Why the Iowa Hawkeyes have sold out every home football game in 2022
All seven of the Iowa Hawkeyes home games have officially sold out for the 2022 college football season. The sellouts became a note of interest over the last few weeks as hype and news began to circulate more and more amongst Hawkeyes fans. This led to a rapid buying of whatever single-game tickets were left and, ultimately, to the Iowa Hawkeyes with a prideful slate of sold out home games.
There is a little bit of everything as a draw for Iowa fans to file their way into Kinnick this fall. There are big games, high-profile players, interesting circumstances, and much more.
One interesting tidbit of the home slate is that each of the seven games has its own special event and occasion tied to it. Giving each game its own designated event can certainly entice fans to snatch up tickets for something that piques their interest.
With the first home game at Kinnick to kick off on Sept. 3 as the Hawkeyes welcome in the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, there is one question to be asked. And that is simply, “why?”
We see that the games have been sold out. We hear that. But why? What caused the home games for the Hawkeyes to rapidly sell out and set up for a raucous 2022 season inside the walls of Kinnick Stadium? There are a few reasons behind this and all of them get fans excited in very different ways. Let’s look at why the 2022 home slate for the Iowa Hawkeyes has led to a clean sweep of sellouts.
Defending Big Ten West champions
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Hawkeyes fans want to play their part in a return trip to Indianapolis as Big Ten West champions. Big Ten football is filled with rowdy crowds and those in Kinnick know they can play their part in helping their team get back to Indianapolis.
Last season we saw the Kinnick crowd have a monstrous effect in the Penn State win that helped propel Iowa to winning the Big Ten West championship. The excitement and eagerness to defend the Big Ten West is one big reason for the home sellouts.
Primetime home matchups
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa versus Iowa State on Sept. 10 for the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Iowa versus Michigan on Oct. 1 in a Big Ten Championship game rematch.
Iowa versus Wisconsin on Nov. 12 with HUGE Big Ten West implications on the line late in the season. Iowa versus Nebraska on Nov. 25 in a game that many think can ultimately decide the Big Ten West.
Need I say any more?
Defensive superstar firepower
AP Photo/Matthew Putney
The Iowa Hawkeyes’ defense in 2021 was lethal. Turnovers, minimal points, and tough sledding for the opposing offenses was the norm. That can be expected and possibly even then some in 2022.
Jack Campbell, Riley Moss, Lukas Van Ness, Seth Benson, Jestin Jacobs, and many more worthy of being named are all future NFL talents that Hawkeyes fans can see don the Tigerhawk inside Kinnick this season.
New-look offense
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
For as much as we know about what to expect from the 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes defense, there are just as many things fans are curious to see from the 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes offense.
Can Spencer Petras take the next step? What does the young wide receiver room shake out like and how do they attack? Can the new duo in the backfield find traction behind an offensive line with more experience? The new offense in 2022 is a question mark fans are eagerly hoping is answered.
My takeways on the Kinnick sellouts
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen
It comes as no shock to anyone within the Iowa fan base or Big Ten that the West division of the conference has its usual wide open feel to it. There are the usual suspect of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, always overhyped Nebraska, and Purdue lurking in the background. Any of the five could win it and any of the five could struggle mightily.
I think the unknowns and intrigue of what the Big Ten West holds each year is a draw to fans. Any game can be a blowout, but any game hosted inside Kinnick can be a classic of going down to the wire or knocking off one of the top ranked teams in the country.
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