Iowa City, Iowa – Following a 9-4 season a year ago where the Hawkeyes came within two points of Oregon, five points of national champion Indiana and three points of in-state rival Iowa State, Iowa’s gaze is set firmly on the College Football Playoff. They will be following largely the same formula of years past: Dominate on defense and find enough offense to win.

The Hawkeyes return key contributors across the offense from a group that scored nearly 30 points per game a year ago, the best statistical offense they’ve produced under third year offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The big question mark remains at quarterback, a group coached for the first time by former analyst Billy VandeMerkt after Lester gave up position coach duties this offseason. he Hawkeyes are hoping for someone to step up internally between returning backups Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown. Jeremy Sullivan, officially listed as QB3, has had his name thrown around by coaches in press conferences as a camp standout as well, adding to the complexity of the position battle. As of Tuesday, Iowa hasn’t officially named a starter.

The surrounding cast for whoever is named QB1 has promise, as the Hawkeyes return two running backs, three wide receivers, three tight ends and two offensive linemen with starting experience, complemented by the depth and development in the trenches that has become a signature of the program. That cast includes several players on preseason award lists, including:

• Kade Pieper, AP Preseason All-American, Lombardi Award watch list, Rimington Trophy watch list, Outland Trophy watch list
• Trevor Lauck, Lombardi Award watch list, Outland Trophy watch list
• Tony Diaz, Hispanic College Football Player of the Year watch list
• Kamari Moulton, Doak Walker Award watch list
• DJ Vonnahme, John Mackey Award watch list

It’s a group that has potential, and a lot of it. If whoever emerges as QB1 can elevate this group, it could be the best offense since the Hawkeyes went to the Rose Bowl and finished just a single spot out of the CFP in 2015. If whoever emerges at quarterback can’t maximize the potent weaponry around him, it’ll be back to the tried and true method of recent Hawkeye teams looking to win football games: Grit, defense and special teams excellence.

That defense is headlined by a secondary that returns two critical starters in Deshaun Lee and Zach Lutmer as well as fifth-year senior Jayden Montgomery at linebacker. Lutmer and Montgomery have racked up several postseason awards, including:

• Lutmer: Preseason Second-Team All-American, Nagurski Trophy watch list, Bednarik Award watch list, Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list 
• Montgomery: Wuerffel Trophy watch list, Butkus Award watch list

Outside of that trio, though, the Hawkeyes have eight holes to fill entering the 2026 season, including the entirety of the defensive line.

The local talent that the Hawkeyes have relied on throughout Ferentz’s head coaching tenure will be critical in filling those gaps, with eight of the 22 players on the Hawkeye’s week one two-deep depth chart hailing from Iowa, including:

• Luke Gaffney (Linn-Mar High School)
• Drew Campbell (Cedar Falls High School)
• Landyn Van Kekerix (Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley High School)
• Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg High School)
• Cam Buffington (Winfield-Mt. Union High School)
• Nolan DeLong (Durant High School)
• Preston Ries (Monticello High School)
• Zach Lutmer (Central Lyon High School)

In terms of special teams, Lutmer continues the tradition of punt returners from the Hawkeye secondary, following in the steps of Hawkeye alum Cooper DeJean. Kickoff returns will be handled by Brevin Doll, the punter spot will be taken over by Australian freshman Boston Everitt (with Waukee native Tanner Philpott hot on his tail per Ferentz’s week one press conference), and Bettendorf’s Caden Buhr will handle place kicks.

Despite all the returning offensive talent and facing a weaker schedule this year, though (the Hawkeyes dodged both Indiana and Oregon on this year’s slate), the Hawkeyes’ current over/under for wins sits at just 7.5. The Hawkeye schedule is as follows:

September 5 vs Northern Illinois

September 12 vs Iowa State

September 19 vs Northern Iowa

September 26 at Michigan

October 3 vs Ohio State

October 9 at Washington

October 24 at Minnesota

October 31 vs Wisconsin

November 7 at Northwestern

November 14 vs Purdue

November 21 at Illinois

November 27 vs Nebraska

If you were to ask fans in Iowa City, eight wins would be disappointing, regardless of what Vegas says. Losing to Iowa State again would be a failure. Wins are always expected against Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. If the Hawkeyes sweep their rivalry games, three of which they’ve dominated in recent years and the fourth of which underwent a coaching change this offseason, it’s difficult to foresee them winning fewer than nine games. Iowa fans want to see this team make it over the hump. Whether or not they will starts with the quarterback battle, which will play out for 70,000 fans at Kinnick Stadium Saturday.