We had the talent to make the playoffs this year ...
- Thread starter 3-D_chess
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We beat Indiana and Oregon we're in. This team had a lot of guts, they played their asses off and were very likely one injured QB for one quarter from beating the undefeated and #1 seed Indiana.
It really shows you how collectively tough and resilient this team was, 4 losses where one play made the difference, and all of that with a pedestrian offense quite often. (and would have been worse without Caden Wetjen)
As close as they were anyway, they won't make the playoffs until they come up with a competent modern College Football passing game.
Better hope that comes sooner than later, because once Phil Parker retires that dream likely dies. (Norm, Phil - if there are any DC's out there currently with the last name of Parker, move Heaven and Earth to get them on the staff now)
It's telling how Phil and the Def have kept the wins coming over the years, but this year we had NO 1st Team All-Big10 Defensive selections. Graves was only one 2nd team on both C & M, Lutmer was 2nd - coaches and 3rd media, Hall 3rd on both C & M, and X was only 3rd coaches and no media
Oh, my. It should be illegal the way I dunk on the uninformed.
The postseason accolades and awards have been plentiful for the Hawkeyes, with numerous All-American and All-Big Ten teams crowning current Hawks as some of the best players at their respective positions.
Iowa is one of just eight schools this year to have at least two First Team All-Americans. And it's the seventh year in a row that the Hawkeyes have had a Walter Camp First Team All-American, which is the longest current streak for any FBS program.
the Hawkeyes are littering awards and receiving honors left and right across all three units of offense, defense, and special teams. In fact, they are earning more top honors than any team in the country.
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Iowa football duo named Walter Camp First Team All-Americans
The postseason accolades continues to roll in for the Iowa football program.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
The postseason accolades and awards have been plentiful for the Hawkeyes, with numerous All-American and All-Big Ten teams crowning current Hawks as some of the best players at their respective positions.
Iowa is one of just eight schools this year to have at least two First Team All-Americans. And it's the seventh year in a row that the Hawkeyes have had a Walter Camp First Team All-American, which is the longest current streak for any FBS program.
Iowa football leads nation with most PFF All-Americans
The Iowa Hawkeyes stand alone with the most All-American selections from Pro Football Focus.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
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You are correct in that this team had the players. Too conservative on offense, bau. The people saying we didn't have the d is laughable. It was the O that killed us.Oh, my. It should be illegal the way I dunk on the uninformed.
Iowa football duo named Walter Camp First Team All-Americans
The postseason accolades continues to roll in for the Iowa football program.hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
The postseason accolades and awards have been plentiful for the Hawkeyes, with numerous All-American and All-Big Ten teams crowning current Hawks as some of the best players at their respective positions.
Iowa is one of just eight schools this year to have at least two First Team All-Americans. And it's the seventh year in a row that the Hawkeyes have had a Walter Camp First Team All-American, which is the longest current streak for any FBS program.
the Hawkeyes are littering awards and receiving honors left and right across all three units of offense, defense, and special teams. In fact, they are earning more top honors than any team in the country.Iowa football leads nation with most PFF All-Americans
The Iowa Hawkeyes stand alone with the most All-American selections from Pro Football Focus.hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
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It's the play calling and going full tortoise.
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Will I ever get tired of being proven right?
... apparently not
Iowa football DL accepts invite to 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl
After five years with Iowa football, one of the Hawkeyes' premier defensive linemen has accepted his invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
... apparently not
Iowa football sees Logan Jones, Beau Stephens named AP All-Americans
Two Iowa offensive, Logan Jones and Beau Stephens, have been named AP First-Team All-Americans.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
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"He's a great coach, but he doesn't have much talent on his team"
"You realize you just contradicted yourself?"
"You realize you just contradicted yourself?"
Sporting News names trio of Iowa football stars All-Americans
Sporting News has announced its All-Americans and the Iowa Hawkeyes continue to rake in the awards.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
And heeerrrreee's the proof.
Iowa football captures Joe Moore Award as nation's best offensive line
Iowa football has won the Joe Moore Award, presented to the nation's top offensive line.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Did I mention that Iowa could mop the floor with James Madison ??????
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Winning the Moore Award Makes Moulton's Performance That Much Worse - Forums
They say you've gotta strike while the iron is hot. This year, the Hawks were blessed with having the #1 OL in the entire country. Better than Ohio State's 5 star recruits. Better than Notre Dame's 5 star kids. Better than Oregon's. Unfortunately, despite having some absolute maulers up...
^^^^ Truth is painful. The cure is getting a HC who can take advantage of having an elite OL/DL. He's out there Beth, go find him.
And there is absolutely nothing you can do to make that happen. You know that, right?
Kirk Ferentz will be the head coach at Iowa as long as he wants to be here. Perhaps your prayers will be answered and he will decide to retire after the 2028 season. I predict it will be after the 2029 season, but I don't know any more than you do.
what complicates things though is whether this mythical HC will have the ability to put together elite OL/DL in the first place to take take advantage of?Winning the Moore Award Makes Moulton's Performance That Much Worse - Forums
They say you've gotta strike while the iron is hot. This year, the Hawks were blessed with having the #1 OL in the entire country. Better than Ohio State's 5 star recruits. Better than Notre Dame's 5 star kids. Better than Oregon's. Unfortunately, despite having some absolute maulers up...www.on3.com
^^^^ Truth is painful. The cure is getting a HC who can take advantage of having an elite OL/DL. He's out there Beth, go find him.
