Iowa’s preseason ranking has already put the Hawkeyes right in the middle of a familiar national argument.
At No. 22 heading into 2026, Kirk Ferentz’s team has enough respect to crack the top 25, but not enough to quiet the split opinions around it. Some see a program that wins the same way every year and can absolutely stack eight-plus victories. Others look at the schedule, the offense, and the possibility of regression and wonder whether the Hawkeyes are getting too much credit before a snap is even played.
CBS Sports put both viewpoints on the page in its breakdown of the Big Ten’s most overrated and underrated teams entering the season. Iowa landed on both lists, depending on which analyst you ask.
Tom Fornelli, Chip Patterson, and Brandon Marcello all argued the Hawkeyes are overrated. Their case centers on how much last season’s offense depended on Mark Gronowski, especially in the red zone.
Iowa finished 11th nationally in points per red zone possession, and Gronowski’s running ability was a huge part of that production. He rushed for 16 touchdowns, and Iowa’s 4.92 points per red zone possession were the most by a wide margin in at least the last 15 years.
The concern is simple: if that number slides back toward normal, this team loses a major edge. Add in a rough stretch to open Big Ten play against Michigan, Ohio State and then Washington, plus road games that could swing either way at Minnesota and Illinois, and 7-5 starts looking very real.
John Talty took the opposite view, calling Iowa underrated. His argument is built on the same old Hawkeyes profile: not flashy, not trendy, but reliably tough.
He pointed to the defense and special teams as the backbone that keeps Iowa in tight games, and he expects that to translate into at least eight wins again. If the offense keeps climbing behind what should once more be a strong offensive line, Talty believes Iowa could even sneak into the playoff conversation as a long-shot disruptor.
That’s the beauty of the debate: both sides have a case. Iowa will spend the season trying to settle it on the field, and the answer won’t come from preseason rankings. It’ll come from what happens once the games start.
In Other News...
Trevor Laucks Mindset Should Fire Up Iowa Fans
Trevor Lauck heads into the season with plenty of buzz around him, and for good reason. After earning a starting role last year, the Iowa offensive lineman has already picked up preseason recognition as a First-Team All-Big Ten selection and a spot on the Outland Trophy watch list, which says plenty about how he is viewed heading into the fall. Off the field, he has also linked up with Caseys in an NIL deal, adding another layer to a profile that is growing fast.
For Iowa, what stands out most is the mindset. Lauck is not treating the attention like an endpoint, and the work he has emphasized is the sort Hawkeyes fans tend to appreciate: sharpening fundamentals, staying consistent, and building on what he showed a year ago. If he carries that approach into the season, he could become one of the defining pieces up front for a team that always puts a premium on line play. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Faces Extra Opener Uncertainty Thanks To NIU's Quarterback Battle
The opener on the calendar already carries the usual first-week uncertainty, and now Iowa has a little more of it on the Northern Illinois side of the equation. The Huskies are still sorting through their quarterback competition, with senior Jalen Macon, junior Taron Dickens and sophomore Brady Davidson all in the mix, which means the Hawkeyes are preparing for more than one possible look when the two teams line up.
Interim coach Rob Harley said the choice will come down to what the quarterbacks show in practice, while also noting the group has handled the battle with a positive attitude. For Iowa, that means the scouting report for week one remains a moving target, with Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski set to start at quarterback on the other sideline and the final shape of Northern Illinois offense still not fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Offensive Line May Have Found The Boost Fans Needed
Iowa has made a notable tweak up front as it tries to get the offensive line settled for the upcoming season, moving former walk-on Cael Winter into the starting center role while preseason All-American Kade Pieper shifts over to guard. It is the kind of adjustment that can matter a great deal in Iowa City, where line play is often the foundation of everything the offense wants to do.
Kirk Ferentz has pointed to Winters growth, consistency and maturity as reasons for the change, and he said the lineman looks more comfortable working at center. The move gives Iowa a chance to maximize the five-man groups effectiveness, but the real test will come once the season starts and the reshuffled unit has to prove it can turn those practice reps into steady production. [Read more 🡒]