The Iowa Hawkeyes are on the cusp of every single outlet providing rankings and it seems they are being asked to prove they deserve the number beside their name.
From being viewed as a potential College Football Playoff bubble team to coming in at No. 25 in rankings, there is a large discrepancy between the Hawkeyes’ floor and ceiling in 2024.
ESPN is the latest outlet to throw what feels like a token ranking to the Hawkeyes. In their 2024 College Football Power Rankings, the Hawkeyes are coming in at No. 25 to round out the entire list.
No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes are banking on an improved offense behind the arrival of coordinator Tim Lester and healthy return of quarterback Cade McNamara. Last season, McNamara started five games before suffering a torn ACL. As a result, Iowa’s offense under then-offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz never got going. The Hawkeyes finished last in the Big Ten in yards per game (235.4), yards per play (3.95) and first downs per game (12.80). Iowa was also last in Total QBR (19.4) by a considerable margin (Nebraska was next-to-last with a Total QBR of 40.9). Iowa always plays hard-nosed defense. If the Hawkeyes can get the version of McNamara that helped quarterback Michigan to the Big Ten title in 2021 — and if Lester can help generate more big plays — Iowa could become a stealthy Big Ten contender. — Trotter
Fair or not, the Iowa season’s fate rests on quarterback Cade McNamara’s shoulders and how he can play. If he can bounce back from an injury, this Iowa team could be dangerous with an offense that sees any sort of improvement.
If McNamara doesn’t return to form, Iowa will be deeper in the QB room than in years past. Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan is waiting in the wings and even pushing for a chance to take the starting job.
Iowa draws a favorable slate this year with only a road trip to Ohio State as the sole matchup against the teams viewed at the top of the conference. If Iowa can handle business otherwise, their spot in the power rankings should only continue to rise.
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