Same faces, new numbers for some Iowa Football players next season

Get ready to see some familiar Hawkeyes in different numbers next season.

After the 2026 National Championship game ended, all eyes turned to next season, and the Hawkeyes are an early team to watch.

Following a 9-4 overall record during the 2025 season, including a win over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, Iowa is popping up on "way too early" rankings lists for next season.

Iowa has multiple talented players returning next season, and get ready to see some of them in new numbers.

Six Hawkeyes will don new numbers next season

Six players are changing jersey numbers next season, including starting wide receiver Reece Vander Zee and running back Nathan McNeil.

Vander Zee is projected to be one of Iowa's starting wide receivers this season, and will move from No. 15 to No. 2.

McNeil will look to build on his solid freshman campaign to fight for more snaps and is moving from No. 25 to No. 5.

It is also great to see that tight end Mason Woods is honoring his pledge to stay with the Iowa program, even with his dad, LeVar Woods, moving to East Lansing to join the Michigan State Spartans.

Woods is moving from No. 14 to No. 19 and will try to carve out a role in a crowded tight end room next season.

Defensive lineman Devan Kennedy is another name to watch after he started to pop up on everyone's radar during Iowa's bowl preparation.

Kennedy is projected to see an expanded role on the defensive line next season, with Ethan Hurkett, Aaron Graves, and Max Llewellyn all graduating and Brian Allen Jr. transferring.

Kennedy is moving from No. 99 to No. 91.

New numbers or not, the Hawkeyes will look to build on a successful 2025 season and make a push for their first College Football Playoff appearance.