Iowa Football has been a model of consistency under Kirk Ferentz, and that continued last season.
The Hawkeyes started off slowly, with an abysmal loss to Iowa State, with the offense putting up just 214 total yards, including only 83 passing yards. They also lost a heartbreaker to eventual National Champion Indiana, pushing their overall record to 3-2 in the first five games. The program eventually righted the ship and was briefly in the College Football Playoff discussion before ultimately falling short.
With a new season comes new expectations, and some experts feel the Hawkeyes will fall woefully short of them.
Athlon Sports predicts Iowa will face VA Tech in the Duke's Mayo Bowl
The goal is to always win a Big Ten title and make the College Football Playoff, something Iowa has never done since its inception in 2015. The program has been successful during that time frame, posting a winning record in every season, but they haven't been able to get over the hump and reach their first CFP. According to Athlon Sports, that won't change in 2027.
Athlon Sports released an early list of Bowl projections that won't make Iowa fans very happy. Not only is Iowa missing the CFP, but they also don't even have them in a New Year's bowl game. They predict Iowa will face former Big Ten foe James Franklin and Virginia Tech in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on December 26. Their prediction is very telling about what they truly think about Iowa's chances of making its first CFP, and it is also a knock on how Franklin will do in his first season at the helm of the Hokies.
Last year's Duke's Mayo Bowl featured the 7-5 Minnesota Golden Gophers and the 6-6 Virginia Tech Hokies, with Minnesota winning 24-10. By that logic, both teams will win fewer than eight games, something Iowa hasn't done since 2023. Whether it's a take on Iowa's inability to make the CFP or a perceived lack of talent next season, it is concerning.
The Hawkeyes must embrace being an underdog and make the CFP
Athlon isn't the only entity to doubt Iowa's chances next season, largely due to a lack of returning production. Iowa traditionally relies on a very veteran-heavy squad to produce results, but that won't be the case this season. The program returns only six total starters from last season, including Kamari Moulton (RB), Kade Pieper (OL), Trevor Lauck (OL), Jayden Montgomery (LB), Deshaun Lee (DB), and Zach Lutmer (DB).
While those six players are extremely important, multiple players are stepping into new roles. The biggest gaps are on the defensive line (five new starters), offensive line (three new starters), and at quarterback, which presents a massive uphill climb. Iowa has often operated well as an underdog, but that theory will be greatly tested this season. If Iowa gets off to a slow start, they might not be able to claw their way back with that many new starters taking over.
Despite all the gaps in the depth chart, Iowa does have more talent at skill positions than in the past, including at wide receiver, tight end, and running back. Each of those position groups can easily go four to five deep, but it all hinges on who is under center. When that question is answered, we will have a clearer picture of what the offense could be. The unit as a whole has the potential to outplay a new-look defense, something we don't often say, but no one will doubt a Phil Parker-coached defense.
Overall, there is a lot of uncertainty with the program heading into next season, but Athlon's bowl prediction is vastly underselling Iowa's potential. The schedule also didn't do the Hawkeyes any favors with five challenging games in a row in the middle of the season, including back-to-back games against Ohio State and Michigan. The Hawkeyes face an uphill battle to reach the CFP for the first time, but Athlon's early prediction is off the mark.
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