(RB Leshon Williams – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Kaleb Johnson, RB Leshon Williams, WR Kaleb Brown, TE Luke Lachey, TE Addison Ostrenga, OC Logan Jones, OG Connor Colby, OT Gennings Dunker, OT Mason Richman, DE Deontae Craig, DE Ethan Hurkett, DT Yahiya Black, DT Aaron Graves, LB Jay Higgins, LB Nick Jackson, CB Jemari Harris, NB Sebastian Castro, FS Quinn Schulte, SS Xavier Nwankpa, KR/PR Kaden Wetlen, and PK Drew Stevens.
Key Players Departing:
QB Deacon Hill (Utah Tech transfer), WR Nico Ragaini, TE Erick All (Bengals R4), OG Rusty Feth, DE Joe Evans, DT Logan Lee (Steelers R6), CB/PR Cooper DeJean (Eagles R2), and PT Tory Taylor (Bears R4).
(LB Cam Buffington – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: TE Gavin Hoffman (Overland Park, Kansas), LB Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg, Iowa), OT Will Nolan (Arlington Heights, Illinois), LB Cam Buffington (Winfield, Iowa), OL Cody Fox (Winthrop, Iowa), QB James Resar (Jacksonville, Florida), EDGE Joseph Anderson (St. Louis, Missouri), and EDGE Chima Chineke (Plano, Texas).
3 Star Recruits: TE Michael Burt (Omaha, Nebraska), and OT Bodey McCaslin (St. Charles, Illinois).
2023 Results:
G01 UTAH STATE W 24-14
G02 @ Iowa State W 20-13
G03 WESTERN MICHIGAN W 41-10
G04 @ #7 Penn State L 0-31
G05 MICHIGAN STATE W 26-16
G06 PURDUE W 20-14
G07 @ Wisconsin W 15-6
G08 MINNESOTA L 10-12
G09 vs. Northwestern W 10-7
G10 RUTGERS W 22-0
G11 ILLINOIS W 15-13
G12 @ Nebraska W 13-10
B10 vs. #2 Michigan L 0-25
BOWL vs. #21 Tennessee L 0-35
Team Info:
2023 Record: 10-4 (1st in Big Ten West)
Home: 6-1
Away: 3-1
Neutral: 1-2
B10: 7-2
Non-B10: 3-2
Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Iowa: 196-119
Career: 208-140
Bowls: 10-10
(LB Jay Higgins – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Cade McNamara (46-90, 505 yards, 51.1%, 5.6 avg., 4 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Leshon Williams (170 car., 821 yards, 4.8 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Nico Ragaini (31 rec., 255 yards, 8.2 avg., 0 TD)
TDs Scored: Kaleb Johnson (3)
Sacks: Nick Jackson (4)
Tackles: Jay Higgins (171)
Tackles For Loss: Nick Jackson/Sebastian Castro (8)
Interceptions: Sebastian Castro (3)
Pass Deflections: Sebastian Castro (8)
Forced Fumbles: Nick Jackson (2)
Kick Returns: Kaden Wetjen (14 ret., 335 yards, 23.9 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Kaden Wetjen (7 ret., 63 yards, 9.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Drew Stevens (18-26 fg/fga., 69%, 19-20 xp/xpa., 73 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 12 Cade McNamara (GR/TR)
RB: 4 Leshon Williams (RS SR)
FB: 88 Hayden Large (GR/TR)
WR: 3 Kalib Brown (RS SO/TR)
WR: 6 Seth Anderson (RS JR/TR)
TE: 85 Luke Lachey (RS SR)
LT: 78 Mason Richman (RS SR)
LG: 70 Beau Stephens (RS JR)
OC: 65 Logan Jones (RS SR)
RG: 77 Connor Colby (SR)
RT: 67 Gennings Dunker (RS JR)
KR: 21 Kaden Wetjen (SR)
PK: 18 Drew Stevens (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 45 Deontae Craig (RS SR)
DT: 94 Yahya Black (RS SR)
DT: 95 Aaron Graves (JR)
DE: 49 Ethan Hurkett (RS SR)
LB: 10 Nick Jackson (GR/TR)
LB: 34 Jay Higgins (RS SR)
NB: 29 Sebastian Castro (GR)
CB: 7 John Nestor (SO)
CB: 27 Jermari Harris (GR)
FS: 30 Quinn Schulte (GR)
SS: 1 Xavier Nwankpa (JR)
PR: 21 Kaden Wetjen (SR)
PT: 9 Rhys Dakin (FR)
(NB Sebastian Castro – Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS | Iowa won (31-14) the only prior meeting between schools in 2015.
09/07 IOWA STATE CYCLONES | Iowa leads the series 47-23. The Hawkeyes are 7-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (7-10) was in 2022.
09/14 TROY TROJANS | First meeting between schools.
09/21 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | Iowa trails the series 52-63-2. The Hawkeyes are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series win (13-10) was in 2022.
10/05 @ Ohio State Buckeyes | Iowa trails the series 15-47-3. The Hawkeyes lost (1054) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/12 WASHINGTON HUSKIES | The series is tied 3-3. The Hawkeyes won (38-18) the last meeting between schools in 1995.
10/19 @ Michigan State Spartans | Iowa leads the series 25-22. Last season’s 26-16 win was the first meeting between schools since 2020.
10/26 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS | Iowa leads the series 54-28-3. The Hawkeyes are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series loss (20-21) was in 2020.
11/02 WISCONSIN BADGERS | Iowa trails the series 46-49-2. The Hawkeyes are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (7-27) was in 2021.
11/08 @ UCLA Bruins | Iowa trails the series 3-6. The Hawkeyes lost (28-45) the last meeting between schools in 1986 Rose Bowl.
11/23 @ Maryland Terrapins | Iowa leads the series 3-1. The Hawkeyes won (51-14) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/29 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | Iowa trails the series 21-30-3. The Hawkeyes are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (17-24) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 4-3
Road: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 3-6
Non-B10: 3-0
Overall: 6-6 (13th in Big Ten)
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