**2026 Iowa Football Season Thread**

[douglasbader]

It's Media Day week, boyz. I have no idea what to expect this year. Go Hawks!!!!

 

[BBK]

Middle of the schedule is a bitch and I don't think we will quite be ready.

It's a shame we didn't get those tougher games a little later in the year

 

[brantshawks]

7 win season.

And that's fine this year I guess.

 

[Mitchandrsn]

 

[Shawneemicks]

I think they’ll find a way to get 8.

 

[gable_guy]

TWSS

 

[Stu Beagle]

Aren’t they favored in 9 games?

 

[Gushawk]

My completely unbiased breakdown

NIU W
ISU W
UNI W
at Mich 50/50
OSU L
at Wash 50/50
at Minn W
Wisc W
at NW W
Purdue W
at Illinois W
Neb W

Mark me down for 10-2

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Happy 1-2 after Washington, ecstatic with 2-1

 

[Herbie2]

Iowa - 11.5 over ISU seems crazy low.

 

[Gushawk]

Kirk’s history of blowing them out is far from stellar

 

[Renegade_ofFunk]

I always assume Iowa is going to turn the Iowa State game into a rock fight every year due to various circumstances that should be well within control of the staff.

They really need to call off this series. I’m in my 40s now and don’t need this kind of unnecessary stress in my life.

 

[KitKatApples]

Iowa - 11.5 over ISU seems crazy low.

Why? Have you not seen Kirk be a complete faggot against them the last four years?

 

[Shawneemicks]

That game has 20-10, 17-7 written all over it

 

[cloudhawk]

Just need to focus on fucking winning

 

[Verbal]

3 game winning streak, 3 game losing streak, 6 game winning streak, bowl game that ends with Kirk getting doused with mayonnaise.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Regardless of bowl.game, mayo bath

 

[KitKatApples]

All Hail!

 

[newsbreaker]

2-1 in that opening BT stretch is playoff bound as long as they don’t trip over their own dicks.

 

[Monster]

2-1 in that opening BT stretch is playoff bound as long as they don’t trip over their own dicks.

It's easy to do.

 

[newsbreaker]

It's easy to do.

Dick trippage is the presumed outcome.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Minnesota and/or NW potentially look like games we’re asking wtf happened

 

[WCFHawkeye]

I've looked and analyzed that schedule closely, and after intense research and calculations, I see 15 wins and no losses.

 

[6deuce]

Dick trippage is the presumed outcome.

Is that better or worse than dick farting?

 

[Laplace]

Ah, its that time again. Genius Hawkeye fans online saying the age old wisdom "we've got em right where we want em - we always play better as the underdog"

 

[KitKatApples]

Dick trippage is the presumed outcome.

Is that better or worse than dick farting?

One is a NASCAR driver the other is a medical condition

 

[newsbreaker]

Is that better or worse than dick farting?

Yes.

 

[RazHawk]

Portal adds were mostly home runs, passing game is not bottom 30 in the FBS, & no major injuries: 11-1
Portal adds were marginal gains, passing game is still kinda broken, injuries are manageable: 9-3
Portal adds were whiffs, passing game is still broken, injuries mount up: 7-5

Whole season comes down to QB & DL development IMO. They portaled DT which tells me they have concerns there, if Iowa's DL isn't doing its job the entire defense breaks.

I think UM/UW are winnable games, but only with some type of vertical passing threat. The OL + RB depth should be good enough to handle the B10 West level opponents, assuming the DL isn't a dumpster fire.

 

[Shawneemicks]

So pretty much like every year

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Portal adds were mostly home runs, passing game is not bottom 30 in the FBS, & no major injuries: 11-1
Portal adds were marginal gains, passing game is still kinda broken, injuries are manageable: 9-3
Portal adds were whiffs, passing game is still broken, injuries mount up: 7-5

Whole season comes down to QB & DL development IMO. They portaled DT which tells me they have concerns there, if Iowa's DL isn't doing its job the entire defense breaks.

