The 2026 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represents the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes are led by Kirk Ferentz who is in his 28th year as head coach. Iowa plays their home games at Kinnick Stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Their Week 5 home loss to Ohio State marked the end of a 66-game streak going back to 2016 in which Iowa prevented their opponents from scoring 30 points or more.
Offseason 2026 NFL draft
2 57 Logan Jones C Chicago Bears 3 96 Gennings Dunker T Pittsburgh Steelers 4 121 Kaden Wetjen WR Pittsburgh Steelers 5 148 Beau Stephens OG Seattle Seahawks 6 183 Karson Sharar LB Arizona Cardinals 7 219 TJ Hall CB New Orleans Saints 7 238 Max Llewellyn DE Miami Dolphins
Transfers Outgoing Brian AllenDLVanderbiltCJ BellCBUConnRhys DakinPMichigan StateKoen EntringerDBLouisvilleKael KolarikSSouth DakotaJaziun PattersonRBMichigan StateJackson StrattonQBSan DiegoTerrell Washington Jr.RBNew Mexico State
Incoming Lance BeeghleyWRSouthern MethodistKahmari BrownEDGEElonTyler BrownSJames MadisonTony DiazWRUT Rio Grande ValleyBoston EverittPMelbourneLance IngoldEDGENorthern IllinoisCody HaddadDBOhio StateAnthony HawkinsSVillanovaEvan JamesWRFurmanEmmanuel OlagbajuDLNorth DakotaEli OzickKNorth Dakota StateL. J. PhillipsRBSouth DakotaTanner PhilpottPSimpsonBrice StevensonDLHoly CrossXavier StylesSRobert MorrisTrent WilsonOLJames Madison
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs Northern Illinois
Over the years, Iowa has played some tightly contested games with the Huskies, but that wasn't the case in this one. The Hawkeyes, powered by 132 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns from Kamari Moulton, jumped out to a three touchdown lead in the first quarter. In the second half, Evan James returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown to put the game well out of reach. Moulton finished the day with a career-high 183 yards on the ground. Defensively, Iowa limited Northern Illinois to 120 yards (7 yards rushing) and has shut out at least one opponent in each of the last five seasons.
Statistics NIUIOWA First downs 7 26 Plays–yards 55–120 78–507 Rushes–yards 31–7 38–289 Passing yards 113 218 Passing: –– 13–24–1 21–40–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:09 33:51 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Taron Dickens 9/14, 96 yards, INT Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 8 carries, 16 yards Receiving Kelan McInerney 3 receptions, 55 yards Iowa Passing Hank Brown 12/20, 129 yards, TD Rushing Kamari Moulton 11 carries, 183 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tony Diaz 7 receptions, 84 yards, TD
vs Iowa State (Cy–Hawk Trophy)
After dropping three of the last four in this in-state series, the Hawkeyes leaned heavily on defense and the kicking game to regain the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Caden Buhr kicked a 42-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to give Iowa its first lead of the game and secure the victory. This was the fifth consecutive matchup between the teams decided by a single possession.
Statistics ISUIOWA First downs 9 13 Plays–yards 53–255 59–284 Rushes–yards 34–138 29–93 Passing yards 117 191 Passing: –– 10–19–0 21–30–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 30:18 29:42 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa State Passing Jaylen Raynor 10/19, 117 yards, TD Rushing Aiden Flora 19 carries, 89 yards Receiving Omari Hayes 3 receptions, 39 yards Iowa Passing Hank Brown 21/30, 191 yards Rushing Kamari Moulton 15 carries, 57 yards Receiving Tony Diaz 8 receptions, 95 yards
vs Northern Iowa (FCS)
In the first meeting of the two Iowa schools since 2018 (the 2020 match-up was canceled due to the pandemic), the Hawkeyes were dominant on both sides of the ball. Iowa rushed for 422 yards and had three different backs run for over 100 yards. The defense forced two turnovers and posted its second shutout. Kirk Ferentz moved to 6–0 all-time against Northern Iowa.
Statistics UNIIOWA First downs 9 32 Plays–yards 58–155 64–640 Rushes–yards 25–53 41–422 Passing yards 102 218 Passing: –– 14–33–2 18–23–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:45 32:15 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 11/27, 91 yards, 2 INT Rushing Caleb Kamara 7 carries, 21 yards Receiving Ayden Price 2 receptions, 32 yards Iowa Passing Hank Brown 12/12, 153 yards, 2 TD Rushing Xavier Williams 6 carries, 151 yards, 3 TD Receiving Nathan McNeil 3 receptions, 37 yards
at No. 18 Michigan
Two 16-yard TD passes in the 4th quarter from Hank Brown to Reece Vander Zee the second as time expired propelled Iowa to beat Michigan for the first time since 2016. The Hawkeyes won at Michigan Stadium for the third time in the Ferentz era (2002, 2010), and secured their first road win against a ranked Big Ten team since 2015.
Statistics IOWAMICH First downs 16 21 Plays–yards 59–285 68–429 Rushes–yards 24–58 40–153 Passing yards 227 276 Passing: –– 21–35–0 17–28–1 Time of possession 25:31 34:29 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Hank Brown 21/35, 227 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kamari Moulton 13 carries, 44 yards Receiving Reece Vander Zee 5 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TD Michigan Passing Bryce Underwood 17/28, 276 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Marshall 11 carries, 59 yards Receiving JJ Buchanan 5 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD
vs No. 5 Ohio State
The Buckeyes, who made their first visit to Iowa City since 2017, took the lead after an early Iowa turnover and never looked back. Ohio State seized full control of the game just before half and extended the lead to 25 early in the 4th. Iowa scored its only touchdown of the game midway through the 4th quarter.
Statistics OSUIOWA First downs 25 15 Plays–yards 74–484 53–238 Rushes–yards 47–160 21–39 Passing yards 324 199 Passing: –– 20–27–0 17–32–1 Time of possession 38:02 21:58 Team Category Player Statistics Ohio State Passing Julian Sayin 20/27, 324 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ja'Kobi Jackson 14 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Smith 11 receptions, 206 yards, 2 TD Iowa Passing Hank Brown 12/27, 132 yards, INT Rushing Kamari Moulton 11 carries, 27 yards Receiving DJ Vonnahme 6 receptions, 64 yards
at Washington
The Hawkeyes' first visit to Seattle since 1963. The Huskies will be looking to avenge a loss from two years prior.
Statistics IOWAWASH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Washington Passing Rushing Receiving
at Minnesota
Iowa has won five consecutive road games in this trophy series and humiliated the Gophers the previous season.
Statistics IOWAMINN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Wisconsin
This will be the 100th meeting in the series (Wisconsin leads, 49–48–2). Iowa has dominated the last two meetings in this border rivalry (79–10 margin), and are seeking their fifth consecutive victory for the first time in three decades. Wisconsin also hasn't won at Kinnick Stadium since 2018.
Statistics WISIOWA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving
at Northwestern
Iowa has won four straight and five of the last six in this series.
Statistics IOWANU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Purdue
These two programs have split their last eight meetings with each other prior to not playing in 2024 or 2025.
Statistics PURIOWA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Purdue Passing Rushing Receiving Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving
at Illinois
Illinois ended a long losing streak in this series with Iowa's last visit in 2022.
Statistics IOWAILL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Nebraska
The Hawkeyes have won 10 of the last 11 in this trophy series. Nebraska will be looking to avenge a humbling loss from the previous season.
Statistics NEBIOWA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving
Roster
References