No one gets as excited about solid offensive line play as the Iowa Hawkeyes, and it shows.
The unit won the Joe Moore Award last season, and even after losing veterans Beau Stephens, Gennings Dunker, and Logan Jones to the NFL, the group hasn't skipped a beat this offseason. Not every program can replace players with over 100 combined starts, and while it won't be easy, George Barnett has the unit locked and loaded. Even missing three key starters from last season, the offensive line has been impressive in camp and has opened some eyes.
Iowa's OL has the potential to be in the mix for the Joe Moore Award once again
Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck are the only returning starters on the OL and have been incredible throughout fall camp. While those two are definitely the leaders of the group, the unit looks strong and continues to receive high marks through the offseason.
OL is always fun to watch here. So well-coached. Trevor Lauck (59) looks good at LT. He and Kade Pieper (58) are the guys that pop the most – but this is a typical Ferentz OL – a group that very much looks the part despite losing stars Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones. pic.twitter.com/TJqUVkfo9W
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 24, 2026
Trevor Lauck and Kade Pieper were the two who obviously "popped" the most, but the entire unit looks like a typical Kirk Ferentz OL and is ready to show that it isn't a rebuild, just a reload. Plenty of questions remain about who will start at left guard, right tackle, and right guard, with multiple players in the mix. Jack Dotzler will most likely earn the starting right tackle spot after losing out to Lauck last season, leaving two vacancies to be filled. Iowa has plenty of talent to fill those spots, with Leighton Jones, Cael Winter, Michael Myslinski, and Cannon Leonard among others.
Iowa has a good problem to have, with multiple talented players vying for snaps, and the offense's success traditionally hinges on how well the offensive line plays. It is even more important this season with an unknown starting quarterback, and whoever earns the role will be a first-year starter, putting more pressure on the line and the running game. With multiple unknowns heading into the offseason, it is great news that the offensive line still "looks the part" and could easily be in contention for the Joe Moore Award.
Big Ten analyst Jake Butt, a University of Michigan graduate and former star tight end, has been consistently high on the Iowa program and gave them the ultimate vote of confidence when he said that Iowa will be in contention for the Joe Moore Award, proving how highly he and the rest of the college football community view Iowa's offensive line development. A good offensive line means good things for the program, and it is very comforting to know that Iowa hasn't taken a step back in that area.
A good OL means more to Iowa's success than whoever is the starting QB
Much has been made about Iowa's unknown starting quarterback situation, with Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski still battling for the role. If there is one thing we have learned, it's that the starting QB often does not matter. To outside observers, that may sound like a wild statement, but Iowa's offensive success comes from an elite running game and a quarterback who does nothing to hurt the team. That trend will continue this season, and regardless of who earns the starting role, the offensive line matters more.
Protecting a first-year starting QB and creating holes for the rushing attack will be key this season, and it is comforting to know that despite losing three starters, the OL still looks good. That is a credit to Iowa's OL development, as it is rinse and repeat instead of scrambling to plug holes on the line. If Iowa can dominate on the ground with its talented group of running backs, it will make the quarterback's life so much easier.
Excluding Pieper and Lauck, we won't know who steps into the vacant starting roles until the first depth chart of the season is released next week, but it is a great sign that the offensive line has been impressive throughout fall camp.
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