Iowa football leaning on new faces to replace production on both sides

For a team that has been built upon veterans and players spending three to four years within the program, the Iowa Hawkeyes are entering the 2026 college football season in a bit of a new world.

The Hawkeyes have their usual crop of players who have spent ample time within the program learning the schemes, the playbooks, and how Iowa does things. What a lot of those players don't have quite yet is the experience of actually playing meaningful snapcounts and giving this team production.

That isn't a bad thing, but more a statistical fact. And as we have come to know, Iowa is among some of the best programs in the country at seeing players flourish when given their chance.

Many players will have that chance this year as the Hawkeyes are close to the bottom third in the country in the overall percentage of snapcounts played in 2025 returning for 2026, with 39% of overall snaps returning.

While the question for Iowa has been around the offense and quarterback position, the Hawkeyes are returning 45% of their offensive snap counts, which is No. 51 in the country. This is buoyed largely by the running back room staying intact, offensive lineman Kade Pieper returning, and Reece Vander Zee and DJ Vonnahme coming back at wide receiver and tight end.

Where things do get a bit surprising is on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker gets the benefit of the doubt after his sustained success leading Iowa's defense, but it doesn't mean there could be growing pains.

On defense, Iowa is No. 97 in the country in snap count percentage returning, with just 33% of its defensive snap counts coming back in 2026. This is less worrisome than the offense, even if much further down the list.

Iowa is constantly ushering in new faces on defense, and for as long as Phil Parker has been on the Hawkeyes' sideline next to head coach Kirk Ferentz, he has been one of the best coaches in the country at having players in waiting ready to excel.