**2026 Iowa Football Season Thread**

[Lee Beevers]

I’m kind of optimistic about this season. I think the back 7 on defense is going to be solid and if the defensive line can do a little bit they can be very good on defense. Even without having certainty at QB, having what should be a great offensive line and possibly a couple pros at tight end should help the offense function. I’m at 7-5 if little to nothing clicks and 9-3 if a couple guys step up. If one of the quarterbacks proves not to be a faggot, we’re in business.

 

[Hawkmi]

All of you are a bunch of faggots. CFP here we come.

 

[champion_thedrinker]

Clam down HALO, this team may or may not need a quarterback. Time will tell.

 

[douglasbader]

Clam down HALO, this team may or may not need a quarterback. Time will tell.

Every team needs a QB, retard. It's a required position on the field.

 

[Talkin' Goat]

KF interview from this morning so you can see the context around the various quotes from today.

 

[champion_thedrinker]

Every team needs a QB, retard. It's a required position on the field.

Negative Doug taking things literally.

Sad!

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Kirk is an arrogant retard.

 

[Hawkmi]

Kirk is an arrogant retard.

I think the lady doth protest too much.

 

[douglasbader]

They both suck. Hooray.

 

[Monster]

Kirk is an arrogant retard.

You are.

Kirk is a good man, an expert on team building and cohesion, and has forgotten more about football than any of us will ever know. He's stubborn. But likely sick of dealing with retarded fans questioning his every decision for 40 years.

 

[CleteyColgate]

Kirk is an arrogant retard.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

The people with the most football knowledge in world are among the most retarded on planet.

 

[Hawkmi]

The people with the most football knowledge in world are among the most retarded on planet.

 

[Stomper15]

It's amazing that even when we can pay we still won't pay for a QB.

 

[Hawkmi]

It's amazing that even when we can pay we still won't pay for a QB.

They paid for both of them.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

It's amazing that even when we can pay we still won't pay for a QB.

expert on team building, I’m told.

 

[Stomper15]

They paid for both of them.

Don’t be dense

 

[Hawkmi]

Don’t be dense

 

[Revolver]

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/afootball?iso=20260905T1430&p0=5803&msg=You+faggots+shutting+the+fuck+up&font=cursive

 

[douglasbader]

I will happily be WATT and this is just the stupid period when there isn't anything else to talk about, but the longer this goes on the more annoying it is and the more clear they should have likely found a way to pay for a QB again.

I get why they didn't or don't want to, but a cast off from Auburn that clearly wasn't great last year and a guy from Wake Forrest that they only snagged very late (and I think a near walk on) only because he played in the stupid slow-mesh system or for the fired Wake Forrest analyst tried to set up here but they abandoned immediately isn't a great plan.

"But they both have a full year in the system with Lester!!"

Who gives a fuck if they both clearly suck bad enough some players think it should be Kirk’s son, Brian Ferentz recruit Jimmy fucking Sullivan who is best known for bagging the Addie Deal chick before she transferred.

 

[douglasbader]

I don't actually care this much, just bored.

 

[Monster]

expert on team building, I’m told.

By the guys on the Big Ten network? ESPN? They all say it.

 

[shoot-the-three]

The people with the most football knowledge in world are among the most retarded on planet.

In that case, you must have the most football knowledge in the world.

 

[Hawkmi]

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/afootball?iso=20260905T1430&p0=5803&msg=You+faggots+shutting+the+fuck+up&font=cursive

 

[nikolausp]

Gotta be in Ohio for a couple days late next month, looked up the football schedule dates and it's perfect... literally the next day. Roadtrip to Ann Arbor for Iowa @ the Big House in Late September, hell ya!

