Reality hits like a ton of bricks

BlIIlken2

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2021
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but I wouldn’t say they **** their pants. They played to their potential, they just aren’t on the same level as the elite billion dollar rosters.
 

Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
6,591
13,616
113
Not much different than most Ferentz teams - pretty good, not great. Just as soon as some buzz starts around the program, they **** their pants. Carry on..
It really isn't all that different. They're good enough and well coached enough to beat the majority of teams they play, but never good enough to compete with the best who possess players that Iowa can only dream of acquiring.
 

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
1,146
2,373
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Not much different than most Ferentz teams - pretty good, not great. Just as soon as some buzz starts around the program, they **** their pants. Carry on..
No one should be the least bit surprised about this game result. If you are, that's on you.

There is no buzz, and they won't be in the CFP. That was known before the season started. They'll be just OK, that's what Kirk's team are in the good years.
 

2D

All-American
Oct 8, 2013
3,341
6,910
113
The fact is, institutions like Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Texas etc. cheated for years with under the table deals with recruits. It's how they haven't fallen on hard times like Nebraska. Not to mention questionable refereeing like Michigan vs WMU. The NIL has leveled the field like nothing else, but it's clear we don't have the funds to truly change and make the difference. Football is also a sport that makes skill levels the most evident. In basketball, you at least have a shot with anyone.

We were picked apart in nearly every facet of the game today with the numerous mistakes we've become accustomed to in these big games and our weaknesses exposed.

Unless we get $20 million more for our war chest, we'll stay right where we're at. College athletics are Mickey Mouse, but sadly it's the only thing we Iowans have.
 

Outbackbowl2017

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2016
1,783
2,922
113
All the years of elite defense and special teams, this ain't one of them. At least the offense has a pulse now.
The offense had no pulse today. Hank Brown was terrible. Needed a qb that stepped up and commands the offense today. Iowa’s D did enough if the offense finds a way to drive the ball, which they couldn’t.
 

DukeSlater

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2023
2,206
4,956
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Not much different than most Ferentz teams - pretty good, not great. Just as soon as some buzz starts around the program, they **** their pants. Carry on..
You forgot one other thing: KF chose the wrong starting QB again. Hecklinski sits and sits and then comes in and leads the only Iowa TD drive of the game, 75 yards, with pinpoint passing, including a brilliant hook-up with Vander Zee for the 2 point conversion.
 

DukeSlater

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2023
2,206
4,956
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The offense had no pulse today. Hank Brown was terrible. Needed a qb that stepped up and commands the offense today. Iowa’s D did enough if the offense finds a way to drive the ball, which they couldn’t.
Did you miss the brilliant performance by Jeremy Hecklinski? He looked fantastic despite sitting on the bench all day. Every pass was complete, and every pass was perfectly placed and perfectly timed, including the 2-point conversion. If Hecklinski doesn't start vs. Washington, that would be another time KF spit in the face of the facts.
 

Iron Doc

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2005
901
1,289
93
Did you miss the brilliant performance by Jeremy Hecklinski? He looked fantastic despite sitting on the bench all day. Every pass was complete, and every pass was perfectly placed and perfectly timed, including the 2-point conversion. If Hecklinski doesn't start vs. Washington, that would be another time KF spit in the face of the facts.
THIS!
 
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herk u2

Redshirt
Oct 1, 2016
14
8
3
Unfortunately today was alot of problems. The 1st series with a false start after a decent gain then the fumble. The def didn't play great besides on the blitz. Personally would of liked to see more blitz.
Hank wasn't great. Wr dropped some passes. Didn't run enough in the 1st half (especially the 2nd and 3rd and 2). Then the 1st down but called off bc of the false start again. Iowa gets at least 3 there and probably runs the half out instead osu scores a td.
1st half could of possibly been a Iowa lead but generally not something a typical Iowa team does shooting itself in the foot. But that is part of the game.
Even though osu was playing prevent and left the under open when Heck came in his passes (at least this game) did look better then Hank.
 
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Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
6,591
13,616
113
Did you miss the brilliant performance by Jeremy Hecklinski? He looked fantastic despite sitting on the bench all day. Every pass was complete, and every pass was perfectly placed and perfectly timed, including the 2-point conversion. If Hecklinski doesn't start vs. Washington, that would be another time KF spit in the face of the facts.
Yeah. I think Kirk should insert him in every garbage time situation.
 
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2D

All-American
Oct 8, 2013
3,341
6,910
113
Iowa is, and will always be, a mid P4 team
I'm just tired of the college football world using us as a punching bag. Hawkeye athletics are the only thing we've got in Iowa, and it represents the state, like professional teams in bigger states.
 

im4hawks50595

Senior
Sep 29, 2001
193
478
63
All the years of elite defense and special teams, this ain't one of them. At least the offense has a pulse now.
Not really the offense still sucks and now cant run at all, make a few pass plays but qb is concern and rb is meh at best, although Jackson has some burst but gets no carries so he is unkown
 
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Herky T Hawk

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
403
957
93
Some of us really think we have a shot at winning a national title still? With the wild west of NiL and the transfer portal Iowa has absolutely zero shot. We will never be able to out pay OSU, Michigan, Oregon, PSU, etc. for the best players that money can buy. We’ve been able to beat some of those teams from time to time. But we will never consistently be able to compete with all of those teams on a year to year basis.