Joining fellow Hawkeye teammate Max Llewellyn, No. 23 Iowa football (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) All-American special teams star Kaden Wetjen has formally accepted his invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. The annual event allows some of the nation’s top college football players a chance to showcase their talents in front of a collection of NFL scouts, coaches, and executives from all 32 teams.
Sooooooooooooooooooooo much talent.
Iowa football's Kaden Wetjen accepts East-West Shrine Bowl invite
Iowa football All-American special teams star Kaden Wetjen has accepted an invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Sooooooooooooooooooooo much talent.
Not a P4-caliber WR on the roster. Average RBs. QB that was a gamer who made plays with his feet but one of the worst throwing QBs in FBS. TEs average at best by Iowa standards.Joining fellow Hawkeye teammate Max Llewellyn, No. 23 Iowa football (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) All-American special teams star Kaden Wetjen has formally accepted his invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. The annual event allows some of the nation’s top college football players a chance to showcase their talents in front of a collection of NFL scouts, coaches, and executives from all 32 teams.
Iowa football's Kaden Wetjen accepts East-West Shrine Bowl invite
Iowa football All-American special teams star Kaden Wetjen has accepted an invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Sooooooooooooooooooooo much talent.
Where is this massive talent of which you speak?
Record-setting kicker.
All-time D-1 winningest QB
Elite O-line
Elite defense
Best DC in the country
His best Offensive Coordinator
Elite special teams
Awesome RB room.
Zee; Howard; Vonnahme future NFLers
Beat a 10-win SEC team
And you Biden-brains really think the talent wasn't there to be in the playoffs?
Boyz ... you gotta stop embarrassing yourselves and losing to me in Hawkeye debates. I know all. I do all. I win all. I am all.
All-time D-1 winningest QB
Elite O-line
Elite defense
Best DC in the country
His best Offensive Coordinator
Elite special teams
Awesome RB room.
Zee; Howard; Vonnahme future NFLers
Beat a 10-win SEC team
And you Biden-brains really think the talent wasn't there to be in the playoffs?
Boyz ... you gotta stop embarrassing yourselves and losing to me in Hawkeye debates. I know all. I do all. I win all. I am all.
Some are coming to grips with reality ...
www.on3.com
www.on3.com
www.on3.com
... but not enough
We had the talent to make the playoffs this year ... - Forums
but the talent was mismanaged. CHANGE MY MIND
Tim Lester is elite - Forums
Happy he's our OC. Great hire, Kirk! Can't wait to see what the O continues to grow into next season. Future is bright for Hawkeye football! Go Hawks!!
What could have been - Forums
Imagine what KF legacy would be without making Brian the O coordinator? Those years destroyed recruiting on that side of the ball. We had some special players on D during that time, those teams got robbed. How does Kirk finish? I thought this year would be his last after securing the win...
... but not enough
This Iowa team would beat Alabama - Forums
Bama can’t run or stop the run. Our O line would knock them off the ball on a regular basis. I don’t think Texas Tech is as good as this team either.
^^^^ This guy is interesting. He checks the board for whatever I'm doing and then just duplicates it.
Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
I see where the confusion is. You guys think I am talking about the HC when I say "we had the talent". Understandable miscommunication.
Tight End U: Iowa football TE DJ Vonnahme named to AP All-Bowl Team
Iowa has another one! Tight end DJ Vonnahme has earned AP All-Bowl Team honors for his ReliaQuest Bowl performance.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Iowa football star Kaden Wetjen named first two-time Jet Award Winner
After a historic career, Iowa's Kaden Wetjen has made history as the first two-time Jet Award winner as the nation's best returner.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski accepts East-West Shrine Bowl invite
Mark Gronowski, after leading Iowa to a nine-win season, is going to be taking part in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Former Iowa football WR earns Eagles rookie minicamp invite
After going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, a former Iowa football wide receiver has earned himself a minicamp invite from the Philadelphia Eagles.
hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com
Seven Hawkeyes selected in 2026 NFL Draft
Seven Iowa football players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft this weekend. 101 players have now been drafted to the NFL under head coach Kirk Ferentz. The seven selections were the most under Ferentz in a single draft, and set a new modern era record for Iowa. The Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh...
dailyiowan.com
7 Hawkeyes were drafted. I'm guessing that is a record.
Sooooooooooooooooo ... checkmate!
Lord, thank you for blessing me with genius-level insight.
If Iowa misses the playoffs, the same people that will say they should have made it, if not for bad officiating, will be the same people that will say Iowa will never make the playoffs without good passing game
Iowa's opponents attempted 20 field goals and made 18 of them during the 2025 season (including the bowl game), giving them a 90% success rate. That means Iowa's opponents missed 2 field goals across the entire 2025 season (13 games). Cfbstats
For context, Iowa itself attempted 28 field goals and made 22, a 78.6% success rate — so the Hawkeyes actually missed more field goals (6) than their opponents did. Cfbstats [one was the infamous almost 70 yard attempt]
Iowa fans are spoiled as hell when it comes to defense, JFC.
I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves.
FBS Rankings:
Scoring Defense: 8th
Total Defense: 9th
Passing Defense: 10th
Rushing Defense: 17th
First Down Defense: 5th
Stop Rate: 77.6% (6th)
Points Per Drive: 1.42 (10th)
3 Players Drafted and 3 signed as UDFA’s. I’m sure Graves and X will make the roster/practice squad as well.
Edit: I might make a thread on this. The comments I’ve heard from family, friends, and coworkers as well as on here about the 2025 defense are actually delusional.
Yep. The defense kept is in the game against Oregon, Indiana and Iowa State. USC had 1st round NFL receivers and hard to cover.