Curt Cignetti doesn’t hand out compliments casually, which is why his words about Iowa carried real weight at Big Ten Media Days.
The Indiana coach, known for saying exactly what’s on his mind, singled out the Hawkeyes in a way that stood out even for him. After facing Iowa in 2025, Cignetti made it clear he came away impressed.
“Iowa? Let me tell you: Iowa was one of the most underrated football teams in America last season,” Cignetti said at Big Ten Media Days.
Indiana had plenty of reason to know what Iowa was capable of. In a game at Kinnick, the Hawkeyes were tied with the Hoosiers 13-13 late and had Indiana on the ropes more than anyone else did during its 16-0 run to a national championship. Indiana still found a way to win late, but Iowa had shown it could stand toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country.
That wasn’t an isolated flash, either. Iowa also had Oregon down late before that one slipped away as well. Those near-misses told a bigger story: the Hawkeyes could hang with elite competition.
And what happened after those losses matters just as much. Iowa didn’t collapse.
It didn’t let the season unravel. Instead, the Hawkeyes regrouped, finished the regular season 8-4 and then closed things out by beating a good Vanderbilt team in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
So yes, Cignetti’s praise is warranted. Iowa proved it could battle the top teams and still keep itself together when those games went the other way.
At the same time, being called underrated is not the destination. It’s a sign that a team still hasn’t fully arrived. For Iowa, the next step is to stop living in that category and become a team everyone has to account for.
In Other News...
Iowa Faces 3 Huge Camp Battles That Could Define This Season
Iowa enters fall camp with a familiar kind of uncertainty, only this time it extends well beyond the usual preseason questions. With just 10 starters back, the Hawkeyes have real competition bubbling at a few of the most important spots on the field, and that makes the opening weeks of camp more than a tune-up. The offensive and defensive lines both have openings, which means several players will get a long look as the staff tries to sort out who can handle the grind once the season starts.
The most obvious swing point is under center, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are still battling for the job and no decision has been made yet. Up front, the picture is just as unsettled, especially on a defensive line that has been stripped down and now needs new starters to emerge quickly. For a team built on structure and line play, these are the kinds of battles that can shape not just September, but the entire feel of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Jan Jensen Is Already Chasing Iowas Next Backcourt Difference Maker
Jan Jensen and the Iowa womens basketball staff are already working well ahead of the present, turning their attention to the 2029 guard class as they look to keep the Hawkeyes backcourt pipeline stocked. Iowa has extended scholarship offers to several top prospects, including Kristen Winston, Bella Swisshelm and Madeleine Hamiel, a versatile combo guard from Minnesota who recently shared her offer after a strong freshman season.
It fits the broader shape of Iowas recruiting approach under Jensen, where guard depth remains a priority and the staff has been active in identifying future difference makers early. For a program that has long valued playmaking on the perimeter, landing the right young guards is about more than adding numbers, it is about finding the next player who can grow into the kind of role Hawkeye fans are used to watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Season May Hinge On One Position Group Early
Iowas offseason conversation has centered on the defensive line, and for good reason. With Phil Parker and Kirk Ferentz trying to rebuild a group that is suddenly much younger, the Hawkeyes are leaning hard on development, depth and the kind of fundamental football that has long been part of the programs identity. Young players such as Iose Epenesa have drawn notice as the staff looks for a new mix up front.
The challenge is not just replacing bodies, but finding a workable rotation that can hold up over the course of the season and keep explosive plays in check. Ferentz and Parker have both stressed that the line needs to be a strength through collective growth, with more players ready to contribute and take meaningful snaps as the weeks go on. For a defense that usually sets the tone in Iowa City, how quickly that group comes together may shape everything else. [Read more 🡒]