This is the new world of the NCAA that we have to come to terms with. And we are just one of many fan bases that have to. There’s some who think they belong like Texas A&M, but don’t. But we are not, and will never be, a blue blood in college football with the new world where money rules everything.

What is the point of my rant? Some people need to open their eyes up to reality of the world we live in. OSU had the best several players on the field today. I don’t know how far down the list you’d have to go before I’d say that the best Iowa guy on the team is better than a specific OSU guy. The game was a 17 point loss and on paper looking at the rosters it should have been much more than that.
 

IowaCityLit

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2025
1,651
2,596
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It really isn't all that different. They're good enough and well coached enough to beat the majority of teams they play, but never good enough to compete with the best who possess players that Iowa can only dream of acquiring.
Until they aren’t. It’s a test every year. Let’s see what happens.

This Iowa team has more flaws than recent teams. They may be underdogs against every team remaining except Illinois and Purdue.

But I feel much better about last years team.

If this Iowa team avoids a collapse I’ll be surprised.. I thought the roster was much better. It’s not.,
 

AFM22

Heisman
Oct 31, 2022
22,112
42,823
113
Some of us really think we have a shot at winning a national title still? With the wild west of NiL and the transfer portal Iowa has absolutely zero shot. We will never be able to out pay OSU, Michigan, Oregon, PSU, etc. for the best players that money can buy. We’ve been able to beat some of those teams from time to time. But we will never consistently be able to compete with all of those teams on a year to year basis.

This is the new world of the NCAA that we have to come to terms with. And we are just one of many fan bases that have to. There’s some who think they belong like Texas A&M, but don’t. But we are not, and will never be, a blue blood in college football with the new world where money rules everything.

What is the point of my rant? Some people need to open their eyes up to reality of the world we live in. OSU had the best several players on the field today. I don’t know how far down the list you’d have to go before I’d say that the best Iowa guy on the team is better than a specific OSU guy. The game was a 17 point loss and on paper looking at the rosters it should have been much more than that.
I don’t think anyone thought we had a shot at a title. We think we have a shot at 10-2 and an at large bid.
 

Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
6,591
13,616
113
Until they aren’t. It’s a test every year. Let’s see what happens.

This Iowa team has more flaws than recent teams. They may be underdogs against every team remaining except Illinois and Purdue.

But I feel much better about last years team.

If this Iowa team avoids a collapse I’ll be surprised.. I thought the roster was much better. It’s not.,
They'll be favorites vs Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin. Nebraska will come crashing down to earth the first time they play a team with a pulse which hasn't happened yet.
 

IowaCityLit

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2025
1,651
2,596
113
Not sure about Wisconsin. But we will see.

It’s strange. This Iowa team feels like they can be really good but they’re trying to figure a million things out on the fly.

Wash game will be. HUGE.
 

redghost1974

Senior
Jan 22, 2006
209
601
93
Not really the offense still sucks and now cant run at all, make a few pass plays but qb is concern and rb is meh at best, although Jackson has some burst but gets no carries so he is unkown
It will always be the question of how good we could be if Kirk didn't dictate the QB situation of least risky choice.
 

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
1,146
2,373
113
Really…you don’t think Iowa can finish at least 10-2 and make the CFP?!?
No, I don't. For starters they won't be 10-2, and if they MIRACULOUSLY did that, they'd get boatraced in the first round. They have to be a LOT better then they have been for that to happen. Utah and West Virginia went up and down the field on the Clowns, in Ames. Iowa squeaks by in Iowa City. Sad.

It's the same pattern, year after year. Offense is mediocre, but this year the D-Line is as well. That's a problem when you have no pass rush, against teams with real QB''s and legit FBS passing games.

But then I've never felt Iowa was a bonafide CFP contender ever, mostly because their QB's are bad (Gronk was OK). National Championship level Defense and Special Teams on MULTIPLE occasions, and pure garbage for Offense. That ain't changing while Kirk is here, so better have some patience.
 

Hurricane88

Redshirt
Mar 13, 2024
24
25
3
Really…you don’t think Iowa can finish at least 10-2 and make the CFP?!?
A 10-2 Iowa team might not be enough to make the playoff. The biggest win (Michigan) is looking worse and worse and the remaining schedule isn't necessarily full of ranked potential.

Northwestern has some winnable games against Ball St, Michigan St and Rutgers before heading to Oregon the week before we play them.
Wisconsin has a road game against UCLA and then comes home to play USC.
Minnesota is the only likely ranked team we will play and it's on the road. Their next game is Purdue.
Nebraska still has yet to play Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State. They won't be ranked by the time we play them.
And then there is Illinois and Purdue, not likely they will be ranked.

The opponents aren't going to be viewed as "tough" to the committee. 11-1 or no playoff IMHO.
 

Kceasthawk@77

All-American
Feb 2, 2005
4,197
7,338
113
Team needed it. Iowa State is a bad team and we struggled. Michigan's offense is mediocre and we made them look top 10 in the country. This team is a lot less than we thought they were going into the season. I'm starting to think 7-5 is definitely on the table.
Lolol.. Except that's exactly where many here picked them before the season. 7-5 to 8-4. How exactly does that make them "less than we thought they were"? And they could very well finish better than that. No one left on our schedule is OSU, probably not even close to OSU.
 
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