Clemson or Iowa? 8 vs. 9 March Madness Matchup Preview

Breaking down the key factors in the South Region first-round game between the Tigers and Hawkeyes.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:39pm

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As March Madness tips off, the 8 vs. 9 matchups are expected to be the most difficult to pick. In the South region, Clemson and Iowa draw each other, both coming off up-and-down seasons. While Clemson has been a consistent presence in the ACC, Iowa is in the first year of a new regime under head coach Ben McCollum. The Hawkeyes enter the tournament as a slight betting favorite, led by senior guard Bennett Stirtz's 20 points per game. However, Clemson's stout defense could pose problems for Iowa's offense.

Why it matters

The 8 vs. 9 games can frequently see the lower seeds as the favorites, and that appears to be the case in this one. While Clemson is ranked higher as a No. 8 seed, Iowa enters the tournament with a lot going its way to potentially pull off the upset.

The details

Clemson lost a significant amount of talent from last season's squad but returned to the NCAA Tournament in spite of a few late-season bumps. The Tigers rely on their defense, which has held opponents under 32% shooting from 3-point range and 41% overall. However, Clemson's offense has struggled at times, averaging less than 75 points per game. Iowa, on the other hand, has slowed the pace under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, similar to his success at Drake. The Hawkeyes are led by senior guard Bennett Stirtz, who is averaging 20 points per game, but the rest of the roster has had trouble providing consistent scoring support.

  • The 8 vs. 9 matchup between Clemson and Iowa will take place on March 20, 2026.

The players

Bennett Stirtz

A senior guard for Iowa who is averaging 20.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

RJ Godfrey

A senior forward for Clemson who is averaging 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

Ben McCollum

The first-year head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who previously had success at Drake.

Brad Brownell

The head coach of the Clemson Tigers, who has built the program into a consistent defensive-minded team.

Carter Welling

Clemson's 6-11 center who averaged 10.4 points per game before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in the ACC Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The winner of the Clemson-Iowa matchup will advance to face the winner of the 1 vs. 16 game in the South Region.

The takeaway

This 8 vs. 9 matchup features a defensive-minded Clemson team against an Iowa squad led by the high-scoring senior guard Bennett Stirtz. While Iowa enters as a slight betting favorite, Clemson's stifling defense could be the difference in a close, low-scoring affair.