When it comes to stellar offensive line play, Iowa is elite.
With George Barnett at the helm and Kirk Ferentz placing heavy importance on solid offensive line play, the Iowa program consistently proves why it produces some of the best offensive linemen in college football year after year. Iowa's offensive line earned the Joe Moore Award last season and is poised to be in the mix again this season. Even with all the star power on the OL, Iowa State DT Bryson Lamb didn't give them any respect.
ISU DT Bryson Lamb is apparently not intimidated by Iowa's stout OL
The Hawkeyes hung 507 total offensive yards on Northern Illinois in week one, something we don't normally see. The offensive explosion came from solid blocking by the offensive line, showcased by Iowa's 289 rushing yards in the 40-0 win. Iowa imposed their will in the running game early and often, and somehow, an Iowa State DT isn't threatened by it.
Bryson Lamb kept it short and sweet when asked if he was intimidated by Iowa's Joe Moore Award-caliber offensive line and tight ends. pic.twitter.com/awv8lkkjdb
— Jack Lido (@JackLido) September 8, 2026
In a brief response about the Iowa offensive line, Iowa State DT Bryson Lamb said that they go up against that type of talent in practice. There was no way he was going to admit that they are "intimidated" by the Iowa OL, but there is no way they have the same kind of players on their offensive line and at tight end as the Hawkeyes do. Iowa has two potential All-Americans in Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, not to mention Cael Winter, and they can go more than four deep at the tight end spot and still have a better player than Iowa State.
No one is suggesting that Lamb should have said they are afraid to go up against the Iowa OL, but he unintentionally gave the Hawkeyes some bulletin-board material before a pivotal week two matchup at Kinnick Stadium under the lights. Even though most Iowa players will tell you that they don't listen to outside noise, the clip has made its rounds on social media, and it could easily give them more motivation. Motivation shouldn't be a problem in this game, but if the Iowa offense needed more, Lamb provided it. By the end of the game, this video will be played back on a loop when Iowa dominates on the ground, and Lamb will definitely wish he had chosen his words more carefully.
These two programs know each other very well, and both will be prepared to do what is necessary to win the game. Giving Iowa bulletin-board material is simply not a smart move, and it could be catostophic if Iowa imposes its will on offense and runs Iowa State out of the stadium.
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