Iowa Hawkeyes demonstrated to the college football community why they are still among the most reliable teams in the Big Ten after a season that tried their fortitude. A late-season surge propelled Iowa back into the national conversation, earning the team a return to the Top 25 in the latest ESPN Power Rankings at No. 25 and a similar nod in the USA Today re-rankings.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing. Iowa overcame a midseason slowdown that contained lost opportunities and a few narrow losses that could’ve easily skewed the year in a different direction. However, the Hawkeyes accomplished what they have done for decades under longtime head coach Kirk Ferentz: they stabilized themselves, made the necessary corrections, and finished strong. Iowa finished the 2025 regular season with an 8–4 record thanks to victories in their final two games. This was another season of strong, competitive football in the fiercely competitive Big Ten.
This year, Iowa’s ongoing offensive comeback was the main narrative. Under offensive coordinator Tim Lester, the unit made significant progress in 2025 after years of frustration and public attention. A year ago, Iowa soared from the depths of No. 132 to No. 72 in scoring offense. The Hawkeyes finished the regular season ranked 60th in the US with an average of 28.9 points per game, a little improvement over 27.7 from the previous campaign but still the program’s highest offensive efficiency since 2020.
Every small victory seems big to a fan following that suffered historically low offensive output in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, this year’s manufacturing produced noticeable outcomes. Iowa scored 30 points or more in six of its twelve games and surpassed 40 points three times. It wasn’t glamorous football by national standards, but it was effective, balanced, and, most importantly, consistent.
A big reason for that balance was the entrance of transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski. His influence extended beyond the box score. Gronowski presented a serious running threat in the red zone, extending plays with his legs and forcing opponents to care for him on every snap. In addition to adding a degree of unpredictability that Iowa had sorely lacked in previous seasons, that movement created little holes in the passing game.
Even with the departure of 2024 rushing leader Kaleb Johnson, the Hawkeyes didn’t skip a beat on the ground. Iowa produced 2,133 rushing yards and averaged 178 yards per game behind an offensive line that quietly ranked among the best in the conference. That physical identity is the lifeblood of the program, and it once again carried the offense when games tightened in the second part of the season.
Under coordinator Phil Parker, the defense continued to provide the program’s cornerstone of success and stability while the offense garnered attention for its expansion. As predicted, Iowa’s defense was once again among the nation’s finest. The Hawkeyes limited opponents to only 3.5 yards per run while allowing just 158 passing yards and 112 rushing yards per game. Entering the postseason picture, they ranked tenth nationally in scoring defense, surrendering only 15.2 points per game. It was the kind of defense that kept Iowa competitive even on days when the offense stagnated. Long, devastating drives by the opposing offense were unusual. Even less common were explosive plays. Week after week, the unit relentlessly shifted field position, bottled up run games, and made quarterbacks make mistakes.
Put together, the formula looked very familiar: a robust rushing assault, a progressively improving passing game, disciplined defense, and a senior coaching staff that understands how to negotiate the grind of a Big Ten season. As a result, the program won eight or more games for the tenth time since 2015, which is an incredible amount of consistent success in contemporary college football.
Perhaps what made this year especially exciting for Iowa fans is that it didn’t feel like a ceiling season. Rather, it seemed like a first step. The defense no longer has to continuously save the offense. It’s developing into a competent partner. At 28–24, games that appeared like uphill battles at 17–14 now feel winnable. Even though it’s a small change, it completely alters how opponents get ready for the Hawkeyes.
The return to the Top 25 is more than a number beside the program’s name. It’s validation that Iowa’s model — toughness up front, defensive accuracy, and modest offensive progress — still works in today’s shifting college football scene. And with fresh confidence on both sides of the ball, the Hawkeyes move into the postseason not merely as survivors of a tough year, but as a club that reasserted its relevance. This late-season surge seems like just the right type of momentum for Iowa, a program based on perseverance, self-control, and calm faith.
