Iowa won’t be on the field this Saturday.
The Hawkeyes are in their Week 7 bye after a 5-1 start and a 2-1 mark in Big Ten play, giving them a breather after a demanding stretch that included a road win at Michigan, a home loss to Ohio State and a Friday night victory in the Pacific Time zone against Washington.
That win over Washington gave Iowa a couple of standout performances to carry into the off week. Fourth-year running back Kamari Moulton turned in a career night, piling up 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Third-year quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski also made a strong first impression in his first career start, going 14 of 19 for 202 yards and three touchdowns.
Hecklinski’s three-touchdown debut puts him in rare company in the Kirk Ferentz era. He became the fourth Iowa quarterback under Ferentz to throw for three scores in his first start, joining Jon Beutjer (4) in 2000, Ricky Stanzi in 2008 and Nate Stanley in 2017.
After the game, Ferentz praised both players and pointed to the work they had put in leading up to the performance.
"Tip of the hat to Jeremy, jumping in there. Next man in, and performed extremely well.
Same thing with Kamari. Stating the obvious, 200-plus yards, doesn't happen every night.
But in both cases, as I said last week about Jeremy, his preparation has been really good the last couple of weeks. I think that showed up last Saturday, and I think that's part of the reason.
Since six weeks ago, we feel like we have two guys that have improved a lot and are good quarterbacks.
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And then Kamari, talked about that earlier in the year where, with each year, if guys are doing things right, they do get better. I think he's running as decisively and strong and just seeing things at a different level than he has. So, those are all good things,"
Iowa sits at No. 16 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.
While the Hawkeyes rest, the Big Ten slate keeps moving. Washington beat Purdue 38-26, and the day also features No.
5 Ohio State at No. 4 Indiana at 11 a.m.
CT on Fox, Northwestern at Michigan State at 11 a.m. CT on Peacock, Rutgers at Maryland at 11:30 a.m.
CT on Big Ten Network, Penn State at Michigan at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS, Wisconsin at No.
12 UCLA at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC, and Nebraska at No.
25 Oregon at 10 p.m. CT on Fox.
In Other News...
Iowa Fans Have A Bye Week Scoreboard Worth Watching Closely
With Iowa sitting at 5-1 and headed into its next meeting with Minnesota, this bye week offers Hawkeyes fans a useful chance to look around the Big Ten and see how the rest of the league shapes up. The conference picture can shift quickly this time of year, and the scoreboard this weekend should tell Iowa a lot about what the path ahead might look like in the chase for the Big Ten Championship and a possible College Football Playoff push.
Several games carry direct implications for that race, and Iowa fans have reasons to keep one eye on the TV schedule while waiting for Minnesota. The matchups come with their own kickoff times, channels and point spreads, but the larger question is simple enough: which results help clear a little more space near the top of the standings and which ones make Iowas margin for error even thinner? [Read more 🡒]
Iowa May Have Found A Special Teams Weapon In Boston Everitt
Boston Everitt arrived in Iowa City with no college football background and has already become one of the more intriguing special teams stories on the roster. In his first season as a punter for the Hawkeyes, he has earned praise from special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi for picking things up quickly, handling the transition with poise and showing the kind of mental maturity that can be hard to find in a newcomer.
Polizzi pointed to Everitts strong performance and the way he has helped flip the field, with many of his punts landing inside the 20-yard line. What stands out most, though, is the way he has kept pushing through the steep learning curve that comes with learning the sport on the fly, all while maintaining the upbeat approach Iowa has seen from him so far. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Fans Will Love Gennings Dunkers Early Steelers Impact
Gennings Dunker may have only just arrived in Pittsburgh, but the former Iowa offensive lineman is already making an impression beyond his play. The Steelers made him the No. 96 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after three seasons as a starter for the Hawkeyes, and the early buzz around him has centered on the same traits Iowa fans came to know well: toughness, consistency and a personality that tends to stand out in a room full of pros.
What makes Dunkers start with the Steelers especially interesting is how quickly he has fit into the routine around the team. Aaron Rodgers has pointed to Dunkers humor as a regular part of offensive meetings, and the rookie has also been credited with helping the locker room atmosphere. For Iowa supporters, it is another familiar reminder that Dunker brings more than just line play, and the Steelers appear to appreciate the full package already. [Read more 🡒]