
Iowa football is ranked No. 21 in early top 25 rankings as spring ball concludes. Concerns are raised about the offensive line and quarterback position ahead of fall camp.
Spring ball has concluded, and the top 25 rankings are coming out hot and heavy as we enter the summer months before fall camp begins. A million and one things can change before Week 1, for most teams, gets underway, but the rankings are a good jumping point.
The Iowa Hawkeyes continue to flirt with the top 25 rankings, such as coming in at No. 21 in the USA TODAY Sports way-too-early rankings. It's a standard Iowa spot in the rankings. They never are too high, but most outlets sneak them just inside the cut line.
The latest to rank Iowa, also at No. 21, is FOX's Joel Klatt. He is a believer in Iowa, calling them a "staple" in the top 25 rankings, but is questioning an unlikely position group: the offensive line.
"At 21, another staple here, and I understand, they don't know what's going on at the quarterback position, but remember, it's not a quarterback-centric team.
"If Tennessee is a quarterback-centric team, Iowa is anything other than a quarterback-centric offense, so they are going to land at No. 21 for me. That quarterback battle is going to go on. Do we care? Yes, I mean, we kind of do. I'm more concerned that they are replacing some key players off of that offensive line," Klatt said.
The players Klatt refers to are Gennings Dunker, Logan Jones, and Beau Stephens, three offensive line starters for Iowa last year, who each heard their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving some large spots to replace.
"That O-line was the best in the country, according to the Joe Moore Award that they won. They do have back as their back. Kirk Ferentz is a terrific coach. , their tight end, was a freshman All-American, and he could be the next great tight end for Iowa.
Iowa football is currently ranked No. 21 in early top 25 rankings by multiple outlets.
Concerns are primarily focused on the offensive line and the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position.
Joel Klatt is a sports analyst who considers Iowa a staple in the top 25 rankings but questions their offensive line performance.


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Where things get interesting from Klatt is when he digs into Iowa's roster construction and the team it mirrors. Klatt went on to compare the Iowa Hawkeyes' transfer portal strategy to that of the Indiana Hoosiers and Curt Cignetti, the defending national champions.
"They went the Curt Cignetti route in the transfer portal, where they got Group of Five and FCS standouts with production over potential and guys that are smart who have played a lot of football. I also believe they can do a lot on the defensive side of the ball under Phil Parker," Klatt added.
Iowa's transfer portal additions on offense, headlined by running back L.J. Phillips, the FCS-leading rusher in 2025, and UT Rio Grande Valley wide receiver Tony Diaz, are giving this offense more dimension and wrinkles than in previous years, which could alleviate not only pressure from the quarterbacks, but also keep defenses guessing, allowing the offensive line the opportunity to have a first-step advantage on most downs.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa football roster build drawing Indiana, Curt Cignetti comparisons