I think UM/UW are winnable games, but only with some type of vertical passing threat. The OL + RB depth should be good enough to handle the B10 West level opponents, assuming the DL isn't a dumpster fire.

Interested to see how Washington plays behind a QB that had two feet out the door this past summer

 

[RazHawk]

Yeah, except I've never really had hope for QB development before. Maybe Lester breaks the cycle.

I keep telling myself statistically it should be impossible to be that bad at QB year over year, then I just accepted math doesn't apply to the Iowa QB situation anymore.

 

[KitKatApples]

Kinda wish we still had Allen and Entringer

 

[douglasbader]

First page and Shawnee already trying to ruin the thread.

 

[Shawneemicks]

I’m already envisioning folded arms & squinted eyes because they let the QB race go too long. Past the obvious

 

[Herbie2]

Why? Have you not seen Kirk be a complete faggot against them the last four years?

ISU is going to have an epically bad team this year. If they get to 4 wins it will be a Christmas Miracle that only Blum the Elf will be able to enjoy.

 

[KitKatApples]

I’ll fucking believe it when I see it. Kirk feels bad for them. Doesnt wanna be to mean.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

ISU is going to have an epically bad team this year. If they get to 4 wins it will be a Christmas Miracle that only Blum the Elf will be able to enjoy.

Their fans have convinced themselves they're a 7 win floor team by now.

 

[Floyd R]

Trench play will dictate this year’s success. I really like the OL depth that Barnett has amassed. On the other side, Iowa needs some dudes to step up on the DL.

 

[douglasbader]

The offense has collectively more talent and experience than they have in a very long time, enough that they should be able to make even an average QB look good.

TE is as loaded as it has been since Fant/Hockenson in 2018. RB is as deep and talented as it has been since 2015. WR easily as good as it has been since Smith and ISM in 2019. OL has 2 first team All-Big Ten and maybe 1st round picks.

Brown and Hecklinsky just have to be average and they will be just fine.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

DT and QB are the only real potential weak spots (IMHO!!). Hopefully Kennedy and a QB are ready

 

[Shawneemicks]

They need to settle on the qb after week 1 & that gives everyone a couple weeks together & maybe their best shot of winning one or two of mich, OSU & Washington

 

[newsbreaker]

ISU is going to have an epically bad team this year. If they get to 4 wins it will be a Christmas Miracle that only Blum the Elf will be able to enjoy.

It’s possible ISU is the third best non-conference team on the schedule this year, and UNI is going to be embarrassingly awful.

 

[Mitchandrsn]

Their fans have convinced themselves they're a 7 win floor team by now.

They’re favored to win 5+

 

[Wanderer]

They play FCS SE Mo State and lower level of the MAC Bowling Green in non-conference. There are 6 teams in the B12 lower than 45 in ESPN's pre-season FPI. They are one of the teams and play 4 of the other 5- West Virginia, Cincinnati, UCF and Oklahoma State. They can definitely win 4 games. I'd take the over 4.5.

 

[newsbreaker]

That conference is sweaty ass.

 

[Orestes]

Dick trippage is the presumed outcome.

Wasn't he a NASCAR driver back in the 90s?

 

[CamelTones]

I’m a little worried about their ability to stop the run. It hurt them quite a bit last year and is one of the main reasons their turnover rate was down. Way too many 2nd and 5, 3rd and 2 type plays for the other team.

I really like the potential of the back 7 on defense and I’m confident Epenesa and Merriweather will be solid at end. I’m just weary of the depth at defensive tackle after Hawthorn.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Super excited about the linebackers. Hoping they play the right ones.

 

[Gushawk]

Super excited about the linebackers. Hoping they play the right ones.

it’s gonna be Buffington and Montgomery. After listening to several interviews, Wallace and Phil fucking love Montgomery. I don’t love that, especially when it comes to coverage, but have begrudgingly come to terms with it. Buffington will be fucking awesome.