Where Iowa football sits in USA Today's Big Ten, national rankings

Despite losing a record number of players to the NFL Draft, Iowa football still seems to garner high expectations from the national media entering the 2026 season.

USA Today featured the Hawkeyes in both its national top 25 and Big Ten Conference rankings this week, offering praise to head coach Kirk Ferentz's incoming group.

For a very deep Big Ten rankings, Iowa landed in the seventh spot, just behind Penn State and ahead of Washington. Author Paul Myerberg predicted a 9-4 record for Iowa.

"Look out for Iowa if the offense can maintain last year’s production behind a new starting quarterback," Myerberg wrote. "Led by coordinator Tim Lester, the Hawkeyes averaged 29.3 points per game and topped at least 37 points four times in Big Ten play."

More: How the Iowa football depth chart would look today | Leistikow

In the nation-wide rankings, the Hawkeyes landed at No. 21, just behind Tennessee and ahead of Florida State.

"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," authors Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg wrote. "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.