The AP preseason poll has Iowa sitting at No. 22, and that feels about right.
That number may not jump off the page, but for the Hawkeyes it lands in a spot that makes sense. Iowa is one of those teams that is hard to pin down before a snap is played.
Do you judge the group by how it finished last season, or by the roster it brings into 2026 before anyone has seen it in action? The poll seems to be splitting the difference, and in Iowa’s case that’s probably the cleanest way to handle it.
What makes the Hawkeyes’ placement especially understandable is the cluster of teams around them. The poll has Iowa in the same neighborhood as No.
18 Penn State, No. 20 Penn State, and No.
23 Utah. That whole range feels pretty tight.
Penn State and Utah are both dealing with head coaching changes, which is a major shake-up in its own right. Tennessee, like Iowa, is also sorting through a quarterback battle in fall camp.
That group has the kind of profile that can go in two very different directions. There’s a path where somebody breaks through and sneaks into the College Football Playoff.
There’s also a path where one of these teams slips all the way to 5-7. The poll has given them credit, but it’s also asking them to go prove they deserve more.
For Iowa, No. 22 feels fair, but it also puts the burden squarely on the Hawkeyes to show progress. That has been the challenge for most of the last decade. The ranking is basically a message: the talent is there to earn more, but the next step still has to be taken.
And that’s why the real movement probably won’t come right away. Iowa is unlikely to see a major shift in the rankings before Week 4.
If the Hawkeyes handle Northern Illinois, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa, they’ll be 3-0, but they still won’t have that marquee win on the résumé. They could move up a bit if teams ahead of them stumble, but the real test arrives in the Big Ten opener on the road at Michigan.
That’s the point where we find out whether Iowa is ready to climb.
In Other News...
Iowas Running Back Battle Could Shape How This Offense Starts
Running backs coach Jay Norvell spent local media day talking about a position group that could end up defining how Iowas offense gets going this fall. With Kamari Moulton, Xavier Williams, Nathan McNeil and transfer LJ Phillips Jr. all in the mix, the Hawkeyes have a room that appears built around competition, depth and a chance for someone to separate before the season opens.
Norvell also used the moment to reflect on his own ties to Iowa, sharing favorite memories from his time as a player and saying how much it means to coach in the state. But the bigger storyline remains on the field, where the Hawkeyes are counting on that group to develop quickly and sort itself out as the offense looks for a reliable starting point. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Quarterback Battle Could Define What This Offense Becomes
Iowas quarterback race is starting to look like more than just a depth-chart decision. Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown are offering two very different paths for Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes, with the staff sorting through both statistical data and what the eye test says about each players command of the offense.
Hecklinski brings a more aggressive willingness to push the ball downfield, while Brown has leaned into a steadier, more conservative style that fits Iowas long-standing identity. For Ferentz, the choice is about more than who wins the job in camp, because the answer could help determine whether this offense stays rooted in ball security or tries to stretch itself into something different. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Buffington Is Quietly Taking On Iowas Biggest Linebacker Responsibility
Cam Buffington has spent fall camp positioning himself for one of the most important jobs in Iowas defense, and the early signs are encouraging. With three years of eligibility remaining, the linebacker has been working toward the MIKE role, the spot that often serves as the traffic cop for the whole unit, and the staff has liked what it has seen from him in that setting.
Defensive coordinator Phil Parker has singled out Buffington for the way he leads by example and approaches the game, traits that matter even more when the job requires constant communication and quick defensive adjustments. There is still a lot to prove, but the Hawkeyes appear to have a young linebacker with the temperament and upside to grow into a central piece of the defense. [Read more 🡒]