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

2026 may go down as one of the most intriguing offseasons in recent Iowa football history. 

Like it has for the last four years, the quarterback position has dominated most of the headlines, but 2026 has a chance to separate itself from the bunch due to the shear volume of wide-open position battles. 

There's intense competitions at quarterback and special teams to be decided, but one position group that Kirk Ferentz and Co. likely have few worries about heading into the season is the running back room.

The Hawkeyes have fielded solid ground games throughout most of Ferentz's 27-year tenure, but could the 2026 running back corps be the best collection of backs he's ever had? It's a distinct possibility. 

Here's your 2026 Iowa running backs preview. 

Returners 

The unquestioned No. 1 back entering the season is fourth-year Kamari Moulton. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native was banged up through the early portion of the 2025 season, but still totaled 878 yards and five touchdowns on an average of 5.2 yards per carry. 

Standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing 211 pounds, Moulton isn't going to blow people away with his speed, but he's got more than enough strength to continue to be a productive Big Ten back. Moulton is one of those backs that Iowa knows will get chunks of yards, but the biggest question mark for him is turning those chunks into explosive plays. He said it himself at Iowa media day on Aug. 14, and it's what has kept him from reaching the elusive 1,000-yard mark. 

Moulton was far and away the Hawkeyes' featured back in 2025, but he wasn't the only one to produce. Not a ton was expected of first-years Nathan McNeil and Xavier Williams last year, but both showed promise in limited action. 

Moulton suffered an injury early in Iowa's Week 1 contest against Albany, and the Hawks turned to the 5-foot-10 Williams. The Indiana native didn't miss a beat in his first college game, recording 122 yards and a touchdown. His other notable game was against Wisconsin in October, where he tallied 55 yards and two scores in Iowa's 31-0 win. 

McNeil played a similar role. The Hawkeyes' 47-7 blowout win over UMass allowed the shifty freshman to get on the field, and he impressed media members with his natural talent, collecting 56 yards on 10 carries. The 5-foot-11 McNeil also earned quality action against Wisconsin, where he recorded a career-long 24-yard run in the victory. 

Williams and McNeil will likely see the same volume of carries in 2026, but they are fantastic depth pieces to give Moulton and the other top running back a brief rest when need be. 

Can Phillips Carry FCS Success To Big Ten? 

That other top running back you may ask? It's none other than L.J. Phillips Jr., who just may be one of the most-anticipated transfers on this roster. 

Phillips comes over from South Dakota, where he produced one of the best seasons by a running back in recent FCS history. The Coyotes reached the FCS Playoffs for a third consecutive year, and Phillips led the way with an FCS-best 1,921 yards and 19 touchdowns. He became the fastest USD player to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since the program moved to Division I in 2008, and there were many explosive moments mixed in. 

Three hundred one yards against Northern Colorado. 244 yards against Murray State. Nine 100+ yard performances. 

There's no question the 5-foot-8, 211-pound Phillips was a fantastic back at the FCS level, but will his skillset translate to the Big Ten? Only time will tell, but Phillips' rare combination of speed and strength was on full display during Iowa's Kids' Day practice, and he looks to provide the explosiveness the Hawkeye offense desperately needs. 

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