A New Era Begins
The Iowa Hawkeyes enter the 2026 season carrying the weight of a massive roster turnover, having lost 27 seniors and seven players who earned NFL draft selections, a shift that transforms the 9‑4 team from last year into a squad forced to rebuild from the ground up.
Among the returning standouts, middle linebacker Cam Buffington is tasked with filling the void left by All‑American predecessors such as Josey Jewell, Jack Campbell and Jay Higgins, a challenge he embraces as the defensive anchor of the new unit.
Dynamic playmaker DJ Vonnahme adds a strategic twist, forcing opposing offenses to decide between lighter, speed‑focused packages or heavier, run‑oriented fronts, making him a constant chess piece for Iowa’s play‑calling.
Defensive tackle Bryce Hawthorne, still developing, must shoulder a heavy snap load — averaging roughly 46 plays per game — to stabilize a position thinned by recent departures.
On the offensive line, versatile lineman Kade Pieper steps into the starting center role, aiming to prove he can match the production of the NFL‑bound veterans who preceded him.
Zach Lutmer, now the leader of a young secondary, also assumes punt‑return duties previously held by Kaden Wetjen, bringing a blend of experience and reliability to special teams.
Veteran columnist Chad Leistikow, a three‑decade chronicler of Iowa football and 2023 INA Iowa Sports Columnist of the Year, offers insight into how these pieces fit together as the team prepares for its season opener.
The Hawkeyes open against Northern Illinois on September 5, a game that will serve as the first real test of whether the new leadership can translate preseason optimism into on‑field results.