Investigation reveals heat metrics at Iowa game exceeded safety thresholds
A TV9 investigation found that Wet Bulb Globe Temperature readings at the University of Iowa football game on September 5, 2026, reached 97, far exceeding the 89.8 threshold where outdoor activities should be canceled. Derek Phillips, a 20-year-old mellophone section leader, collapsed during the first half and died on September 8 after suffering a cardiac arrest. While the university cited hot-weather protocols, it declined to confirm if it uses Wet Bulb metrics or if it is investigating the death.
