Iowa basketball is off to a scorching 5-0 start, but it will face its most difficult early-season test to date tonight.
In the Acrisure Classic, the Hawkeyes travel to Palm Desert, California, to play fellow undefeated Ole Miss. This game should provide Iowa with its first real yardstick of the young season. Iowa has appeared to be a team prepared to make a significant improvement after five games. The Hawkeyes have been absolutely scorching from the floor, and their scoring margin is a commanding 27.6 points per game, good for 15th best in the country. With a field-goal percentage of 57.6%, Iowa currently leads all collegiate basketball, which is a credit to both their shot selection and the effective rhythm their offense has established thus far.
However, this Ole Miss team isn’t attending a holiday event merely to fill a bracket, even though the Hawkeyes have handled business with authority. The Rebels are also 5-0, and their 83-77 victory over Memphis on November 11 is one of their most notable early-season triumphs. Just that outcome ought to draw attention. Ole Miss has demonstrated the kind of balance and late-game toughness that work well in neutral-site games, and they have multiple scoring threats.
Ilias Kamardine, a senior guard, has been the Rebels’ mainstay thus far. He starts the game shooting 56.6% and averaging 15.8 points per game, which is comparable to Iowa’s efficiency and makes him a player to watch on defense. Two other seniors, guard AJ Storr and forward Malik Dia, both consistently score 14.4 points per game for Ole Miss. Ole Miss offers as much offensive balance as Iowa has seen thus far thanks to three consistent double-figure scorers.
Naturally, Iowa’s point guard is among the nation’s most productive. Bennett Stirtz, a senior floor general, has been outstanding in the first five games. In addition to averaging 17.6 points per game and shooting 57.4% from the field and 45% from three, he also records 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. Iowa’s explosive offense has been fueled by Stirtz’s decision-making, and tonight’s game offers him another opportunity to bolster his early-season resume.
How can fans watch, then? CBS Sports Network will broadcast the Hawkeyes vs. Rebels game from Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert at 8:30 p.m. CT. It’s Iowa’s first encounter with an SEC rival since the Hawkeyes’ 2023 NCAA Tournament matchup with Auburn, and it’s the first meeting between the two programs ever. Ed Cohen and analyst Dan Dickau will be on the call tonight to handle play-by-play duties. Fans who want to watch the match can do so via Fubo, which is currently giving new users a free trial.
A competitive game is anticipated by the oddsmakers. Iowa is currently a 2.5-point favorite on BetMGM, with Ole Miss at +125 and the Hawkeyes at -150 on the moneyline as of Tuesday. In recognition of both teams’ current scoring prowess, the over/under is set at 146.5. Additionally, tonight is the start of a crucial period for Iowa. A victory over Ole Miss would put the Hawkeyes in a strong position going into their matchup with either Grand Canyon or Utah on Wednesday, which will also be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, before Big Ten action begins to take shape.
Iowa is currently benefiting from a strong start. The Hawkeyes recently dominated every game they’ve played, destroyed SEMO, and crushed Chicago State. The rotations are tightening, the offense is humming, and confidence is rising. However, the real tests are still ahead of us and will arrive soon.
Iowa will embark on a challenging, nationally televised portion of its 2025–26 schedule following this two-game stint at the Acrisure Classic. This includes a road trip to Michigan State on December 2 (Peacock), a home game against Maryland on December 6 (FS1), and an eagerly awaited rivalry match at Iowa State on December 11 (FS1). The Hawkeyes play Western Michigan, Bucknell, and UMass Lowell before the Big Ten slate, which includes opponents like UCLA, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, and others, arrives in January. But for the time being, there is only one thing on the agenda: Ole Miss tonight in the desert under bright lights.
This is the time to continue demonstrating that Iowa’s early-season dominance is real. The nation’s attention will follow the Hawkeyes if they emerge from Palm Desert unbeaten.
