Iowa football in flux in CBS Sports Big Ten Power Rankings

The Big Ten appears to be the lead dog in the college football arms race of talent, superiority, and winning as of late. With a trio of national championships under its belt, the confernece is looking better than ever as well as deeper than ever.

The talent at the top is evident in Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, and Michigan, but the middle of the conference, which includes the Iowa Hawkeyes, is deep and ripe for a team to make a strong push for a College Football Playoff appearance.

That depth is clear in CBS Sports' Big Ten power rankings, which sees a cluster of teams bunched up in the middle, including Iowa, which sits at No. 8 in the conference's pecking order as of this moment ahead of the 2026 college football season.

8. Iowa

The Hawkeyes had a record seven players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. While that's a clear testament to the program's development pipeline, it also raises real questions about how quickly they can replace that level of talent. 

Only six starters return, and an Iowa defense that hasn't finished outside the top 20 in scoring since 2014 enters 2026 with the fewest returning FBS snaps of any Power Four team. 

The quarterback battle between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinsky is expected to stretch into fall camp. There are always reasons to doubt Iowa in transition years, but Kirk Ferentz's consistency tends to win out, and more often than not, the Hawkeyes still find a way to scratch out at least eight wins. Odds: +4000– Cody Nagel, CBS Sports

It's the classic Iowa scenario. The defense is seeing some doubts cast upon itself from the national media, with new faces in new places. At times, it seems to be forgotten that Phil Parker is still the defensive coordinator, and many of these new starters aren't inexperienced, but have been within the program for three or even four years at this point.

Offensively, you, I, your mother, your mother's friend, and anyone else willing to listen know about the quarterback battle. It will be decided this fall and could linger into the regular season before it's finally settled.

Where Iowa can alleviate some pressure is with the loaded running back room they have and an offensive line that is expected to be stout once again. This area of the game can take pressure off the quarterback, keep the defense rested and off the field, and chew the clock in a way few love to do as much as Kirk Ferentz.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Iowa football in flux in CBS Sports Big Ten Power Rankings