The Iowa Hawkeyes are ringing in the New Year under the Florida sun, gearing up for their ReliaQuest Bowl showdown in Tampa. The team touched down on Christmas Day, trading the cold of the Midwest for palm trees and prep work as they get ready to take on No. 14 Vanderbilt on New Year’s Eve.
The good news? Iowa arrived mostly healthy.
The only notable injury concern is defensive back TJ Hall, who may be sidelined for the bowl game. But the real boost came in the form of a roster update: junior defensive back and team captain Koen Entringer is coming back next season.
That’s a big win for a defense that’s been the heartbeat of this team all year.
While the defense continues to be the identity of Iowa football, the offense is starting to generate some buzz - and it centers around redshirt freshman quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski.
Offensive coordinator Tim Lester met with the media in Tampa and didn’t hold back when asked about his young QB. “He’s a gunslinger,” Lester said.
“There’s not a window he doesn’t feel he can’t put the ball through.” That’s not just coach-speak - Lester made it clear that Hecklinski has made some jaw-dropping throws in practice and limited game action this season.
But perhaps the most telling part of Lester’s comments came when he compared Hecklinski to Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux. That’s not a name you throw around lightly.
Maddux was known for his precision, his pitch variety, and his ability to outthink hitters. Lester sees similar traits in Hecklinski - a quarterback who, in his words, “has every pitch in his book” and “does some very unique things.”
That’s high praise, especially considering Hecklinski is still early in his college career. But it also gives us a pretty strong hint about where the quarterback competition stands heading into next season. Hecklinski overtook fellow redshirt freshman Hank Brown on the depth chart this year, and while there’s no official word on who will start in 2026, Lester’s comments suggest Hecklinski has the inside track.
That doesn’t mean Brown is out of the picture. Head coach Kirk Ferentz has praised both quarterbacks, emphasizing that the staff is encouraged by what they’ve seen from each. But it’s also clear that Iowa is confident enough in its current QB room to shut the door on bringing in a transfer - a move that’s become almost standard across college football in recent years.
So, while the Hawkeyes are focused on finishing this season strong against a tough Vanderbilt squad, there’s already a quiet buzz building around next year’s offense. And if Hecklinski continues to develop the way Lester suggests, Iowa might just have found its next leader under center.
For now, though, all eyes are on Tampa. The weather’s warm, the stakes are high, and the Hawkeyes have a chance to cap off their season with a statement win - and maybe give fans a glimpse of what’s coming in 2026.