As we turn the page to the 2026 college football season, the Iowa Hawkeyes find themselves in a familiar spot: flying just under the radar, but firmly in the national conversation. After a 2025 campaign that featured the program’s trademark defensive dominance and-finally-a spark on offense, expectations are quietly but steadily building in Iowa City.
Let’s start with what we’ve come to expect from Kirk Ferentz’s program: suffocating defense and elite special teams play. That was the backbone of Iowa’s success last season, and there’s no reason to believe that formula will change in 2026. The Hawkeyes’ defense once again made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, consistently controlling field position and keeping games within reach.
But what really turned heads last year was the offense. For the first time in what felt like ages, Iowa wasn’t just relying on its defense to win games-it had a quarterback who could move the chains and put points on the board.
Mark Gronowski, the South Dakota State transfer, brought a dual-threat dynamic that transformed the Hawkeyes’ offensive identity. His ability to extend plays, make smart reads, and take off when needed gave Iowa a much-needed jolt.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient-and in Iowa City, that’s more than enough.
Now, with Gronowski out of eligibility, the focus shifts to what’s next. The offense enters 2026 with more questions than answers.
The quarterback position is once again up for grabs, and the offensive line-long a point of pride for the program-needs to be retooled. Iowa is also banking on some transfer portal additions to step up in the skill position rooms.
It’s a tall order, but there’s optimism that the foundation laid last season can carry forward.
One name to watch: Jeremy Hecklinski, the Wake Forest transfer who backed up Gronowski last season. Offensive coordinator Tim Lester spoke highly of him during bowl prep, and if he can step into the starting role with confidence, Iowa might not miss a beat. Lester’s comfort level with Gronowski grew over the course of last season, and if he can find similar chemistry with Hecklinski-or whoever wins the job-the Hawkeyes could once again be a balanced, tough out in the Big Ten.
Despite the offensive uncertainty, Iowa is earning early respect. On3 slotted the Hawkeyes at No. 21 in their way-too-early Top 25 rankings for 2026-right in line with USA TODAY’s early projections.
That’s a nod to the consistency this program brings year in and year out. You know what you’re getting with Iowa: a defense that shows up every Saturday, a special teams unit that flips the field, and a coaching staff that knows how to win ugly when it needs to.
The Big Ten, as expected, is well-represented in those early rankings. Ohio State leads the pack at No. 1, with Indiana making a surprising appearance in the top five.
Oregon checks in at No. 6, while Michigan lands at No. 11.
Penn State, now under the direction of former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, sits at No. 14 as the Nittany Lions navigate a period of transition. Washington and USC, both recent additions to the Big Ten landscape, are just ahead of Iowa at No. 18 and No. 19, respectively.
So where does that leave the Hawkeyes? Right where they like to be-underrated, overlooked by some, but fully capable of making noise. If the offense can find its footing with a new quarterback and a revamped line, and if the defense continues to do what it does best, Iowa could once again be one of the most fundamentally sound and frustrating teams to play in the country.
The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them together.