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Like just about everything else in the world, the state of Iowa is pretty divided these days,  especially with a crucial gubernatorial election on the horizon. 

The consistent uproar over politics is just a piece of our culture at this point. Social media has become an additional firing zone for meaningless opinions, with some even refusing to venture to those platforms because of it. 

If you're one of those people worried about being caught in the crossfire of political word salad, have no fear, because this weekend begins a massive opportunity to push all of that by the wayside once and for all. 

I've lived in the great state of Iowa for my entire life, and though they haven't been easy to find, I've discovered the three things in this state that (barely) hold its 3.2 million residents together. In no particular order, they are: Casey's pizza, beer, and college football. 

You'd be very hard-pressed to create an argument from of those three things. Casey's pizza (specifically breakfast pizza) should be the state-legislated food at this point, and while the side effects from a cold one can illicit negative behavior, the beverage represents conversation and community with the people you care about. 

College football in this state is on a whole other level, though. 

The football frenzy is only going to increase when Iowa and Iowa State renew their rivalry at Kinnick Stadium next weekend, but first things first, the Hawkeyes must get through their season opener against Northern Illinois (3:15 p.m., BTN). 

Iowa enters Saturday's game as a hefty 31.5-point favorite, but you wouldn't know that based on the enthusiasm slowly trickling through Iowa City right now. While the wine and cheese crowds at places like Alabama and Michigan make little to no noise during their season openers, the roar inside Kinnick Stadium for the Hawkeyes' first touchdown or defensive stand will feel different. 

Why? Because nothing brings people together like Iowa football. You'll certainly find your die-hard fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium or Michigan Stadium, but a good portion of those fans are more of the corporate, rich alumni that are attending the game to shake as many hands as possible instead of watching the actual football taking place. 

Iowa isn't immune to that either, but when I look down at the 70,000 screaming fans from my seat in the Kinnick Stadium press box, I see one thing – unity. When the Hawkeyes score a touchdown, strangers high-five and hug one another, and when the officials make a bad call, the chorus of different voices boo the referee. 

And that's just during the football game. Before the contest, you'll find an ocean of black and gold strewn about the surrounding parking lots. Families and friend groups begin the day by hosting a private tailgate, but end it by becoming best friends with strangers who walk by and sneak in one toss of the football. 

Politics or whatever differences they may have will never come up in conversation, because their shared connection of cheering for Iowa outweighs their discrepancies. 

That's the beauty of sports right there. There's nothing else on this planet that brings a diverse crowd together than sports, and it's something we can all appreciate. 

Welcome to the 2026 Iowa football season. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io

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