Iowa

Highs and Lows From Iowa’s 8-4 Season

Published

5 months ago

November 29, 2025

An 8-4 record is nothing to be disappointed with, but it sort of feels like that record doesn’t indicate how good the Iowa Hawkeyes truly were this season. With their 6-3 B1G record, they were only three plays away from going 9-0 and being a sure-fire candidate to make the College Football Playoffs.

While Iowa had plenty of dominant wins this year, beating bad teams isn’t necessarily the most fulfilling thing in the world. Beating good teams is, and that’s something Iowa failed to do not once, but four times. One could argue that Iowa State isn’t even a good team, though they were ranked when the Hawkeyes went to Jack Trice Stadium at the beginning of the year.

IOWA STATE WINS THE CY-HAWK 🏆@CycloneFB takes down Iowa in Ames 🔥 pic.twitter.com/f7D6TcWwuP
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025

The CyHawk rivalry is no joke, and once again Iowa State got the best of Iowa. At the time, the Cycoles were ranked No. 16. A ranked loss didn’t look so bad on Iowa’s record, but their offense was sluggish as their defense failed to get a stop when they needed them to the most.

Sure, Iowa State was coming off a ranked win over Kansas State, but the Wildcats turned out to be horrible. The Cyclones weren’t much better, and they’ll have a chance to end their season with the same record as Iowa.

FINAL: Iowa 47, UMass 7.
Iowa with 200+ passing, 200+ rushing as Kirk Ferentz gets #206.
3-word headlines?
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) September 14, 2025

If there was ever a way to follow up on the Iowa State loss, it was by scoring their most points since October 1, 2021. Iowa dropped 51 on Maryland on that night four years ago, but their dominant victory over UMass was just the beginning of a few blowout victories where Iowa had pleasure in running up the score.

IOWA PICKS IT OFF AND THEY’RE ON THE VERGE OF UPSETTING INDIANA 😱
pic.twitter.com/gLzp7LxTJ9
— College Football Report (@CFBReport) September 27, 2025

This game will go down as the biggest “what if?” of the season. Had quarterback Mark Gronowski not gotten hurt, would Iowa have been the one team to take down the Hoosiers this season? It sure seemed like it. Other than only beating Penn State by three, this 20-15 loss was Indiana’s closest game of the season.

Penn State tries a little deception on 4th and 1 and gets STUFFED by Iowa pic.twitter.com/egQquRgN5e
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) October 19, 2025

Iowa had a chance to go into halftime up 13-7, but a blocked field goal changed the course of the game. The Nittany Lions, down QB Drew Allar and without head coach James Franklin, led Iowa, 21-10. Somehow, the Hawkeyes were able to work some late-game magic, something that later reappeared against Michigan State. Regardless, taking down the Nittany Lions was huge, no matter how shorthanded they were or what their record showed.

Cannot believe the officials missed this obvious facemask call.
Instead of 1st and 10 at USC 43 Iowa has to throw on 3rd and long and it’s picked. pic.twitter.com/KPlCTk6pZn
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) November 15, 2025

The Hawkeyes had not one, but two chances to punch their ticket to the CFP. Even though they lost to Oregon, the CFP dropped them only one spot. They had a chance to go to Los Angeles and take down USC, something they once again failed to do. Time and time again, Iowa loses big games. There’s no doubt they’ll look back on this season and wonder what could’ve been as their four losses are by a combined 15 points. It’s tragic, to say the least.

FINAL: Iowa 40, Nebraska 16
Despite a career day from Emmett Johnson (29–217–1 TD), the #Huskers fall to the Hawkeyes.
That’s 3 straight wins for Iowa — and Kirk Ferentz’s 7th straight in Lincoln, the longest streak by any opposing head coach in Nebraska history. @KETV pic.twitter.com/2jbXGQzgu0
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— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) November 28, 2025

While Iowa vs. Nebraska isn’t a true rivalry due to how one-sided it’s been in recent years, it sure felt good to see Iowa go out with a win like that. They dropped 40 points for the third time this year, something that older teams couldn’t even dream of. It was a great season, no doubt, but this could’ve been the one chance the Hawkeyes had to make a deep run.

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Iowa

Iowa football 2026 NFL Draft recap

Published

10 hours ago

April 26, 2026

Press Room

The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, but not without the Iowa Hawkeyes once again sending a healthy group to the next level. Iowa saw another class of NFL prospects hear their names called and find out where their new homes will be.

As is the norm for Iowa, this draft class was headlined by offensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive line talent, which is fitting. This is how Iowa wins so many games under Kirk Ferentz, and it is a direct correlation to this program’s ability to mold and develop talent into NFL stars.

While this class of draft prospects gets set to make their way to their new NFL homes, check out the recap of where each player is headed, along with where they were taken in this year’s draft.

Logan Jones

Oct 11, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) celebrates a touchdown in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ross Harried-Imagn Images

Team: Chicago Bears

Round: 2

Pick: 57

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Seahawks Select Iowa Guard Beau Stephens With 148th Overall Pick | 2026 NFL Draft

Published

22 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Press Room

Seahawks Select Iowa Guard Beau Stephens With 148th Overall Pick | 2026 NFL Draft

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and president of football operations John Schneider met with media following day one of the NFL draft and discuss the decision to stay and pick at 32, what makes running back Jadarian Price special, how Price will fit into the offense and more at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

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Iowa

Steelers Land Fan Favorite Iowa OL With Third-Round Pick

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2026

Press Room

Steelers Land Fan Favorite Iowa OL With Third-Round Pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue beefing up their offensive line in the 2026 NFL Draft after previously taking Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round.

After trading picks No. 99 and 216 to the Seattle Seahawks for No. 96, the Steelers selected Iowa’s Gennings Dunker.

Dunker was a right tackle for the Hawkeyes, where he was a huge part of helping the team win the Joe Moore Award in 2025 as the nation’s top offensive line.

As for how he projects to the next level, however, Dunker is likely to move inside for the Steelers at 6-foot-5 and 319 pounds and could compete with Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman for the starting job at left guard.

Dunker is a better run blocker than pass protector, but he is feisty in all facets of the game and possesses a ton of strength while also being rather technically sound.

A fan-favorite with his mullet and contagious personality, Dunker should fit right in with Pittsburgh.

Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) warms up before a football game against the Indiana Hoosiers Sept. 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

James Campen Offers Thoughts on Dunker

Speaking with reporters after the pick was made, Steelers offensive line coach James Campen listed some of the traits that drew him to Dunker.

“He is an aggressive kid,” Campen said. “Good football player. They’re so well-coached at Iowa. They come out and have established pad level and footwork. I’ve got a lot of respect for that football program, and the people who run it, but to be able to get a guy like him, a big, powerful kid that has position flexibility and has shown leadership in his play, his play style is really unique.”

While confirming that he is slated to primarily line up at guard, Campen also shared that Dunker’s Senior Bowl participation allowed his leadership to shine through.

“You always look for guys that are first in line doing things that are challenging or different like he did at the Senior Bowl. He was first in line to go and do new drills and things like that. So I’m sure there’s some leadership qualities there too.

“But we’re very excited to have him and to add to the O-line room. We’ll get him in here and take a look at him. I think at this point he’ll be at the guard position, and tackle will be his second position. But again, when you get players like this, you can always try to figure out which way he’s going to go. So, competition is good in those areas. So, he’ll probably end up playing a little bit of both, but primarily guard.”

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