The University of Iowa has kept its Week 3 depth chart mostly unchanged as the Hawkeyes shift their focus to Saturday’s in-state matchup with the 1-1 Northern Iowa Panthers.
The biggest positive for Iowa comes at running back. Kamari Moulton, who left last weekend’s game late in the further quarter, remains the starter and is expected to be available this weekend.
After the game, Kirk Ferentz said he saw Moulton in the locker room and that he “seemed fine”. Moulton also addressed reporters afterward and said he was doing fine.
Iowa’s quarterback battle stays unresolved for another week. The depth chart still does not name a clear starter between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, leaving the OR tag in place.
There is no change on punt returns either. Reece Vander Zee is still listed as the primary returner, with Zach Lutmer behind him.
Ferentz explained that Lutmer missed time during fall camp, so the staff has been handling his workload carefully. Ahead of the Week 2 game against Iowa State, Ferentz said, “Lutmer would have been our guy last week at punt return, but he missed some time in camp.
So, we wanted to be careful with his pitch count, not knowing how many plays he would get on defense.”
One depth chart note to watch: Brevin Doll wore #13 in Saturday’s game, rather than #23, and reportedly will keep that number for the rest of the season. He is still listed as #23 on the official depth chart.
In Other News...
Iowa Escaped Cy-Hawk Trouble But One Concern Just Got Louder
Iowa left the Cy-Hawk game with a win, but the margin did little to soften the familiar concerns that followed it out of the stadium. A game-winning field goal was enough to settle a tense afternoon, yet the broader picture still pointed back to an offense that struggled to find rhythm for long stretches, even as the defense supplied the kind of steady work Iowa fans have come to expect in rivalry games.
Special teams again played a central role in the outcome, and the defense had plenty of moments worth spotlighting, including strong showings from a few key players who helped keep Iowa State from taking control. Still, the most lasting takeaway may be how loudly the offensive issues now stand out, especially after a game in which the Hawkeyes needed every bit of their edge in field position, defense and composure just to survive a competitive Cyclone team. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Beat Iowa State But One Offensive Concern Isnt Going Away
Iowas win over Iowa State came with the kind of grind-it-out feel these rivalry games often deliver, and the Hawkeyes found just enough offense to leave with a 16-13 victory. Caden Buhr supplied the game-winner, while Hank Brown handled the passing game cleanly, completing 21 of 30 throws and avoiding any sacks behind an offensive line that held up well overall.
Still, the same concern that has followed Iowa at times did not disappear. The rushing attack never found much room, finishing at 93 yards on 29 carries, and the offense also sputtered on third down by converting only 5 of 15 chances. For a team that can lean on defense and field position, that kind of inconsistency is the sort of thing that tends to linger even after a rivalry win. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Cy-Hawk Thriller Just Fueled A Big Future QB Win
The Cy-Hawk rivalry had its usual pulse and then some, with Iowa escaping Iowa State on a last-second field goal from Caden Buhr. Even before the finish, the afternoon carried an extra layer for the Hawkeyes, because a future quarterback target made his college choice known during the game itself, giving the program another reason to leave the weekend feeling good about more than just one result.
Chase Grove, a 2028 quarterback prospect from Indiana, announced his commitment to Iowa while the rivalry game was still unfolding. The three-star recruit became the third pledge in Iowas 2028 class, a notable early addition for a program that always values quarterback development and long-term roster building, and his decision added some recruiting momentum to a win that already had plenty of emotional weight. [Read more 🡒]