The only other 2 times I've been to games at the Big House were both Iowa games... in Oct 2002 for the the 34-9 three hour SpaceWhack session, and the sweet Oct 2010 Hawkeye Win. Let's make it 3 for 3! CCMF

 

[Shawneemicks]

Tim is gonna make the decision and I have no reason to think he won’t pick the better option. That option however may not be great, probably pretty average.
Next year I’m hoping Bessinger is the guy

 

[CleteyColgate]

If Kirk tries harder he could end up having the most wins of any Big 10 coach ever

 

[douglasbader]

Gotta be in Ohio for a couple days late next month, looked up the football schedule dates and it's perfect... literally the next day. Roadtrip to Ann Arbor for Iowa @ the Big House in Late September, hell ya!

The only other 2 times I've been to games at the Big House were both Iowa games... in Oct 2002 for the the 34-9 three hour SpaceWhack session, and the sweet Oct 2010 Hawkeye Win. Let's make it 3 for 3! CCMF

That's amazing, please take pics of all the food you eat at every single meal and let us know every detail of every craft IPA at the local Michigan and Ohio pubs that you drink so we can follow along!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kenos]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49582973/2026-college-football-player-rank-top-100-jeremiah-smith-leonard-moore

lutmer at 72
lauk at 54
pieper at 40

 

[Monster]

I'm optimistic that the right decision will be made re quarterback. Lester has said it's his decision. KF has supported that statement. Obviously Kirk will have an input, but the most weight will be given to Lester's decision.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Lester has said it's his decision. KF has supported that statement.

 

[Stu Beagle]

I’m slightly optimistic that at least neither guy is a statue in the pocket

 

[LifelongHawk]

I'm optimistic that the right decision will be made re quarterback. Lester has said it's his decision. KF has supported that statement. Obviously Kirk will have an input, but the most weight will be given to Lester's decision.

I think maybe Tom Moore will make the decision, and I'm fine with that.

 

[Hawk24]

I'm optimistic that the right decision will be made re quarterback. Lester has said it's his decision. KF has supported that statement. Obviously Kirk will have an input, but the most weight will be given to Lester's decision.

That's crazy talk! Everyone here knows exactly what's actually happening behind the scenes!

 

[Monster]

I think maybe Tom Moore will make the decision, and I'm fine with that.

Lol super edgy take, bruh.

 

[KitKatApples]

That's crazy talk! Everyone here knows exactly what's actually happening behind the scenes!

Were almost too the first game just bear with us. Or twink with us. Your choice

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

Kirk really likes the oline.

 

[Monster]

Kirk really likes the oline.

Me too.

 

[RazHawk]

I have a tough time thinking this team will be bad with a really good OL, loaded RB room, and everyone seeming to like the back end of the defense.

I know QB sucking puts a real ceiling on the team, but they've been 8-4 with garbage QB play before, and there's only 3 games they probably can't win without some help from the passing game.

A good defense and high level running game is enough to likely win the rest of them. If DT is a problem that would change my opinion, plus I'm expecting FG kicking to not be as good, which will hurt on those other 9 games.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

I appreciate the optimism and I hope we win them all. But we lost almost our entire ST and D, the two units that actually help us win games. And then we take a pretty bad offense, add some skill players, but have no QB. I just don’t see it.

6-6 tops

 

[Hawk24]

I have a tough time thinking this team will be bad with a really good OL, loaded RB room, and everyone seeming to like the back end of the defense.

I know QB sucking puts a real ceiling on the team, but they've been 8-4 with garbage QB play before, and there's only 3 games they probably can't win without some help from the passing game.

A good defense and high level running game is enough to likely win the rest of them. If DT is a problem that would change my opinion, plus I'm expecting FG kicking to not be as good, which will hurt on those other 9 games.

IMHO, that may be the biggest concern, especially since Iowa is a team that typically plays close games and wins a lot in the margins. Not getting some of that hidden yardage on punts and punt returns could hurt in a few games.

 

[WCFHawkeye]

Tim is gonna make the decision and I have no reason to think he won’t pick the better option. That option however may not be great, probably pretty average.
Next year I’m hoping Bessinger is the guy

At this point. I would be perfectly happy with pretty average.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

I have a tough time thinking this team will be bad with a really good OL, loaded RB room, and everyone seeming to like the back end of the defense.

