Iowa Football 2024 Season Preview: The Night Before

You know what time it is. With Iowa Football’s season kickoff just a few hours away, the questions around this team seem to be even more uncertain than ever. What if the offense is just as dysfunctional and impotent as last year? What if the defense can’t keep Iowa in the “driver’s seat” of most games? Is Kirk Ferentz a criminal for using unauthorized means to steal talent from the rest of college football? Is that “talent” even worth the starting snaps he has been and inevitably will be given? The questions are endless and impossible to answer with any amount of certainty. I will attempt, however, to provide an “insider’s look” at what this team could be building toward, what they hope to achieve, and what needs to happen for them to get there.

Looking at the defense first, there really isn’t too much to discuss, which leads me to my first major point: Iowa should field a top-3 defensive unit in the Big Ten without question. The other two teams that in my opinion could outperform the Hawks on this side of the ball—Ohio State and Michigan—are perennial Playoff (now Playoff first-round bye) contenders that are absolutely loaded with high-end HS recruits at each position, whereas Iowa really only has one high-profile recruit out of high school (safety Xavier Nwankpa) contributing at a significant level this season. That should not keep the Hawkeyes from squeezing the life out of opposing offenses this season, as they boast arguably the most experienced and cohesive defense in all of college football this season, returning 9 of 11 starters from last season’s top-tier unit and boasting a deep rotation of solid-to-elite contributors at each level of the defense (especially the front four). Under-the-radar names to watch? Outside of the well-known commodities, current CB2 TJ Hall has flashed brilliance in brief moments over the past two seasons, and rotational EDGE Brian Allen Jr. looks poised to have a Lukas Van Ness-like emergence as a stud pass-rusher for devilishly-handsome-and-cunning genius Phil Parker to gameplan around.

On the offensive side of things, I am a bit less certain. However, based on what I’ve heard and seen, I feel confident enough to say this: Iowa’s new offensive scheme should drive the Hawkeyes into the modern era of football in a blaze of (glory?). It all starts up front, as the controversial Iowa offensive line returns seven contributors from last season, including potential standout RT Gennings Dunker. With a pro west coast-style offense, the questions this unit has in pass protection should be (somewhat) masked, and its potential as a sneaky-good run-blocking unit should be given an opportunity to shine through.

At quarterback, the Hawks have a legit trio of potential starters that may all get their opportunity to shine at some point in the season. Watch out for redshirt freshman Marco Lainez to potentially have a Brock Purdy-esque emergence. In terms of weapons, the hidden strength of Iowa’s roster could finally shine through this season, as they boast a handful of potential difference-makers in each position group. RB1 Kamari Moulton reminds OC Tim Lester of a young Aaron Jones, and I’m inclined to agree with him, and the Hawks have no shortage of depth behind him, either. Out wide, young X-receiver Jarriett Buie emerged as one of my favorite players on the entire team this spring (along with former Hawkeye and current Texas A&M Aggie Jake Bostick, R.I.P. that potential duo I guess) and is my top pick as the potential Brandon Aiyuk to Lainez’s Purdy (also of note: WR1 Kaleb Brown should be back one day). And, as always, Iowa’s TE/FB room should be the anchor of this offense, with future top-15 selection Luke Lachey returning to dominate college football one more time.

Record prediction: 12-3, losses to Ohio State in the regular season, Ohio State in the B1G Championship and Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinals.