to Iowa after winning four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State. In his debut season, he guided the Hawkeyes to 24 wins and an Elite Eight appearance — the program's 30th NCAA Tournament overall KTIV. Iowa defeated several higher-ranked seeds along the way. It was the most successful debut for a head coach in program history.
Virginia Tech Arrives Hungry After Four-Year Tournament Drought
Virginia Tech finished last season 19-13, going 8-10 in the ACC SI. The Hokies missed the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year. Head coach Mike Young needs a marquee non-conference win to build a strong resume heading into the postseason bubble conversation.
Virginia Tech returns two of its top scorers. Forward Amani Hansberry averaged 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Guard Ben Hammond shot 43.1% from three-point range and scored 13.2 points per game SI. Both players give the Hokies real firepower — and make this anything but a safe game for Iowa.
Iowa Leads 0-4 All-Time Against the Hokies
Iowa has never beaten Virginia Tech. The Hokies lead the all-time series 4-0 KCCI. The two teams last met in 2017 during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, with Virginia Tech winning that game too. Iowa will look to snap the streak in front of a home-state crowd.
Winning this game would matter beyond bragging rights. A loss to a non-tournament team in Sioux City could hurt Iowa's NET ranking — the metric used to evaluate teams for NCAA Tournament seeding. A win, on the other hand, would keep the Hawkeyes on track for another Top-15 preseason ranking.
Iowa Spreading Its Footprint Across the Entire State
Iowa is scheduling three non-conference neutral-site games in the state of Iowa against Power Conference programs in 2026-27 KIWA Radio. Beyond Sioux City, the Hawkeyes will host Creighton and Alabama in Des Moines. Iowa State will also come to Iowa City. It is one of the most ambitious in-state schedules the program has ever built.
Big Ten basketball analysts say the strategy is deliberate. "Iowa is no longer just a 'Des Moines and Iowa City' team," said analyst Marcus Riley. "Scheduling a power-conference opponent in Sioux City is a brilliant move to solidify McCollum's local hero status." The Tyson Events Center holds around 10,000 fans for basketball. Local officials expect tickets to sell out fast after the June 26 on-sale date KTIV.
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