The Hawkeyes’ secondary was even more lacking than anticipated, but Iowa knew going into its rivalry matchup in Lincoln that it would need every ounce of defensive discipline to handle Nebraska’s offense. Iowa’s depth was further undermined early on when starting safety and team captain Koen Entringer left the game, adding to the loss of standout cornerback TJ Hall, who has been dealing with an injury.
After Nebraska’s second offensive drive, Entringer left and went directly to the locker room with trainers. He eventually went back to the sidelines, but for a brief moment it appeared as though Iowa might get a break. However, the heartening sight was short-lived. Entringer continued to miss uniform action, and as the first half progressed, it became more and more obvious that he would not be making a comeback anytime soon. Entringer was on the sidelines without his helmet, which is typically a clear sign that a player is done for at least the second half, if not the entire game, according to reporters on the scene, including Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register.
Due to Entringer’s injury and Hall’s lack of playing time, Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker was forced to make last-minute changes to his starting lineup. In a rivalry setting where every possession feels like a gut punch or a spark waiting to ignite momentum, that’s not an easy task against any Big Ten opponent. The safety positions were the first to be adjusted. Zach Lutmer, who usually fills Iowa’s Cash position, a hybrid defensive back position that requires adaptability, returned to more conventional territory. In order to replace Entringer at strong safety, Parker paired him with free safety Xavier Nwankpa, one of Iowa’s more reliable secondary anchors.
Lutmer’s action had a knock-on effect. The Hawkeyes had to rely on a rotation of younger cornerbacks without him at Cash and without Hall. Rashad Godfrey, Jaylen Watson, and Deshaun Lee all found themselves with far more responsibility than they may have thought at kickoff. Baptism-by-fire moments like that have the power to either shake a young defensive back or mold them into the next dependable member of Iowa’s esteemed defensive structure in a setting as charged as Memorial Stadium.
As usual, Iowa relied on physicality, discipline, and next-man-up resilience throughout it all. Nevertheless, the defense’s tone is altered when a captain like Entringer leaves. There is a change in communication. The dynamics of leadership shift. Additionally, each absence feels a little more significant in a rivalry game where a single missed assignment can instantly change the scoreboard. Entringer’s significance extends beyond his capacity for coverage and tackling. His presence calms the defense’s back end, and his experience gives younger teammates stability—particularly in the intricate defensive schemes that Iowa is renowned for. The Hawkeyes needed others to fill that void in his absence—not just one player, but the entire team.
Furthermore, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Regardless of either team’s record, playing Nebraska on the road is never simple. The Huskers thrive on the enthusiasm of their home crowd, and they don’t think twice about taking advantage of weaknesses, particularly in opposing secondaries. This meant that Iowa’s youthful corners needed to be prepared—abruptly, urgently, and unexpectedly. The fact that Entringer was unlikely to return before halftime, if at all, did not change as the first half went on. The story that the coaching staff failed to fully explain was revealed by the helmet off on the sidelines. Without one of its most dependable defensive leaders, Iowa would have to make it through and possibly even win.
Hall’s stature remained equally significant. Despite being dressed, he had not yet taken the field, leaving many to question whether Iowa would receive any reinforcements before the game became even more competitive. Nothing was certain, but the Hawkeyes hoped that either Hall or Entringer would return for crucial moments later. For the time being, Iowa had to rely on the depth it has developed throughout the season and trust the new lineup. The Hawkeyes’ youngest defensive backs would need to step up and play beyond their years if they wanted to leave Lincoln with a rivalry victory.
One thing became evident as the game went on: Iowa’s defensive future was arriving early, whether by design or necessity.
