Spring practices wrapped up a short time ago, but we are already being bombarded with way-too-early top-25 projections for next season.
The Hawkeyes finished the 2025 season with a 9-4 overall record and a victory over Vanderbilt in the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl, which gave the program momentum into the offseason.
After a solid 2025 season, the program lost some big pieces of last year's squad and reloaded with multiple productive FCS and Group of Five players and a talented 026 recruiting class.
With the 2025 season fully in the rearview mirror, the Hawkeyes have been diligently preparing for the 2026 season. As we get closer to next season, more and more top-25 rankings are being released, and Iowa is a consistent presence in them.
Joel Klatt likes the offseason Iowa has had, but questions the OL group
Like every team heading into a new season, Iowa has a few question marks, especially on the offensive side of the football.
A highly publicized quarterback battle has been taking place during the offseason, and that continued through spring ball.
Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are vying for the No. 1 spot, and that isn't going to change anytime soon.
As early as February, the battle was gaining national attention, but Fox Sports' Joel Klatt is more worried about another position group.
Fox Sports CFB analyst Joel Klatt puts Iowa at No. 21 in his Post-Spring Top 25.
— Ethan Petrik (@ethan_petrik) May 5, 2026
Says he’s more worried about the #Hawkeyes restocking their offensive line than about the QB battle. pic.twitter.com/GRDXiHCml0
Klatt put Iowa at No. 21 in his early top-25 rankings, stating he is more worried about the offensive line than the quarterback.
He noted that Iowa is not a quarterback-centric offense and that they have to replace multiple key pieces from the best offensive line group in college football last season.
Iowa has always been a run-first offense, and even with a loaded running back room, if they can't block effectively, it won't matter how good the RB group is.
The Hawkeyes are not void of talent on the offensive line, bringing back two starters in Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, but the three other spots are question marks.
The program has multiple veteran options to choose from, including Michael Myslinski, Jack Dotzler, and Kale Krogh, with other less proven options behind them.
Of the younger players, Leighton Jones has the most experience and is projected to be a factor this season.
It is strange that we are talking about the offensive line being a potential weakness for the program this season, but Ferentz is a solid coach, and George Barnett has proven himself as a solid offensive line coach.
If Iowa can't run the ball, we are going to have a very different conversation in the latter part of the season.
Klatt's opinion is valid, but a bit overexaggerated
Iowa's proficiency at developing offensive linemen alone is enough to have confidence in the unit next season, but there is one other key that Klatt overlooked.
The program is returning two starters, including an All-American (Kade Pieper). Pieper has worked out at center during the spring and has a good chance to be the starting center, securing the middle of the line.
The center spot is arguably the most important on the offensive line, so why wouldn't Iowa put its best offensive lineman there?
The offensive line is a concern, but there are problems elsewhere that are much more glaring.
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