Iowa’s Offensive Line Wins Joe Moore Award, Capping a Remarkable Rebuild
The trenches don’t always get the spotlight, but Iowa’s offensive line just earned center stage-and rightfully so. The Hawkeyes have been named the 2025 Joe Moore Award winners, a prestigious honor given annually to the most outstanding offensive line unit in college football. It’s a recognition that speaks volumes about toughness, cohesion, and a whole lot of grit up front.
This marks the second time Iowa has claimed the Joe Moore Award, having first won it back in 2016. They were semifinalists in both 2020 and 2024, but this year, they broke through again, beating out fellow finalists Oregon and Indiana to take home the hardware.
And make no mistake-this wasn’t just a good line. This was a group that embodied everything the award stands for: effort, consistency, teamwork, and a relentless finishing mentality.
The Joe Moore Award is unique in that it honors an entire unit, not an individual, and it’s voted on by a panel of former linemen, coaches, and experts who know what elite line play looks like. So when Iowa’s name was called, it wasn’t just a nod-it was a statement.
A Starting Five That Stuck Together
Under the guidance of offensive line coach George Barnett, Iowa rolled with the same starting five for all 12 regular-season games in 2025. That kind of continuity is rare in today’s game and a big reason why the group found so much success. The unit featured center Logan Jones-who also took home the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center-flanked by guards Beau Stephens and Kade Pieper, with Gennings Dunker and Trevor Lauck holding down the tackle spots.
What’s especially impressive is the blend of experience and youth. Jones, Stephens, and Dunker brought the veteran presence, while Pieper and Lauck stepped into starting roles for the first time this season-and didn’t miss a beat. That mix gave Iowa both the savvy to handle complex fronts and the physical edge to impose their will in the run game.
Production That Speaks for Itself
The numbers back it up. Iowa averaged 177.8 rushing yards per game behind this line and allowed just 16 sacks over the course of the season.
That’s not just efficiency-it’s dominance in pass protection and control in the run game. And here’s a stat that’ll make any offensive line coach smile: the Hawkeyes didn’t have their first accepted holding penalty until their 10th game of the season, a road tilt at USC on November 15.
That’s discipline, technique, and trust in each other-all hallmarks of a Joe Moore Award-winning group.
A Rebuild That’s Come Full Circle
This award is more than a trophy-it’s a validation of a rebuild that’s been years in the making. A few seasons ago, Iowa’s offensive line was not meeting the program’s traditional standard.
But under Barnett, the group has steadily climbed back to elite status. The 2024 campaign showed signs of resurgence, and in 2025, they put it all together.
Now, with the Joe Moore Award in hand, Iowa’s offensive line has officially reestablished itself among the best in the nation. For a team that prides itself on physicality and execution in the trenches, there’s no higher praise.
This is what happens when you combine talent, coaching, and a unit-first mentality. The Hawkeyes didn’t just play as five individuals-they played as one. And that’s what makes them the best offensive line in college football this season.