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- Iowa returns only eight starters and enters 2026 with the fewest career offensive snaps and fewest combined defensive snaps of any Power Four team. - Auburn transfer Hank Brown and Wake Forest transfer Jeremy Hecklinski remain in a close quarterback competition after Hecklinski threw for 205 yards and five touchdowns during Iowa's August 15 open practice. - Team MVP Zach Lutmer is moving from CASH to safety after producing 71 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups in 2025, and he is also expected to return punts. - Iowa must replace 77 combined defensive-line starts, with Elon transfer Kahmari Brown bringing 16 tackles for loss and 12 sacks as the most accomplished newcomer. - Long snapper Ike Speltz is Iowa's only returning specialist with 2025 game action, while Eli Ozick and Caden Buhr compete at kicker and Tanner Philpott and first-year Australian Boston Everitt compete at punter.

- Jeremy Hecklinski is the reported lean to start at quarterback against Northern Illinois, but Hank Brown is expected to receive meaningful reps through the first three games as Iowa continues evaluating the position. - Iowa is expected to lean on the run against an inexperienced Northern Illinois defensive line and a freshman MIKE linebacker, with a projection of more than 40 carries and 250 rushing yards. - Northern Illinois quarterback Taron Dickens provides an early test for Iowa's pass rush because his mobility and off-platform playmaking can punish an undisciplined front. - Iowa is confident in Anthony Hawkins replacing Tyler Brown in the secondary, while Jaylen Watson remains an upside player whose penalty issues could affect matchups with veteran receivers. - Iowa enters the opener without a proven special-teams game changer, and the kicking operation is the largest concern if the offense again struggles to finish drives in the red zone.

- The first official game week for the Iowa Hawkeyes has arrived! - That can mean only one thing, the first two deeps of the season for the Iowa football team. - There was plenty of news made in the two deeps today, including the much discussed quarterback position.

- Iowa listed Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski as co-starters at quarterback, with Hecklinski expected to receive the first few drives against Northern Illinois before live performance determines the longer-term order. - DJ Vonnahme and Addison Ostrenga share Iowa's first-team tight-end listing, but the report says Vonnahme has not lost his lead role and Ostrenga may open games when personnel or play design favors his skill set. - Walk-on Caden Buhr won Iowa's opening kicking job over North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick despite Ozick making 16 of 18 field goals and earning second-team FCS All-America honors last season. - Freshman Australian Boston Everitt will open as Iowa's punter ahead of Division III All-American Tanner Philpott despite having no prior competitive American-football experience. - Walk-on Will Hubert will start beside Bryce Hawthorne at defensive tackle, while Devan Kennedy and Holy Cross transfer Brice Stevenson are expected to rotate and injured Brad Fitzgibbon remains out.

- Iowa's Week 1 depth chart lists Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski as co-starters at quarterback, but the latest practice signal favors Hecklinski for the first snaps after he delivered the position's best Kids' Day performance. - Iowa could rotate specialists by situation, with Caden Buhr listed ahead of more experienced North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick at kicker and Boston Everitt ahead of Tanner Philp at punter. - Iowa defensive tackle Brad Fitzgibbon has battled injuries throughout preseason but remains a potential interior-rotation addition, while Emmanuel Olagbaju has also been in and out, Lance Ingold is injured, and Kahmari Brown is currently the transfer most likely to contribute as a situational speed rusher. - Northern Illinois quarterback Taron Dickens completed 76% of his clean-pocket throws in 2025 and remained productive under pressure with 843 yards and seven touchdowns, but his 10 turnover-worthy plays when not blitzed give Iowa a route to disruption without heavy pressure packages. - Iowa is expected to establish the run against a young Northern Illinois front whose likely linebackers include true freshman Jack Murray and lightly used Jashawn Nelson and whose top defensive-line rotation includes three second-year players.