The 2024 Big Ten Media Days are suddenly just three weeks away. That means the start of fall camp is right around the corner as well.
As the final stages of summer workouts take place, outlets around the nation are sharing their final preseason predictions. Athlon Sports just unveiled its 2024 Big Ten football predictions .
Per Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan, Iowa is expected to finish sixth in the 18-team Big Ten standings.
Despite a struggling offense and the distraction of former coordinator Brian Ferentz’s contract terms, Iowa won its second Big Ten West Division title in three years and posted the program’s eighth double-digit win total under coach Kirk Ferentz.
The elimination of divisions makes a return trip to Indianapolis to play for the conference title a greater challenge for Ferentz. However, Iowa’s defense is good enough to carry this team into the top 25 once again. Coordinator Phil Parker returns eight starters, including All-America picks in Nick Jackson and Jay Higgins at linebacker. The Hawkeyes have a strong defensive line in place, and while the secondary will miss standout Cooper DeJean, this unit is still among the best in college football.
Finishing inside of the top four in the new 18-team Big Ten all hinges on how Iowa’s offense performs under new coordinator Tim Lester. The former Western Michigan head coach will certainly put his own stamp on things, but don’t expect the Hawkeyes to stray too far from a backfield featuring Leshon Williams and Kaleb Johnson. For this unit to improve on last year’s dismal performance (15.4 points a game), better play in the trenches is a must, and there’s a question mark at quarterback to address. Is Cade McNamara healthy after missing most of ’23 due to injury. Or will the Hawkeyes turn to Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan? – Lassan, Athlon Sports .
Any conversation about Iowa’s ceiling will typically focus upon how much offensive improvement Tim Lester can orchestrate in his first season with the program.
The good news on the Cade McNamara front is that he’s been fully cleared physically. McNamara told the Des Moines Register as much at the Wishes on Deck charity softball event in Pleasant Hill on June 23.
“Football-wise, running-wise, conditioning — everything. I’ve been fully cleared…It’s been a process, so kinda during May and the first week or so of June was getting myself acclimated. But now, I’m fully with the team as far as conditions reps, conditioning time, rollouts, everything. I’ve been doing everything,” McNamara said.
With McNamara on the mend, now it’s up to the Hawkeye offensive line to make use of its experience and continuity .
Iowa brings back along its offensive line, though. Iowa returns starting offensive tackles Mason Richman and Gennings Dunker, starting guard Connor Colby and starting center Logan Jones.
Nick DeJong and Beau Stephens have each started games for the Hawkeyes over their Iowa careers as well. Collectively, Iowa returns 58 offensive line starts from last season and a group that boasts 147 career starts.
If Iowa can pair its elite defense with an improved offense, maybe the Hawkeyes can climb higher than No. 6 in the final Big Ten standings.
Lassan and Athlon Sports ranked the top five in the preseason in the Big Ten as Ohio State No. 1, Oregon No. 2, Michigan No. 3, Penn State No. 4 and USC No. 5.
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