Coach T.J. Otzelberger, fresh off a 29-8 season and a Big 12 Tournament title in 2024-25, will lead a roster that is strengthened by transfers like Eric Mulder and Dominick Nelson. Keep reading to get a look of the Iowa State basketball schedule as well as speculations on how far the team may go this season.
Full 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
Iowa State’s full schedule this season is the following:
- October 17: at Creighton (Exhibition)
- October 26: Northwestern (Exhibition)
- November 3: Fairleigh Dickinson
- November 6: Grambling State
- November 10: vs. Mississippi State (Sioux Falls, S.D., neutral site)
- November 17: Stonehill College
- November 25-29: Players Era Festival (Las Vegas, Nev., neutral site)
- December 3: Alcorn State
- December 6: at Purdue
- December 11: Iowa
- December 14: Eastern Illinois
- December 21: Long Beach State
- December 29: Houston Christian
Iowa State has released its non-conference schedule for the 2025-26 season. pic.twitter.com/j1o2kGECRK
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 22, 2025
Iowa State opens with two exhibitions to warm their engines. On October 17, they travelled to Omaha to face Creighton, a 2024-25 NCAA Tournament team. The Cyclones’ 64-58 win over the Bluejays in 2021 gives Iowa a chance to clap back.
The second exhibition, against Northwestern on October 26 at Hilton Coliseum, pits Iowa State against a Big Ten program coming off a 22-10 season.
The regular season tips off November 3 against Fairleigh Dickinson (15-17 in 2024-25), followed by Grambling State (21-15) on November 6. Both home games, with Iowa State paying $125,000 and $115,000 to host, respectively, should give the team enough momentum to build upon.
The Cyclones close with four home games: Alcorn State (Dec. 3, 14-17 in 2024-25), Eastern Illinois (Dec. 14, 14-18), Long Beach State (Dec. 21, 21-15), and Houston Christian (Dec. 29, 6-23). These matchups favor Iowa State, who went 7-1 in non-conference home games last season.
Iowa State’s 2025-26 non-conference slate is a blend of challenges and opportunities, priming the Cyclones for the Big 12 battles. The Players Era Festival, Purdue road trip, and Mississippi State clash offer chances for them to build momentum, while the Cy-Hawk game will fuel their fan support.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
With Otzelberger’s proven leadership and a revamped roster, Iowa State is all set to overshadow their 2024-25 Sweet 16 run with a push that may result in the furthest the team has ever managed to go.
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