**2026 Iowa Football Season Thread**

[L. Wade Childress]

You guys are killing me tonight.

 

[douglasbader]

With the structure of college football today, and being in the Big Ten, you have to start acting like it. This is why you bring in 5 QBs and don’t just assume someone is your guy. Brown will get the opportunity to move on. You’ll get the chance to bring in someone else.

The missed deep ball to James and the missed sideline throw to the tight end just can’t happen. Especially when you consider there’s a chance the defense could be pretty blah by Iowa standards.

The other factor here is Brown is a 4th year guy already and Hecklinski is a 3rd year guy according to the roster.

Who give a shit about Brown, move on.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

The other factor here is Brown is a 4th year guy already and Hecklinski is a 3rd year guy according to the roster.

Who give a shit about Brown, move on.

ok, Mr President

 

[KitKatApples]

ok, Mr President

You’re actually being a bigger faggot than usual right now

 

[Monster]

You’re actually better my a bigger faggot than usual right now

 

[Monster]

LJ Phillips is gonna lead the team in rushing. Gronowski had 130 attempts last season, which will be split up. Moulton could have a season pretty similar to last season, but LJ looks really good. I could see him 900-1100 yds and 10 tds, and Moulton around 700-800 and 8 scores.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

McNeil going to be plenty involved as well

 

[Monster]

McNeil going to be plenty involved as well

Sure. Iowa ran for 2300 yards last year. Assuming similar production, there will be carries for him too. Xavier Williams might be the guy who suffers, but I'm sure there will be an injury or two.

Hopefully, Moulton will be more involved in the passing game and will be more of a 3rd down back and alternate series with LJ, with LJ getting like 2 for every one for KM.

 

[The Dad]

How are Phillips’ hands?

 

[The Dad]

 

[Monster]

He had 28 receptions last year.

I'd like to see Moulton double his receptions from 16 last year to 30 something. That would keep him on the field and involved while LJ gets 200 carries.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Seemed like McNeil had at least a few receptions yesterday. He might be pretty involved in passing downs

 

[Monster]

Seemed like McNeil had at least a few receptions yesterday. He might be pretty involved in passing downs

The hawk Central Podcast talked about that too. I guess it's a good problem to have. But McNeil is definitely a dynamic player. I think he's got to at least double his carries and catch 15 or 20 passes this year to keep him involved.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Not to beat the McNeil drum but you have to use him or risk losing him

 

[douglasbader]

Lester loves having a RB utility guy he can use as a weapon. He tried it with Washington last year, but he fucking sucked.

This year he's got (by his own words) Nate the Great as that weapon. I think Lester is going to use him a ton in space.

 

[The Dad]

Lester loves having a RB utility guy he can use as a weapon. He tried it with Washington last year, but he fucking sucked.

This year he's got (by his own words) Nate the Great as that weapon. I think Lester is going to use him a ton in space.

That won’t be cheap.

 

[Monster]

Not to beat the McNeil drum but you have to use him or risk losing him

I completely agree. I think that's why doubling his carries and maybe even doubling his receptions from I think 11 to maybe 20 or so would keep him interested. He knows Moulton will be gone after this season and it will be him and Phillips in 2027. McNeil with 100 carries for like 450-500 yards and 20 receptions for 150 yds is realistic.

I fully realize if you add up all those numbers above you end up with like 2500 yds which might be a bit unrealistic but I think those ranges are pretty accurate.

 

[Monster]

I guess with this new rule Moulton could come back one more year.

 

[Kerky]

Just watched the highlights on YouTube. Heck looked great. Very poised. Accurate. I'm all in.

So, the majority of the early snaps appeared to go to Hank, while Heck got the next round. Do they likely flip a coin on this or do I interpret that as being Hank was 1 going into this and Heck 1A? Also, to your point, Hank's footwork and timing were bad, Heck just seemed comfortable and relaxed in running the offense and seeing the field.

 

[Monster]

So, the majority of the early snaps appeared to go to Hank, while Heck got the next round. Do they likely flip a coin on this or do I interpret that as being Hank was 1 going into this and Heck 1A? Also, to your point, Hank's footwork and timing were bad, Heck just seemed comfortable and relaxed in running the offense and seeing the field.

My guess a coin flip.

 

[Monster]

Controversial take: Moulton isn't great. He's good, but he truly benefited from the best line in the country. So if McNeil develops like many think, and LJ is as good as I think, maybe Moulton gets reduced usage and goes to the portal for his 5th year.

 

[douglasbader]

I guess with this new rule Moulton could come back one more year.

You don't have to guess, it has every player and their year officially listed out. https://hawkeyesports.com/sports/football/roster

 

[douglasbader]

These 9 players are the only players out of eligibility after this year. Lutmer is in the screenshot, but he has another year if he wants it.

