Iowa Will Build On Momentum Ahead of 2021 Season

After starting their 2020 college football season with an 0-2 record, the Iowa Hawkeyes won six straight games to cap off the year at 6-2. Unfortunately, their finals two games of the season, including the Music City Bowl against Missouri, were cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Iowa will look to build off its successful 2020 campaign, and they will be returning a number of key players to their roster for the upcoming season. Head coach Kirk Ferentz, who will be the oldest head coach in the country at 66 years old this season, will look to lead the Hawkeyes to their ninth straight winning season.

WynnBET has Iowa’s win total set at 8.5 for the 2021 season, and the Hawkeyes’ are second on the odds list to win the Big Ten West at +115, behind only the Wisconsin Badgers at -108.

Iowa’s offense will revolve around All-Big Ten running back Tyler Goodson. In his sophomore season, Goodson rushed for 762 yards on 143 carries while scoring seven touchdowns and averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He also added 15 catches for 152 yards.

The Hawkeyes will miss Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith at receiver, but they expect juniors Tyron Tracy Jr. and Nico Ragaini to flawlessly replace them in the starting lineup.

Much like at receiver, Iowa is also going to miss three starts on the defensive line including 2020 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Daviyon Nixon. It will be near impossible for any player to be able to fill the hole left by the likes of Nixon and Chauncey Golston, but if the new starters can hold their own, Iowa will still have a solid defensive unit.

Not many people will predict Iowa to dethrone Ohio State as kings of the Big Ten, but there’s optimism that the Hawkeyes can win their division and find themselves in the conference Championship Game come December.