USA TODAY Sports has released its 2026 Big Ten program rankings, placing the Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 6, a testament to the program’s enduring stability and recent resurgence.
The rankings follow a season in which the Indiana Hoosiers captured their first national title with a perfect 16‑0 record, while the Ohio State Buckeyes sit atop the conference list.
A Legacy of Consistency
Iowa’s head coach Kirk Ferentz is entering his 28th year at the helm, the longest tenure of any current Big Ten coach, and has presided over just one losing season since 2006.
During that span the Hawkeyes have qualified for bowl games in 24 of the last 25 seasons and have posted at least seven wins in every campaign since 2013.
The recent uptick in offensive productivity under coordinator Tim Lester has helped solidify Iowa’s position in the upper tier of the conference.
The team will open the 2026 season on September 5 against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium, a game that could set the tone for another competitive year.