(Photo Credit: Paul Sancya/AP)
Key Players Returning:
QB Spencer Petras, RB Tyler Goodson, TE Sam LaPorta, OC Tyler Linderbaum, OG Kyler Schott, OG Cody Ince, DE Zach VanValkenburg, LB Seth Benson, LB Jack Campbell, CB Matt Hankins, CB Riley Moss, NB Dane Belton, FS Jack Koerner, SS Kaevon Merriweather, KR/PR Charlie Jones, and PT Tory Taylor.
Key Players Departing:
RB Mekhi Sargent, WR Brandon Smith, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, OT Alaric Jackson, OT Mark Kallenberger, DE Chauncey Golston, DT Jack Heflin, DT Daviyon Nixon, LB Nick Niemann, LB Barrington Wade, and PK Keith Duncan.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: OT David Davidkov (Winnetka, Illinois), OG Connor Colby (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), DE Justice Sullivan (Eden Prairie, Minnesota), ATH Arland Bruce (Ankeny, Iowa), OT Beau Stephens (Blue Springs, Missouri), ATH Keagan Johnson (Bellevue, Nebraska), and S Cooper DeJean (Ida Grove, iowa).
3 Star Recruits: DE Max Llewwellyn (Urbandale, Iowa), OG Gennings Dunker (Lena, Illinois), and LB Jaden Harrell (Urbandale, Iowa).
2020 Results:
G01 at Purdue L 20-24
G02 NORTHWESTERN L 20-21
G03 MICHIGAN STATE W 49-7
G04 at Minnesota W 35-7
G05 at Penn State W 41-21
G06 NEBRASKA W 26-20
G07 at Illinois W 35-21
G08 WISCONSIN W 28-7
Team Info:
2020 Record: 6-2 (2nd in Big Ten West)
Home: 3-1
Away: 3-1
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 6-2
Non-B10: 0-0
Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Iowa: 168-106
Career: 180-127
Bowls: 9-8
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Spencer Petras (140-245, 1569 yards, 57.1%, 6.4 avg., 9 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Tyler Goodson (143 car., 762 yards, 5.3 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Sam Laporta (27 rec., 271 yards, 10.0 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: Tyler Goodson (7)
Sacks: Zach VanValkenburg (3.5)
Tackles: Seth Benson (47)
Tackles For Loss: Zach VanValkenburg (8.5)
Interceptions: Jack Koerner (3)
Pass Deflections: Matt Hankins (5)
Forced Fumbles: Dane Belton/Jeff Campbell/Zach VanValkenburg (1)
Kick Returns: None
Punt Returns: Charlie Jones (22 ret., 223 yards, 10.1 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Tory Taylor (40 punts, 1765 yards, 44.1 avg., 17 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 7 Spencer Petras (RS JR)
RB: 15 Tyler Goodson (JR)
WR: 3 Tyrone Tracy (RS JR)
WR: 89 Nico Ragaini (RS JR)
WR: 16 Charlie Jones (RS SR/TR)
TE: 84 Sam LaPorta (JR)
LT: 79 Jack Plumb (RS JR)
LG: 73 Cody Ince (RS JR)
OC: 65 Tyler Linderbaum (RS JR)
RG: 64 Kyler Schott (RS SR)
RT: 56 Nick DeJong (RS SO)
KR: 16 Charlie Jones (RS SR/TR)
PK: 10 Caleb Shudak (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 92 John Waggoner (RS JR)
DT: 99 Noah Shannon (RS JR)
DT: 94 Yahya Back (RS FR)
DE: 97 Nick VanValkenburg (GR/TR)
LB: 44 Seth Benson (RS JR)
LB: 31 Jack Campbell (JR)
NB: 4 Dane Belton (JR)
CB: 8 Matt Hankins (SR)
CB: 33 Riley Moss (SR)
FS: 28 Jack Koerner (RS SR)
SS: 26 Kaevon Merriweather (RS JR)
PR: 16 Charlie Jones (RS SR/TR)
PT: 9 Tory Taylor (SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/04 INDIANA HOOSIERS | Iowa leads the series 45-28. The Hawkeyes are 4-1 since 2011, and they won (42-16) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/11 at Iowa State Cyclones | Iowa leads the series 45-22. The Hawkeyes are 6-3 since 2011, and they won (18-17) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/18 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | Iowa leads the series 2-0. The Hawkeyes won (39-7) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
09/25 COLORADO STATE RAMS | Iowa trails the series 0-2. The Hawkeyes lost (12-28) the last meeting between schools in 1992.
10/01 at Maryland Terrapins | Iowa leads the series 2-1. The Hawkeyes won (23-0) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their only series loss (31-38) was at the inaugural meeting in 2014.
10/09 PENN SATTE NITTANY LIONS | Iowa trails the series 13-17. The Hawkeyes are 1-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (12-17) was in 2019.
10/16 PURDUE BOILERMAKERS | Iowa trails the series 39-49-3. The Hawkeyes are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series win (26-20) was in 2019.
10/30 at Wisconsin Badgers | Iowa trails the series 44-48. The Hawkeyes are 2-6 since renewing the series, and their last series loss (22-24) was in 2019,
11/06 at Northwestern Wildcats | Iowa leads the series 51-28. The Hawkeyes are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series win (20-0) was in 2019.
11/13 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS | Iowa trails the series 50-62-2. The Hawkeyes are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (14-51) was in 2014.
11/20 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI | Iowa trails the series 36-38-2. The Hawkeyes are 7-0 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (24-27) was in 2008.
11/26 at Nebraska Cornhuskers | Iowa trails the series 19-29. The Hawkeyes are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (34-37 OT) was in 2014.
Predictions:
Home: 7-0
Road: 4-1
Neutral: 1-1
B10: 9-0
Non-B10: 3-2
Overall: 12-2 (Big Ten Champions – Eliminated by Alabama in Semifinal Round)
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