Through two weeks, Iowa’s season has already taken on the feel of a swing game by swing game. The Hawkeyes are still unbeaten, still headed into Big Ten play with real momentum, and still positioned to be ranked just outside the top 15. But the path there has been anything but smooth.
Iowa opened the year at No. 22 and looked the part in Week 1, flashing new offensive weapons, hitting explosive plays and answering questions about both lines. Then came the Iowa State game, and the Hawkeyes needed a last-minute field goal to escape 16-13 despite being a huge favorite. That kind of whiplash is exactly why the fanbase has spent the last week sorting out what to believe.
According to the polling done around the offseason, most fans came into the year expecting a nine-win team, and that basic outlook has not changed much. Roughly 60% still feel the same way after two games. The other 40% is split, with most of that group actually feeling better about Iowa’s chances than they did before the season.
That might seem strange after the Cyclones game, especially with Iowa State coming in under new head coach Jimmy Rogers and not exactly looking like a powerhouse. But the broader picture around the Big Ten has helped reshape the conversation.
Michigan, Iowa’s first conference opponent, entered the year at No. 16 and looked shaky against Western Michigan before rebounding to beat Oklahoma. Ohio State remains a machine, but even the Buckeyes fell to No.
4 Texas. Washington, another upcoming Iowa opponent, has looked far more vulnerable than it did in the preseason after narrow wins over Utah State and Wazzou.
The border-rival group has also taken hits. Wisconsin was blown out by Notre Dame, Minnesota was crushed by unranked Mississippi State, and Illinois lost at home to unranked Duke.
Nebraska remains unbeaten, but that leaves the rest of the group looking less imposing than it did in August. The conference road ahead still matters, but it doesn’t feel quite as intimidating now.
Before Iowa gets there, though, there’s business to handle against Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes opened as 41.5-point favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook and have since moved to 38.5-point favorites. On paper, this should be a clean step toward 3-0 before league play begins.
Still, this isn’t a game Iowa can afford to treat casually. The Hawkeyes are 17-1 all-time against the Panthers and 17-0 in the last 128 years, but there have been close calls in the series.
Iowa won the last meeting in 2018, 38-14, with Nate Stanley throwing for more than 300 yards. The three games before that were decided by a combined 18 points, including the 2009 game that still stands out for all the wrong reasons.
With the quarterback battle still unresolved and a brutal three-game stretch looming, Saturday offers a chance for Hank Brown to make some separation. If he can turn in a Stanley-like showing, Iowa could finally snap its P4-leading 79-game streak without a 300-yard passer.
In Other News...
Iowas 2027 Guard Board Just Took A Hit For McCollum
The Hawkeyes 2027 guard board took a noticeable turn this week when four-star prospect Jaxson Davis canceled his official visit to Iowa. Davis, a combo guard who recently transferred to Monarch Academy for his senior season, had once looked like one of the programs top targets in the class, giving Iowa a real early foothold with a player who fit a major need on the perimeter.
Instead, the recruiting picture has shifted quickly. Davis has turned his attention toward other programs, and Ohio State has emerged as a favorite after his recent visit there, leaving Iowa to keep working down the board in the 2027 class. For a staff still trying to build out its future backcourt, losing that kind of momentum is a reminder that these early battles can change fast. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Broke From A Kirk Ferentz Scheduling Habit
Iowa has officially added a Week Zero game against North Dakota to its 2027 football schedule, giving the Hawkeyes a rare early start before the rest of the season settles in. The slate also includes games against Ball State and Iowa State before Big Ten play begins, which makes for a busier nonconference setup than Iowa has typically preferred.
For a program long associated with a more familiar scheduling rhythm under Kirk Ferentz, the move stands out as a noticeable break from habit. It also brings back a matchup that has not been played in more than a century, adding a little historical flavor to a schedule that already looks different from the usual Iowa blueprint. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Is Already Pushing For A 2028 Prospect Fans Should Track
Iowa is already getting a head start on the 2028 class with Cole Kelly, a 6-foot-7 forward from Neuqua Valley High School in Illinois who has quickly become one of the names to know for the Hawkeyes. Kelly is a four-star prospect, and Iowa has made its interest clear by bringing him in for an unofficial visit on Sept. 12 while also sending coaches to meet with him in Illinois.
For a program trying to stay ahead in a competitive recruiting race, Kelly is the kind of long-view target that makes sense. Multiple major programs have already extended scholarship offers, but Iowas early push reflects how much value the staff places on his versatility and work ethic. The Hawkeyes are not alone in tracking him, which is exactly why this recruitment is worth watching so early. [Read more 🡒]