Iowa basketball has landed in ESPN’s latest bracketology as a team on the edge, but still inside the field.
In Joe Lunardi’s updated projections, the Hawkeyes are listed as one of the last four byes and slotted as a No. 10 seed in the South Region in San Antonio. That setup would put Iowa against No. 7 seed Miami in the first round.
It’s a notable spot for Ben McCollum’s group after the coach guided Iowa on a run to the Elite Eight last spring. Now the question is whether Year 2 can bring another trip to the NCAA Tournament and another March push.
The roster has changed, but there is still a core in place. Iowa added Illinois State guard Ty'Reek Coleman and Saint Mary's center Andrew McKeever, while also returning Kael Combs, Cooper Koch, Isaia Howard, Tate Sage and Cam Manyawu and Trevin Jirak.
Lunardi’s full South Region picture has Florida as the No. 1 seed, with American and Howard in the opening-round spot opposite it. North Carolina is the No. 8 seed against No. 9 Auburn, Iowa State is a No. 5 seed against Saint Mary's, Tennessee is No. 4 against Illinois State, USC is No. 6 with Baylor or VCU, Houston is No. 3 against Liberty, Miami is No. 7 against Iowa, and Michigan is No. 2 against Central Arkansas.
The top seeds in the bracket are Duke in the East Region in New York, Florida in the South Region in San Antonio, Arizona in the West Region in Los Angeles and Illinois in the Midwest Region in Kansas City.
Lunardi’s breakdown of conference bids has the Big Ten leading the way with 12, followed by the SEC with 12, the Big 12 with 10, the ACC with 7, the Big East with 7 and the Atlantic 10 with 2.
In Other News...
Iowa Fans Should Watch These Offensive Sleepers Very Closely
The conversation around Iowas offense is already shifting toward the next wave, and there are a few young names worth keeping on the radar as the program looks ahead to 2026. Freshman quarterback Tradon Bessinger, running back Xavier Williams, receiver Dayton Howard, tight ends DJ Vonnahme and Addison Ostrenga, and offensive lineman Michael Myslinski all sit in that category of players whose paths to playing time could open if development continues the way Iowa hopes.
What makes the group interesting is the variety of ways each could fit. Williams and Howard bring the kind of skill-position upside fans tend to track first, while Vonnahme and Ostrenga give the tight end room more potential depth, and Myslinski could matter up front if the line needs more help. For Iowa, the bigger question is not just which of these players flashes, but which ones are ready when the opportunity finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Gets A Huge Sign Its O-Line Standard Isnt Slipping
Kade Piepers move from right guard to center already had the feel of an important transition for Iowa, and the preseason honors now attached to it only sharpen the focus. After starting all 13 games last season, Pieper has been named a preseason All-American by several outlets, including Walter Camp, On3, Athlon Sports and the Associated Press, a sign that the Hawkeyes offensive line standard remains where it usually is: high enough to draw national notice before a snap has been played.
For Iowa, this is less about a summer honor than a reminder that the line room still carries real expectations. Pieper is trying to turn last seasons success into even more value at center, where the responsibilities change but the spotlight gets brighter, and the next step matters for both the Hawkeyes and his NFL draft outlook. The praise is already in place, but the real test comes when the new role starts to reveal just how seamless that adjustment can be. [Read more 🡒]
Dallas Clark Just Strengthened Iowas Claim To Tight End U
Iowas reputation as Tight End U just picked up another notable boost with Dallas Clark joining the 12-member selection committee for the John Mackey Award, the honor given annually to the nations top tight end. Clark remains one of the programs defining names at the position, a consensus All-American who helped set the standard in Iowa City before moving on to a first-round NFL career that included a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl nod.
The committee itself is stocked with former NFL players, award winners and other football professionals, which only adds to the prestige of Clarks new role. For Hawkeye fans, it is another reminder of how deeply Iowas tight end lineage runs, and how often the programs best players continue shaping the conversation around the position long after their college careers end. [Read more 🡒]