NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

There's still a few more weeks until Iowa plays an actual football game, but for the media, it might as well be football season already. 

Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes will host their annual media day on Friday afternoon, which means we can get some clarity on some of the offseason's biggest questions and share the valuable insight with you guys. 

Here are five storylines to watch ahead of media day: 

Quarterback Battle 

This is obviously the main headline as we enter the final few weeks of fall camp. Ferentz and Co. likely won't announce their decision tomorrow, but they will definitely provide some clarity on where the race stands in mid-August. 

Ferentz also hasn't ruled out the possibility of this race between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski extending into the season, so it will be interesting to hear if there's a chance of that still happening or Iowa simply waiting until its first depth chart release to make the announcement. 

Openings On Special Teams 

Outside of the quarterback position, special teams is probably the Hawkeyes' biggest question mark. Longtime coordinator LeVar Woods departed for Michigan State in the offseason and left the job to offensive analyst Chris Polizzi. 

Eli Ozick is likely to take over for Drew Stevens at kicker, but the unit is wide-open after that. Kaden Wejten's spot at kick returner needs to be filled, as does the punting role vacated by Rhys Dakin. 

We'll get to talk with every position coach tomorrow, so I'm hoping Polizzi will answer some of these questions. 

Defensive Line Depth 

There's also plenty of unknowns on the defensive line. Aaron Graves, Ethan Hurkett, and Max Llewellyn all graduated (Brian Allen transferred, too), leaving a massive hole in Kelvin Bell's unit. 

Iose Epenesa, Kahmari Brown, and Bryce Hawthorne are likely the names Hawkeye fans should keep an eye on in the pass rushing department, but I know those guys will contribute, so I'm curious to hear what Bell says about some of the younger guys in this room. 

Depth in the trenches is very important in the Big Ten, so Iowa is going to need others to step up if it wants to be competitive against the heart of its league schedule. 

How Will Jay Norvell Manage Running Back Carries? 

Iowa's running back room is absolutely loaded this year, but if there's one question I have about this room, it would be the balance of the room. L.J. Phillips Jr. and Kamari Moulton could easily be clear-cut No. 1 running backs at other Power Four programs, so I'm curious to see how new running backs coach Jay Norvell plans to manage this room. 

Will he opt for a by committee approach that the Hawkeyes have used for the last several seasons, or will he lean on one back to get the job done as the season rolls on? 

Reshuffled Offensive Line 

Iowa's offensive line will look a lot different in 2026 after standouts Logan Jones and Gennings Dunker graduated, but this group still has the horses to be very good this year. 

Trevor Lauck is entrenched at left tackle, but everything is up for grabs after that. Kade Pieper could be in line to fill Jones' spot (he was named to the preseason Rimington Trophy watchlist) but my friend Eliot Clough pointed out on X that he noticed fourth-year Cael Winter getting some reps at center on one of Iowa's practice clips. 

I would still lean towards Pieper earning the center spot, but Pieper did tell me that Winter has impressed him the most out of any offensive lineman through summer workouts. 

I'll be keeping a close eye on the offensive line during Saturday's Kid's Day practice.

You Can Win FREE Tickets To Iowa's Season Opener! 

HawkeyeRoundtable is giving away TWO tickets to Iowa's season opener against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5! 

This is easily the biggest giveaway we've ever done on this site, and it's a great opportunity for two lucky fans to experience the joy of attending a Hawkeye football game at Kinnick Stadium. 

Click here to automatically become a member to enter the contest! Additional contest details can be found in our community section, too! 

HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos