Kirk Ferentz isn’t on the hot seat at Iowa. That part is simple. He’s the one who decides when his time is up in Iowa City, and nobody else gets a vote.
But the same can’t be said for a few of the coaches who show up on Iowa’s 2026 schedule. There are some uneasy seats around the Big Ten, and the Hawkeyes could end up facing a team in transition before the year is over.
The hottest seat on that slate might be in Madison. Luke Fickell arrived at Wisconsin with plenty of buzz after leaving Cincinnati, but the results haven’t matched the reputation.
In four seasons, he’s 17-21 overall and 10-17 in Big Ten play. If the Badgers stumble early this season, how long will Wisconsin wait?
Iowa comes to town on Halloween, and Fickell has never beaten the Hawkeyes. That game could end up being the one that seals his fate.
Purdue is another program where patience has been running thin. The Boilermakers have had a brutal stretch, going 4-8, then 1-11, then 2-10 last season in Odom’s first year.
That kind of run doesn’t exactly buy a coach much breathing room. Ryan Walters lasted two years and finished 5-19 before Purdue moved on, so another rough season could put the Boilermakers right back in the same place.
Iowa visits in mid-November, and that matchup could land in the middle of some harsh reality in West Lafayette.
Nebraska also belongs in the conversation. Matt Rhule is 19-19 overall and 10-17 in Big Ten play, and the fan base clearly expects more than that.
His record includes an 0-3 mark against Iowa, and the annual Black Friday meeting closes the regular season. If the Hawkeyes make it four straight, they could also be the team that sends Nebraska back into the coaching carousel.
In Other News...
Iowa Freshmen Are Suddenly In The Middle Of A Familiar Debate
Iowas 2026 freshmen are already part of a familiar summer conversation in Iowa City: which newcomers can force their way onto the field before anyone expected. The list is a little longer than usual because the roster has a few openings and a few spots where talent can matter quickly, from special teams to the second level of the defense. That includes an Australian punter in Everitt, who is competing with transfer Tanner Philpott for the starting job, plus a local linebacker in Julian Manson whose ranking and fit give him a real chance to get into the mix early.
The more intriguing part for the Hawkeyes is how many different paths there are for this class to matter without anyone promising a breakout yet. A cornerback like Darion Jones can be useful in passing-down packages, and quarterback Tradon Bessinger enters with the kind of depth-chart uncertainty that can change quickly if injuries or inexperience pile up. For Iowa, this is the sort of freshman watch list that feels less like hype and more like a reminder of how often the next man up ends up being a first-year player. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper DeJean Just Gave Iowa Fans More NFL Validation
Cooper DeJeans rise in Philadelphia keeps giving Iowa fans another reason to point and nod. The former Hawkeye defensive back, a second-round pick by the Eagles in the 2024 NFL Draft, has quickly gone from promising rookie to one of the more respected young defensive backs in the league, with his game translating in a way that fits the modern NFL and the kind of versatility Iowa has long prized.
Now the conversation around DeJean is getting bigger than just a breakout season. Coaches, executives and scouts have already placed him among the leagues top cornerbacks heading into 2026, even as the Eagles continue to value his ability to move between slot corner and safety. For Iowa, it is another tidy piece of validation: the program keeps producing defenders who not only reach the NFL, but force teams to figure out exactly how to use them. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawkeyes Are Already Creating A Summer League Debate
The first night of Las Vegas Summer League gave Iowa fans a familiar sight: former Hawkeyes showing up in the same NBA game and making their presence felt. Bennett Stirtz, Payton Sandfort and Josh Dix all suited up for Oklahoma City in its opener against the Lakers, and each found a way to contribute as the Thunder tried to sort out roles and rotations in a 96-84 loss.
Stirtz finished as Oklahoma Citys top scorer with 18 points, while Sandfort added 10 points and seven rebounds and Dix chipped in eight. Elsewhere, Brendan Hausen was on the Memphis roster but did not play in the Grizzlies one-point win over Chicago, leaving Iowa followers with one more reason to keep an eye on how this cluster of former Hawkeyes is being used as the summer schedule unfolds. [Read more 🡒]