10-2 should NOW be the goal / hope for IOWA fans

Franisdaman · Sunday at 10:32 AM

Sure, 12-0 or 11-1 would be great. The coaches & players obsioulsy plan and coach to win every game.

However for the fans, lets be real.

--> Ohio State is likely a loss unless we have a 2017-like surprise.

--> Almost every team (not just IOWA) lays an egg during the season.

Our 2026 Football Schedule:

Date	Opponent	Time/TV
Sat Sep 5	WIN NIU Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA	Time: 3:15pm CT TV: BTN

Sat Sep 12	WIN Iowa State Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA	Time: 6:30 pm CT TV: NBC

Sat Sep 19	WIN Northern Iowa Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA	Time: 3:00 pm CT TV: FS1
Sat Sep 26	WIN at Michigan Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI	Time TBA TV TBA
Sat Oct 3	Ohio State Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA	Time TBA TV TBA
Fri Oct 9	at Washington Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA	Time: 8:00 pm CT TV: FOX/FS1
Sat Oct 24	at Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN	Time TBA TV TBA
Sat Oct 31	Wisconsin Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA	Time TBA TV TBA
Sat Nov 7	at Northwestern NW Medicine at Martin Stadium, Evanston, IL	Time TBA TV TBA
Sat Nov 14	Purdue Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA	Time TBA TV TBA
Sat Nov 21	at Illinois Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL	Time TBA TV TBA
Fri Nov 27	Nebraska Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA	Time: 11:00 am CT TV: CBS

Morrison71 · Sunday at 10:33 AM

National Championship son.

Franisdaman · Sunday at 10:37 AM

Morrison71 said:
National Championship son.

Just don't tell @EvilMonkeyInTheCloset !!!

Anon1751800595 · Sunday at 10:37 AM

I’m sticking to 9-3. A loss against OSU and Washington (look at our west coast record at night), and one other garbage loss we have no business losing.

Hope I’m wrong. Definitely capable of 11-1 or 10-2. A win this weekend, and who knows.

Franisdaman · Sunday at 10:40 AM

Anon1751800595 said:
I’m sticking to 9-3. A loss against OSU and Washington (look at our west coast record at night), and one other garbage loss we have no business losing.

Hope I’m wrong. Definitely capable of 11-1 or 10-2. A win this weekend, and who knows.

Minnestoa at Washington kicked off at 10 pm CT last night.

Did you happen to notice when they flew in, etc?

If Minny & PJ Fleck can solve the west coast curse, surely Iowa can.

Grayhair1981 · Sunday at 10:41 AM

The win/loss margin for this team is razor thin. Last night required a lot of planets to line up correctly. They were outplayed badly most of the night. I have no idea what the record will be. Enjoy the ride.

unipantherhawk · Sunday at 10:44 AM

1-0 this week please

GoUIowa · Sunday at 10:59 AM

Every week is going to be a battle. Purdue would be the only “garbage loss” left on the schedule. Every other team could legitimately bite you. Just ask Penn State (Wisconsin), Washington (Minnesota), and Indiana (Northwestern) after this weekend.

I said 7-5 before the season. This weekend would change my prediction to 8-4, with losses still to OSU, Wash, Illinois, and either Minn or Neb.

uihawk82 · Sunday at 11:02 AM

Franisdaman said:
Sure, 12-0 or 11-1 would be great. The coaches & players obsioulsy plan and coach to win every game.

However for the fans, lets be real.

--> Ohio State is likely a loss unless we have a 2017-like surprise.

--> Almost every team (not just IOWA) lays an egg during the season.

Our 2026 Football Schedule:

Date Opponent Time/TV
Sat
Sep 5 WIN NIU
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 3:15pm CT
TV: BTN
Sat
Sep 12 WIN Iowa State
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 6:30 pm CT
TV: NBC
Sat
Sep 19 WIN Northern Iowa
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 3:00 pm CT
TV: FS1
Sat
Sep 26 WIN at Michigan
Michigan Stadium,
Ann Arbor, MI Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Oct 3 Ohio State
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Fri
Oct 9 at Washington
Husky Stadium,
Seattle, WA Time: 8:00 pm CT
TV: FOX/FS1
Sat
Oct 24 at Minnesota
Huntington Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis, MN Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Oct 31 Wisconsin
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 7 at Northwestern
NW Medicine at Martin Stadium,
Evanston, IL Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 14 Purdue
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 21 at Illinois
Gies Memorial Stadium,
Champaign, IL Time TBA
TV TBA
Fri
Nov 27 Nebraska
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 11:00 am CT
TV: CBS

Yes, OSU on offense is a monster team but, but Illinois had a lot of wide open receivers, Sayin is not 2017's Barrett as an OSU QB, but Sayin completes about 80% of his passes. So the hawk defense will have to play great which is no surprise but the hawk offense might need to really open up the passing game to beat OSU.

