Iowa Road Struggles Revealed: Ben McCollum’s Hawkeyes Take on Their First Serious Test The Iowa road problems are turning into the pivotal early plot of the Ben McCollum era, serving as a reminder that quick starts don’t always translate into easy sailing, particularly when traveling.
Although Iowa’s 2025–26 campaign was never expected to be simple, few anticipated the Hawkeyes’ rapid rise. However, Iowa’s road problems have emerged as the one obvious weakness in an otherwise stellar start under head coach Ben McCollum, who is in his first year. Iowa is currently 12-3 and in the AP Top 25 after 15 games, but all of their losses have occurred away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
This contrast has forced McCollum to offer a dose of reality. After Iowa’s most recent road defeat, McCollum publicly stated what many coaches eventually have to say: perfection isn’t achievable and adversity is unavoidable, particularly in the Big Ten. According to Des Moines Register reporter Tyler Tachman, McCollum stressed that successful teams are able to endure hardships even when things start to go wrong. As of yet, Iowa hasn’t done that consistently while traveling.
After Fran McCaffery was fired at the end of March, the Hawkeyes were virtually rebuilt. With just two players coming back, McCollum and his staff faced the enormous challenge of building a completely new roster in a single offseason. Iowa’s early success is noteworthy in light of this. A 2-2 Big Ten record, a 12-3 record, and a rise to No. 19 nationally surpassed almost all preseason projections. However, there have been growing pains associated with success.
Iowa has found it difficult to perform with the same vigor and skill away from home. Momentum swings, scoring droughts, and defensive failures have all contributed. The way the team has handled setbacks is more worrisome. Bennett Stirtz, a star guard, recently acknowledged that the Hawkeyes have a tendency to become overly pessimistic after falling behind on the road, which has made comebacks more difficult to maintain. that being truthful is important. Teams that identify their shortcomings early on typically have a better chance of fixing them.
Iowa’s road problems serve as a stark reminder of the Big Ten. Iowa is quickly realizing that there aren’t many soft landings in the Big Ten. Every road environment is hostile, and every possession is disputed. There, seasoned teams flourish. Often, new ones don’t at least not immediately. Although McCollum hasn’t come across as alarmist, his message has been very clear: consistency needs to be improved. At home, Iowa has demonstrated its ability to compete with any team. It must now demonstrate that performance is transportable. The timing is extremely important.
Iowa’s conference prospects could be shaped by a crucial two-game stretch. The first game is a home matchup with Illinois, which offers a chance to regain momentum and confidence. In the locker room, an unexpected victory would boost confidence and energize the fan base. The real litmus test is a road trip to West Lafayette to play Purdue. It’s never easy to win at Mackey Arena, especially for a team that’s still learning how to handle pressure. However, maintaining competitiveness would be a sign of advancement. The Hawkeyes need resiliency, poise, and the capacity to halt the bleeding when runs occur rather than perfection.
The Big Ten won’t be sympathetic if you lose 0–4 on the road. Perspective is important, though. With a new roster that is already exceeding expectations, this coach is in his first season. These kinds of difficulties are frequently a part of the process. The crucial question is whether the Hawkeyes can learn from Iowa’s shortcomings quickly enough to remain in the conference race, not whether Iowa has flaws at all. Patience has been earned by McCollum’s early success. The more difficult part is turning lessons into victories when Iowa’s supporters aren’t on their side.
