Iowa’s offensive line has become the kind of unit the rest of college football keeps circling back to, and CBS Sports has now put the Hawkeyes among the nation’s best up front heading into 2026.
That’s not a small compliment for a group that just watched Gennings Dunker, Logan Jones, and Beau Stephens head to the NFL in the latest draft. Iowa is bringing back only two starters, center Kade Pieper and left tackle Trevor Lauck, but both are already drawing attention as possible future first-round NFL draft picks. The open spots are expected to be filled by Trent Wilson, Leighton Jones, and Jack Dotzler.
Even with that turnover, the line still carries the look of a premium group. The reason goes beyond talent, though talent is certainly part of it. Under offensive line coach George Barnett, Iowa has built a reputation for something harder to measure: grit.
That edge starts with the makeup of the room. Iowa’s likely five starters all share the same background - every one of them arrived as a three-star recruit.
None walked onto campus with a job guaranteed. Each spot had to be won.
That matters in a sport where players can transfer the moment things get uncomfortable or a starting role slips away. Barnett has turned that reality into a strength, building a line that plays with a chip and keeps earning its place year after year.
That mindset is going to matter even more with a new quarterback stepping in this season. A younger, less experienced passer will need the line to be a wall in front of him. And when the inevitable mistakes and growing pains show up, Iowa’s front will have to do more than block - it will have to steady the offense, absorb the adversity, and help its quarterback reset.
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For Iowa, the timing matters because guard depth is always a priority, and McCollum gives the staff another option to evaluate as practices continue. The son of coach Ben McCollum has already had to navigate a frustrating stretch of setbacks, but the fact that he is back competing on the floor is at least a sign that the long rehab detour is over and his role can start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
TyReek Coleman May Be Iowas Answer In The Biggest Moments
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McCollum has liked what he has seen from Coleman enough to rave about his length on the ball, his twitchiness and the edge he brings every day. The Hawkeyes are sorting through a rotation that includes Kael Combs, Peyton McCollum and Tate Sage, but Colemans role looks especially important because Iowa needs reliable handlers who can survive the pressure moments and make the right play when possessions get heavy. If the Hawkeyes are going to close better than they did a year ago, Coleman looks like the kind of guard who could end up in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]
CBS Just Put Iowa's Reloaded Offensive Line Back In Elite Company
Iowas offensive line has become one of the programs most reliable calling cards, and George Barnetts group is back in the conversation again after winning the Joe Moore Award in 2025. Entering the 2026 season, CBS Sports has the Hawkeyes ranked ninth nationally up front, a nod to how much respect the unit still carries even with a new look and only two returning starters in Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck.
The challenge now is turning that reputation into another dominant season while replacing key pieces from last years front. There is some inexperience to sort through, but the early optimism around this group is real, and Iowa will spend the fall trying to show that last season was not a one-year peak for a line that has already climbed back into elite company. [Read more 🡒]