USA TODAY Sports puts Iowa football in early top 25, questions offense

It's like a jukebox being stuck on repeat from the same person putting twenty dollars in and playing the same song over and over. That's the best way to describe the annual question marks and storylines surrounding the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Can the offense produce enough to alleviate some of the pressure from the always-elite defense? That has been the same song and dance for what feels like the last decade and is only going to be amplified, ushering in a new quarterback this year.

In the USA TODAY Sports too-early top 25 following the conclusion of spring practice, the Hawkeyes have made the rankings at No. 21, but not without some reservations about what the offense can look like.

21. Iowa (9-4) (20)

What will decide Iowa’s season is whether the offense can continue to hover around 30 points per game while breaking in a new starting quarterback, whether that’s Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown. One of the two contenders will have the luxury of playing in front of a loaded backfield that ranks among the best in the Big Ten. There should be no questions about the health of the Hawkeyes’ defense despite losing key contributors across the board, given the program’s long track record on that side of the ball. On paper, the strength of this year’s unit is in the secondary, where Zach Lutmer and Deshaun Lee lead the way. - Smith/Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown, the two quarterbacks battling it out for the starting job, split reps during Iowa's open spring practice, but the Hawkeyes have yet to see one pull ahead and stake a claim as the starter. That is not just due to performance, but the tight-lipped nature of Kirk Ferentz and his program.