I know QB sucking puts a real ceiling on the team, but they've been 8-4 with garbage QB play before, and there's only 3 games they probably can't win without some help from the passing game.

A good defense and high level running game is enough to likely win the rest of them. If DT is a problem that would change my opinion, plus I'm expecting FG kicking to not be as good, which will hurt on those other 9 games.

I am sort of expecting (FUCK) a 2008 type year. A lot of wtf especially early, but they have the bodies and ability, they just need to figure it out.

 

[Gushawk]

Kirk mentioning the McGwire/Poholsky(RIP)/Hartlieb and Christensen/Stanzi debacles would give me some hope if he was doing it in a way that indicated he learned something from them. But, alas…

 

[Monster]

Kirk mentioning the McGwire/Poholsky(RIP)/Hartlieb and Christensen/Stanzi debacles would give me some hope if he was doing it in a way that indicated he learned something from them. But, alas…

I'll never understand how the Jake/Stanzi thing was a debacle. He made the change 4 games in, and Stanzi shit the bed in one of those games and Jake came in and helped themwin. Jake was an incumbent starter. Not an easy decision but he did it. You're playing armchair quarterback to say it should have happened sooner.

Same with the Jake rudock and CJ beathard situation. Rudock got drafted in the nfl. Had a pretty good year at Michigan. CJ was better but I wouldn't say head and shoulders better than him. These are hard decisions. Kirk is bad at them but not nearly as bad as you think.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

I'll never understand how the Jake/Stanzi thing was a debacle. He made the change 4 games in, and Stanzi shit the bed in one of those games and Jake came in and helped themwin. Jake was an incumbent starter. Not an easy decision but he did it. You're playing armchair quarterback to say it should have happened sooner.

Same with the Jake rudock and CJ beathard situation. Rudock got drafted in the nfl. Had a pretty good year at Michigan. It's not like CJ was better but I wouldn't say head and shoulders better than him. These are hard decisions. Kirk is bad at them but not nearly as bad as you think.

He has also gotten better about things, like analytics/decisions.

 

[Monster]

Think about all the QBs who have left the program in the past 10 years. Have any of them turned out to be worth a shit? The guys who have stayed haven't been good either, but it's not as if the guy behind him was better but ol stubborn Kirk wasn't giving him a chance. More of a recruiting issue, more likely. And he finally brought in a real OC with QB expertise and appears to be listening to him.

 

[Debit One]

I'll never understand how the Jake/Stanzi thing was a debacle. He made the change 4 games in, and Stanzi shit the bed in one of those games and Jake came in and helped themwin. Jake was an incumbent starter. Not an easy decision but he did it. You're playing armchair quarterback to say it should have happened sooner.

It is not armchair QBing to say that Christensen should not have played in the second half at Pittsburgh.

I was screaming it at my television in real time.

 

[CamelTones]

I'll never understand how the Jake/Stanzi thing was a debacle. He made the change 4 games in, and Stanzi shit the bed in one of those games and Jake came in and helped themwin. Jake was an incumbent starter. Not an easy decision but he did it. You're playing armchair quarterback to say it should have happened sooner.

Same with the Jake rudock and CJ beathard situation. Rudock got drafted in the nfl. Had a pretty good year at Michigan. CJ was better but I wouldn't say head and shoulders better than him. These are hard decisions. Kirk is bad at them but not nearly as bad as you think.

The 2008 Iowa State game…Christensen came in, completed 4/5 passes for 27 yards after Stanzi struggled throwing 2 picks on 5/14 in a horrible weather game. Kirk then started Jake against Pitt where he went 12/24 for 124 yards. They actually played Stanzi in that game where Stanzi went 7/10 for 79 yards. Kirk was done with Jake after that game.

My biggest concern is they do the same thing this year. IMO they just need to pick a guy. They keep talking about everything they grade them on being almost identical…ok so shouldn’t the expected production be the same? So pick one, if he can’t do it with the lights on go to the other guy.

 

[Shawneemicks]

My arms were crossed like a motherfucker