Extra Life Charity Challenge Brings College Football 26 to Iowa City

Video games and charity go well together. The Children's Miracle Network is again bringing back Extra Life for 2025!

Want to have fun and help kids? This is the best of both worlds!

Extra Life Challenge 2025: What You Need to Know

Every fall, Kinnick Stadium fills with the roar of Hawkeye fans. But this October, the iconic stadium will welcome a different kind of competition, not on the field, but on the screen.

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Now comes the fun part! Gamers and Hawkeye fans will gather inside Kinnick for the Extra Life Charity Challenge, a tournament centered on the brand-new EA Sports College Football 26 game.

READ MORE: What Happens When ISU Beats Iowa in Football?

It’s not just about bragging rights; it’s about making a difference for kids across Iowa.

Help Kids and Have Fun at the Extra Life Challenge

Hosted in partnership with South Slope and Rival Warz, the event benefits the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital through the Extra Life program, part of the Children’s Miracle Network.

Every controller click, every touchdown scored in the virtual game, will help fund life-saving treatments, innovative research, and vital services for children receiving care in Iowa City.

Participants will not only get the chance to test their skills in the first major College Football 26 tournament but also enjoy special appearances from Hawkeye athletes and coaches.

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There’s even a chance to witness a virtual version of one of the most inspiring traditions in sports, the Hawkeye Wave, inside the game itself!

The Extra Life Charity Challenge takes place on Saturday, October 4th, during the Hawkeyes’ bye week, giving fans the perfect opportunity to enjoy football in a whole new way.

Registration for the Extra Life Challenge is Easy

Registration is easy: text GAMEON to 34984 or visit the Extra Life page here.

This isn’t just another gaming event, no, sir. It’s a chance to be part of something bigger. To play. To give. To make a difference.

Need to kill some time before the Extra Life challenge? Check out the abandoned Wasserbahn Water Park!