 

[Monster]

You don't have to guess, it has every player and their year officially listed out. https://hawkeyesports.com/sports/football/roster

Yeah, I know. I just said I guess.

 

[douglasbader]

Yeah, I know. I just said I guess.

Time to lock in, there is no error for guessing moving forward.

 

[Monster]

Time to lock in, there is no error for guessing moving forward.

 

[Gushawk]

After watching that side by side, only a moron would continue this competition.

Almost all of Hecklinski’s incompletions were good throwaways or decent balls that gave the receiver a chance. Decisive and aggressive. Spread the ball nicely among backs, tight ends and wideouts. Dare I say exactly what this offense needs.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Don’t worry guys. Kirk has a long history of doing the right thing in these situations and totally not acting the opposite of the consensus fan sentiment.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Controversial take: Moulton isn't great.

That's the coldest take imaginable. I would guess most people agree he is a fine back but he's not special like Kaleb was his final year.

 

[Monster]

After watching that side by side, only a moron would continue this competition.

Almost all of Hecklinski’s incompletions were good throwaways or decent balls that gave the receiver a chance. Decisive and aggressive. Spread the ball nicely among backs, tight ends and wideouts. Dare I say exactly what this offense needs.

Yeah at this point there's no way they can start Hank Brown for the first game. I know Kirk can be stubborn, but the performance yesterday was not even close. Hank seems robotic to me. He's big and he's got a strong arm and he can move, but heck is a football player.

 

[Monster]

Don’t worry guys. Kirk has a long history of doing the right thing in these situations and totally not acting the opposite of the consensus fan sentiment.

I know this is your schtick because you've mentioned it about a thousand times, but it's not like Kirk always makes a bad decision. He mostly makes good decisions. You just enjoy focusing on the bad ones because it makes you feel smart.

 

[Monster]

That's the coldest take imaginable. I would guess most people agree he is a fine back but he's not special like Kaleb was his final year.

I don't think Kaleb was great either. A product of a great line and lots of work.

 

[LifelongHawk]

I don't think Kaleb was great either.

That's just stupid. LWade finally brought you down to his level.

 

[Monster]

That's just stupid. LWade finally brought you down to his level.

I should have said as great as most fans thought he was. I listen to a lot of Hawkeye podcasts and the hosts talk with such reverence about him, like he did it on his own. Great offensive line. And now he fucking sucks in Pittsburgh, so maybe not AS GREAT as people think.

 

[LifelongHawk]

Watch the Minnesota run again, all timer. All those yards and TDs with no fucking passing game at all.

If you want to play degrees of great, ok, but no doubt he was a great Hawkeye RB.

 

[Monster]

Watch the Minnesota run again, all timer. All those yards and TDs with no fucking passing game at all.

If you want to play degrees of great, ok, but no doubt he was a great Hawkeye RB.

I just hate when the offensive line is completely dismissed. That was a very good line. They are just as responsible for the yards or more than johnson.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I think both parties were very good to great, but not the GOAT

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Kaleb had an extra gear that most of our running backs didn't have. He was a great running back in 2024.

 

[Monster]

Fiiiiine. Just tryna give the big fellas credit.

 

[Hawkstrat]

I think a better way to say the OL was very good, is to say "the OL was very good."

 

[Monster]

I think a better way to say the OL was very good, is to say "the OL was very good."

True. Unfortunately very few people say that. All they talk about is how great Johnson is.

 

[Monster]

I thought the offensive line was better in 2024 than it was last year honestly.

 

[The Dad]

Don’t worry guys. Kirk has a long history of doing the right thing in these situations and totally not acting the opposite of the consensus fan sentiment.

True. Contrarians for the sake of being contrarian CAN be annoying.

 

[LifelongHawk]

The line gets no credit at all; they didn't win the Joe Moore until the next year and only had 2 firsts and a second on all Big Ten teams.

 

[Monster]

Goddam I'm excited for Hawkeye football. Only 20 days!!!!

 

[Monster]

The line gets no credit at all; they didn't win the Joe Moore until the next year and only had 2 firsts and a second on all Big Ten teams.

I KNOW, RIGHT??

 

[douglasbader]

I don't think Kaleb was great either. A product of a great line and lots of work.

Kaleb was an insanely good college RB and won multiple games by himself. They even lost a game specifically because they DIDN'T give him the ball multiple times inside the 5 yard line.

His time so far in Pitt is irrelevant. What he did at Iowa is even more impressive because he did it with zero help from the worse group of QB's in college football.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

I know this is your schtick because you've mentioned it about a thousand times, but it's not like Kirk always makes a bad decision. He mostly makes good decisions. You just enjoy focusing on the bad ones because it makes you feel smart.

beth must not like my schtick either

 

[Lee Beevers]

beth must not like my schtick either

 

[Monster]

beth must not like my schtick either

No one does.