There are few major college football programs that accomplish more with less, but Kirk Ferentz and Iowa do just that.
You won't find the Hawkeyes at or near the top in most recruiting rankings year after year, but they are consistently ranked between the top 20 and 30. Iowa had a lot of talent enter the program via the 2026 recruiting class, but the class was still ranked outside of the top 40. If we have learned anything about the Hawkeyes under Kirk Ferentz, it's that the program finds ways to be competitive, regardless.
Time hasn't run out on the 2027 class, but Iowa's recruiting class is falling short of expectations.
247Sports ranks Iowa's 2027 class as No. 18 overall in the Big Ten
Iowa's first big official visit weekend for the 2027 class yielded minimal results, a microcosm of the program's momentum in the class so far. No one was expecting Iowa to suddenly sign multiple top-ranked recruits, but missing out on quite a few is slightly concerning. Over the past few months, Iowa has been in play for multiple highly ranked prospects but has failed to close the deal.
Those failures have led to a 2027 class that leaves much to be desired.
Big Ten Recruiting Rankings for the Class of 2027 🔥
— 247Sports (@247Sports) July 8, 2026
Which team's ranking is most surprising to you? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/G9KbFgjuas
According to 247Sports' recent rankings for the 2027 class, Iowa is dead last in the Big Ten, checking in at No. 18. We all know that Iowa often lags behind some of the Big Ten powerhouses in recruiting despite its in-season success, but its current ranking is way lower than expected. The program has a sterling reputation for developing prospects, regardless of initial ranking. Even though such a low ranking is concerning, there is no reason to panic just yet.
It is the same song and dance that Hawkeye fans have seen nearly every season under Ferentz, yet Iowa is consistently in the mix for a top spot in the conference and sends multiple players to the NFL. Iowa has talent in the 2027 class, but the lack of star power is hurting its ranking. According to 247Sports, offensive line prospect Reilly Newman is Iowa's lone four-star commitment, but multiple others are inching closer to four-star status. It wouldn't be a surprise if a few were bumped up by the end of the summer, helping the overall class ranking.
While it is concerning, it is definitely not the time to abandon ship.
Iowa's low ranking isn't a cause for panic...yet
As previously mentioned, there is still time for multiple prospects who are flirting with four-star status to be bumped up, and the program doesn't traditionally need multiple highly ranked prospects to be successful. While most Iowa fans don't want to hear it, it is encouraging that the program has been neck-and-neck for some big-time prospects, even though they have fallen just short. It is a credit to Ferentz's development program, and it continues to be a selling point for recruits.
Iowa won't lose sleep over low rankings, and has always been extremely deliberate in its offers. That's not saying they don't want highly ranked prospects, but they won't cry over spilled milk in a manner of speaking. The overall team results speak for themselves, but if the trend continues in this new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and revenue-sharing, we might be having a different conversation in a few years.
Is Iowa's low 2027 recruiting class ranking at this stage of the summer concerning? Yes. Is it cause for panic? No.
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