Under Kirk Ferentz, Iowa football has become a model of sustained excellence, posting 13 straight winning seasons and compiling a 109‑54 record that places the Hawkeyes among the most consistent programs in the Big Ten.
A Playoff Drought Like No Other
The program’s recent draft activity underscores that consistency: seven players were selected in the 2026 NFL draft, setting a new school record and highlighting the talent pipeline that stretches back through Ferentz’s tenure.
Yet despite those achievements, Iowa remains the sole program among the longest streaks of consecutive winning seasons to have never cracked the College Football Playoff, a drought that has persisted even as the team’s profile has risen.
Veteran defensive coordinator Phil Parker continues to be a cornerstone of the Hawkeyes’ identity, while standout contributors such as Kade Pieper, Trevor Lauck and Iose Epenesa are expected to assume larger roles in the upcoming campaign.
Offensively, the Hawkeyes still lean heavily on a ground‑centric scheme, a strategy that has proven effective but also leaves them vulnerable when forced into a one‑dimensional attack. The quarterback position remains unsettled, with limited experience among the candidates vying for the starting spot.
Early projections suggest a 9‑3 finish, a record that could be enough to finally break the playoff barrier and give Iowa its first taste of the national stage under Ferentz.
If the offensive line clicks and the quarterback emerges, the Hawkeyes could turn the +700 odds into reality, ending a wait that has lingered since the early 2010s.