What to know about Iowa football in 2026

What to know about Iowa football in 2026

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What to know about Iowa football in 2026

The Big Ten is progressing rapidly and quickly abandoning the traditional thinking that being pretty good is enough to be at the top of the conference. They have a three-season streak of national championship wins and multiple double-digit win teams who emerge as contenders almost every year. Iowa is in a weird spot where they are a successful program for the limited resources they have, but they also aren’t complacent with just being good. It’s been a long time since they’ve felt like they had a chance to truly compete in the Big Ten and are hoping this is the year that changes that thinking.

Here is a quick look at the Iowa Hawkeyes heading into the 2026 season.

Quick 2025 Recap

Sep 13, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) looks on before the game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

  • Record: 9-4 overall, 6-3 Big Ten
  • Bowl result: Won ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Vanderbilt, 34-27

Iowa has been knocking at the door of Big Ten excellence for a while now, but you have to beat the best to be the best. They had a positive 9-4 season in 2025, although they failed to beat a single ranked team before their victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

It’s been decades since they’ve consistently fought at the top of the conference and they are hoping this is the year they finally get back to that point. The Hawkeyes showed that they can hang with the best after losing to all four of their ranked opponents in the regular season by a total of just 15 points. They are a scrappy team who can muck up the game for any opponent regardless of their talent and they hope to prove it this year.

Head coach: Kirk Ferentz, 28th season

Oct 18, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

  • Record: 213-128

Legendary Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is approaching his 30th season with the Hawkeyes and he is still just as beloved as the moment he stepped on campus. He quickly turned them into one of the best teams in the Big Ten, leading them to three consecutive double-digit win seasons in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, Ferentz hasn’t had quite that level of success in the past decade or more, but his tenure has still been a massive success overall for a school like Iowa. They would certainly like to become Big Ten or national champions for the first time, however Ferentz has brought the program stability that other organizations yearn for.

Offensive player to know: Kamari Moulton, Running back

Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton (28) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday October 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin.

Kamari Moulton burst on the scene last season for Iowa by rushing for 878 yards and five touchdowns, the former being more than he’d accumulated in his career at that point. The Hawkeyes typically like to play a tough brand of football, so there’s reason to believe that his role with the team will continue to expand as he matures. Moulton nearly got to 1,000 yards last year — now let’s see if he can take a similar jump this season.

Defensive player to know: Zach Lutmer, Safety

Iowa defensive back Zach Lutmer (6) reacts after it was announced Kaden Wetjen was selected in the NFL draft on April 25, 2026, during the team's spring practice at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Zach Lutmer emerged as one of the standout players for the Hawkeyes during the 2025 season. After hardly getting on the grass during his first two years, the Iowa native exploded for 71 tackles, three interceptions, and a touchdown. The team is now losing a significant portion of its defensive backs, which means there should be an opportunity for Lutmer to make even more of an impact. He’s a name to keep in mind as a potential national breakout candidate.

Does Penn State face Iowa in 2026?

Oct 18, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam (54) blocks the 66 yard field goal attempt of Iowa Hawkeyes kicker Drew Stevens (18) that would lead to a touchdown return for the Nittany Lions on the final play of the second half at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

No, the Nittany Lions don’t play the Hawkeyes this year, but there’s always the possibility of the two teams meeting in the College Football Playoff. They won’t play next year during the regular season either, meaning that it will likely be a three-year gap without a matchup in this longstanding series.

Full 2026 Iowa football schedule

Sep 27, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Koen Entringer (4) and defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett (49) and teammates react after a 4th down stop against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Home games in all CAPS.

  • 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 (FRIDAY) at Washington*
  • October 24 at Minnesota*
  • October 31 vs. WISCONSIN*
  • November 7 at Northwestern*
  • November 14 vs. PURDUE*
  • November 21 at Illinois*
  • November 27 (FRIDAY) vs. NEBRASKA*

"*" designates Big Ten Conference game

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: What to know about Iowa Hawkeyes football in 2026

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