Bowl projections in July always come with a little chaos baked in, and Iowa is already getting dragged into it. Athlon Sports has the Hawkeyes headed to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in 2026, where they would face Virginia Tech and former Big Ten head coach James Franklin.
That projection points to a step back for Iowa, with a finish somewhere around 7-5. It would also signal that the Hawkeyes are nowhere near the College Football Playoff picture. Recent Duke’s Mayo Bowl fields have included Wake Forest, Minnesota, West Virginia, and Maryland, which gives a pretty clear sense of the tier being projected here.
For Iowa, though, just making a bowl is hardly a surprise. Kirk Ferentz’s team has reached the postseason in 13 straight seasons, with the 2020 Music City Bowl canceled because of COVID-19 complications. That kind of consistency makes a bowl berth feel close to routine, and it’s tough to imagine that streak ending in 2026.
Still, a trip to Charlotte would leave some fans wanting more. Iowa has some momentum coming off a strong ReliaQuest Bowl win over Vanderbilt last year, so ending up in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl would feel a little flat by comparison. It’s the kind of projection that says the Hawkeyes are solid, but not exactly pushing into the kind of season they want to be known for.
At the same time, there’s still plenty to like about a bowl game. The idea that a season only counts if it reaches the playoff doesn’t really hold up, and Iowa’s approach shows that. The Hawkeyes rarely have players sitting out their bowl game, which keeps the postseason meaningful in a way college football should appreciate.
And then there’s the image this projection creates: Iowa winning 19-15 in the weirdest way possible, followed by a mayonnaise shower for Ferentz. It might not be a College Football Playoff milestone, but it would be another feather, or mayo, in his cap.
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Top Iowa Prospect Is Coming Home After A Brutal Twist
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Instead, Harris is now headed to the University of Iowa after Ole Miss withdrew its scholarship offer, a stunning turn for a player who has kept competing while undergoing radiation treatment for a brain tumor. The move sends one of the states top prospects closer to home at a time when his athletic future has already been tested far beyond the usual recruiting drama, and it adds another layer to a story that has drawn attention well beyond the box scores. [Read more 🡒]