The Iowa Hawkeyes are ranked inside the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, checking in as the country’s No. 22 team.
Iowa joins Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, USC, Michigan, Penn State and Washington as one of the Big Ten’s ranked teams entering the 2026 college football season.
But, the Hawkeyes aren’t without question marks. Iowa is facing some serious turnover both offensively and defensively, including the departure of quarterback Mark Gronowski. The Hawkeyes are in the midst of a quarterback battle that Kirk Ferentz indicated at Big Ten media days could even stretch into the season itself.
But, that’s not the direction USA TODAY Sports looked when examining its one lingering question for Iowa football. USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg asked if special teams is still an area of strength for Iowa:
High-level special teams play has been one of the hallmarks of the Kirk Ferentz era. This year’s team faces a unique challenge to meet that standard. Iowa lost four-year starting kicker Drew Stevens and All-America returner Kaden Wetjen to graduation. Longtime special teams coach LeVar Woods left for the same position under Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State and starting punter Rhys Dakin followed Woods to East Lansing as a transfer. – Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports
Those that know and understand Iowa well are well aware of the emphasis that Ferentz places on his special teams units.
Iowa named Chris Polizzi as its new special teams coordinator, promoting him from his role as one of the Hawkeyes’ defensive analysts in 2025.
Ferentz didn’t run from the reality that it could be a bit of a work-in-progress to start 2026 on special teams.
“Probably the most significant portion of our football team that is going to bear watch, our special teams phase, point being there that we lost every specialist that we had. We lost our placekicker. He certainly had a great career, Drew Stevens, did an unbelievable job. We lost our deep snapper. Have a new punter. Contention there, a battle going for that position. Then Kaden Wetjen is the best return guy I’ve ever been around in my career. He graduated too.
“Some of the advantages we gained through special teams over the last couple years, we’re going to have to ride the train a little bit this year and exhibit some patience. With new specialists, there’s always going to be a little bit of an up-and-down factor. At least that’s been my experience. That’s an area we’re keeping our focus on as well,” Ferentz said at Big Ten media days on July 28.
Kicker Eli Ozick transferred in from North Dakota State after connecting on 16 of 18 field goal tries last season, including a long of 54 yards.
Iowa added D-III All-American punter Tanner Philpott from Simpson College, who punted 90 times for an average of 40.3 yards per punt across two seasons at Simpson. Philpott pinned 31 punts inside the 20-yard-line.
Iowa also signed Australian punter Boston Everitt, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Melbourne.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: USA TODAY shares 1 lingering Iowa football question
Reporting by Josh Helmer, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Josh Helmer, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
