No. 13 Purdue Faces Iowa in Big Ten Rematch

Boilermakers look to sweep season series against Hawkeyes in key conference clash

Feb. 13, 2026 at 5:55pm

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No. 13 Purdue travels to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes in a Big Ten rematch on Saturday evening. The Boilermakers defeated Iowa 79-72 in the first meeting on January 14 and will look to sweep the season series and keep their Big Ten title hopes alive. Iowa is aiming to avenge the earlier loss and bounce back from a tough defeat against Maryland earlier this week.

Why it matters

This game has significant implications in the Big Ten standings, with Purdue looking to solidify its position near the top of the conference and Iowa hoping to improve its resume for postseason consideration. The first matchup between these two teams was an entertaining affair, and this rematch should provide another high-level Big Ten clash.

The details

Purdue is led by standout point guard Braden Smith, who is averaging 15.1 points and 8.8 assists per game. The Boilermakers also rely on the scoring of Fletcher Loyer and the inside presence of Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff. Iowa is paced by guard Bennett Stirtz, who is scoring 20.4 points per contest. Tavion Banks and Alvaro Folgueiras provide additional scoring punch for the Hawkeyes.

  • The teams first met on January 14, with Purdue winning 79-72.
  • This rematch will take place on Saturday, February 14 at 5 p.m. ET.

The players

Braden Smith

Purdue's standout point guard is averaging 15.1 points and 8.8 assists per game this season.

Bennett Stirtz

Iowa's leading scorer at 20.4 points per game, Stirtz will look to avenge the Hawkeyes' earlier loss to Purdue.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough, physical game against a very good Iowa team. They will be looking to even the score after our first matchup.”

— Matt Painter, Purdue Head Coach

“This is a big opportunity for us to get a signature win and keep ourselves in the hunt in the Big Ten. We're excited for the challenge of facing a top-15 team on our home floor.”

— Ben McCollum, Iowa Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a top-4 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

The takeaway

This rematch between Purdue and Iowa features two of the top point guards in the Big Ten and should provide another entertaining Big Ten clash. The outcome could have major implications on the conference title race and NCAA Tournament seeding for both teams.