Kirk Ferentz quotes Albert Einstein after Iowa’s win over Nebraska
The Hawkeye head coach gained his 204th recreation at Iowa with an unbelievable victory wherein his offense gained 5 first downs.
It’s early December, however already each FBS faculty soccer workforce has its thoughts on what it’ll take to be extra aggressive 9 to 11 months from now. With the arrival of the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff, extra groups than ever have an opportunity to make the event.
For a non-playoff workforce like Iowa, that planning is properly underway. The Hawkeyes thought they might get there this yr, however a one-point house loss to Iowa State started to ship them down a path to an 8-4 document as a substitute of the required 10-2 or 11-1.
Iowa was a 7-to-1 playoff lengthy shot this season and will probably be even longer subsequent season after shedding 24 seniors and the Large Ten’s greatest operating again in Kaleb Johnson. But when they might grow to be playoff-viable in 2025, what wouldn’t it take?
Here’s a brief offseason to-do checklist:
Improve quarterback, passing recreation
Iowa is perhaps fairly first rate with a full offseason of growth with Brendan Sullivan and Jackson Stratton at quarterback, actually higher than what it had with departing Cade McNamara this previous season. There’s an argument that Iowa ought to use its NIL cash on different positions and experience with Sullivan and Stratton into 2025.
However the Hawkeyes are clearly prioritizing quarterback within the switch portal, as evidenced by USC switch Miller Moss being reportedly within the combine (together with Auburn, Louisville and Michigan) to come back aboard. Even when Iowa might land Moss (who threw 18 TDs earlier than shedding his job for USC), there could be skepticism about bringing in a big-name quarterback with combined outcomes once more after the McNamara debacle.
Offensive coordinator Tim Lester has mentioned the passing recreation will come final in putting in his Shanahan-inspired offense on the faculty stage. The Hawkeyes most likely want so as to add some high-quality broad receivers within the switch portal, too, if they really wish to be playoff contenders. They’ll want Reece Vander Zee, Jarriett Buie and Dayton Howard (three freshmen who had been within the high 4 this season at receiver) to have an enormous yr of growth.
Video: Ethan Hurkett was impactful on D-line in win over Nebraska
Ethan Hurkett discusses Iowa’s win over Nebraska on Black Friday.
Iowa soccer should exchange a ton of departing expertise on protection
Shedding the likes of Yahya Black, Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson, Sebastian Castro and Jermari Harris will probably be important. And that’s not an all-inclusive checklist. Phil Parker’s 2025 protection will probably be younger however his capability to “coach up” his secondary is fairly stellar. Anticipate guys like Koen Entringer, Zach Lutmer and John Nestor to be main gamers subsequent yr, they usually is perhaps very, excellent. Entringer is a freak athletically.
Linebacker most likely can’t be nearly as good as 2024, however there’s confidence that Jaden Harrell and Karson Sharar as fifth-year seniors will probably be greater than serviceable.
The place Iowa actually wants assist to be playoff contenders is on the defensive position, and that’s laborious to see with out some transfer-portal assist at each deal with and off the sting. There’s an opportunity Ethan Hurkett (6½ sacks) will return for a sixth yr, and which may mitigate some defensive-end panic, particularly with Max Llewellyn (5½ sacks and coming off an enormous season end) and Brian Allen (who’s having offseason surgical procedures and can miss the bowl recreation) anticipated to return.
Iowa soccer offensive-line growth needs to be there beneath George Barnett
Along with changing perhaps the most effective single-season operating again of the Kirk Ferentz period in Johnson (school-record 23 touchdowns and at the very least one TD in all 12 video games), there will probably be loads of profession begins gone up entrance.
There’s a likelihood that Iowa loses solely left deal with Mason Richman and proper guard Connor Colby, so if Beau Stephens, Logan Jones and Gennings Dunker are all again, that’s a a lot better place to begin than as soon as thought. Jones has a sixth yr out there, and Kade Pieper appears to be like like a plug-and-play guard. That leaves solely a significant gap at left deal with, one Iowa thought it was plugging when it grabbed Kaydn Proctor from Alabama final January. We’ll see if Iowa goes to the portal once more at deal with or if it sticks with up-and-coming prospects like Jack Dotzler or Trevor Lauck.
The Hawkeyes will want a plan, and understanding the statuses of Jones and Dunker (the Hawkeyes’ high lineman with one yr of eligibility remaining) is a begin.
Craft plans now to overcome a gauntlet schedule
One of many causes Iowa was considered a 2024 playoff contender was a lighter schedule. However the draw back of that was fewer alternatives for large wins. Iowa wound up enjoying solely two ranked groups and misplaced to each (Iowa State, Ohio State). Subsequent season, the Hawkeyes will face a step up in competitors.
Though the order of video games has not been decided for 2025, the Hawkeyes will probably be on the highway towards Iowa State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, USC and Nebraska; and their house schedule contains (after nonconference foes Albany and UMass) three possible CFP groups in Oregon, Penn State and Indiana plus Minnesota and Michigan State.
That’s really a very good factor if you wish to make the playoffs as a result of it presents extra alternative for signature wins, the place a 10-2 season might be sufficient to earn a nod for entry right into a 12-team playoff.
The Hawkeyes haven’t been as much as the duty in recent times towards faculty soccer’s huge boys, beginning with the 42-3 loss to Michigan within the 2021 Large Ten title recreation. Since then, there have been losses of 54-10 to Ohio State (2022), 31-0 to Penn State (2023), 26-0 to Michigan (2023), 35-0 to Tennessee (2023) and 35-7 to Ohio State (2024). That’s one offensive TD (which got here in mop-up obligation at Ohio State this yr) in 24 quarters towards the most effective of the most effective. That’s not even near ok.
Being constructed to win these video games begins with a basis of strong protection and particular groups however would require main upgrades on offense. That’s the place Lester and the portal are completely vital proper now. That’s most likely the one official strategy if the Hawkeyes search to be playoff-worthy in 2025 and past.