Some of the other teams that we play that looked sort of weak with warts have now looked a lot tougher. Yeah 10-2 is probably the ceiling but wow 11-1 would be great but I can see the hawks stumbling at jNW now, losing to Nebby who I didnt see crushing MSU.

93hawkeye · Sunday at 11:03 AM

As fans that have nothing to do with affecting the outcome, I understand "hope". I don't understand "goal".
And, we can't really assume the breaks will go Iowa's way in every close game. Still a fun ride, though

uihawk82 · Sunday at 11:05 AM

Franisdaman said:
Minnestoa at Washington kicked off at 10 pm CT last night.

Did you happen to notice when they flew in, etc?

If Minny & PJ Fleck can solve the west coast curse, surely Iowa can.

Did they fly out at the last possible time which I may have heard or did they go out 2 days early. And Wash has a lot of injuries so the hawks get them in 2 weeks.

It might have been UCLA that flew to play Maryland on thursday.

Franisdaman · Sunday at 11:13 AM

Grayhair1981 said:
The win/loss margin for this team is razor thin. Last night required a lot of planets to line up correctly. They were outplayed badly most of the night. I have no idea what the record will be. Enjoy the ride.

As long as key players don't leave early, isn't next year supposed to be the really good season? If so, hopefully Iowa is ahead of schedule.

BlIIlken2 · Sunday at 11:14 AM

Anon1751800595 said:
I’m sticking to 9-3. A loss against OSU and Washington (look at our west coast record at night), and one other garbage loss we have no business losing.

Hope I’m wrong. Definitely capable of 11-1 or 10-2. A win this weekend, and who knows.

Probably most likely but oh boy, if we somehow pull magic out this Saturday…

BlIIlken2 · Sunday at 11:15 AM

Grayhair1981 said:
The win/loss margin for this team is razor thin. Last night required a lot of planets to line up correctly. They were outplayed badly most of the night. I have no idea what the record will be. Enjoy the ride.

I think that’s going to be the toughest defense (Mich) our offense sees all year. They still made enough plays in the pass game to get it done.

bulletproof90 · Sunday at 11:19 AM

10-2 most likely gets us into the playoffs, right?

MAXIMUSHAWKEYE · Sunday at 11:20 AM

Franisdaman said:
Sure, 12-0 or 11-1 would be great. The coaches & players obsioulsy plan and coach to win every game.

However for the fans, lets be real.

--> Ohio State is likely a loss unless we have a 2017-like surprise.

--> Almost every team (not just IOWA) lays an egg during the season.

Our 2026 Football Schedule:

Date Opponent Time/TV
Sat
Sep 5 WIN NIU
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 3:15pm CT
TV: BTN
Sat
Sep 12 WIN Iowa State
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 6:30 pm CT
TV: NBC
Sat
Sep 19 WIN Northern Iowa
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 3:00 pm CT
TV: FS1
Sat
Sep 26 WIN at Michigan
Michigan Stadium,
Ann Arbor, MI Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Oct 3 Ohio State
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Fri
Oct 9 at Washington
Husky Stadium,
Seattle, WA Time: 8:00 pm CT
TV: FOX/FS1
Sat
Oct 24 at Minnesota
Huntington Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis, MN Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Oct 31 Wisconsin
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 7 at Northwestern
NW Medicine at Martin Stadium,
Evanston, IL Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 14 Purdue
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 21 at Illinois
Gies Memorial Stadium,
Champaign, IL Time TBA
TV TBA
Fri
Nov 27 Nebraska
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 11:00 am CT
TV: CBS

PLEASE LET THE OSU GAME BE A NIGHT ONE.

GoUIowa · Sunday at 11:23 AM

MAXIMUSHAWKEYE said:
PLEASE LET THE OSU GAME BE A NIGHT ONE.

It’s not. 2:30

52317Hawk · Sunday at 11:28 AM

GoUIowa said:
Every week is going to be a battle. Purdue would be the only “garbage loss” left on the schedule. Every other team could legitimately bit you. Just ask Penn State (Wisconsin), Washington (Minnesota), and Indiana (Northwestern) after this weekend.

I said 7-5 before the season. This weekend would change my prediction to 8-4, with losses still to OSU, Wash, Illinois, and either Minn or Neb.

Iowa can win every game left on their schedule (not named fOSU). They could also lose every game left (not named PU).

Health and a viable running game will determine their record.

HawkBall23 · Sunday at 11:31 AM

Anon1751800595 said:
I’m sticking to 9-3. A loss against OSU and Washington (look at our west coast record at night), and one other garbage loss we have no business losing.

Hope I’m wrong. Definitely capable of 11-1 or 10-2. A win this weekend, and who knows.

Despite KF's west coast woes, I will be disappointed if Iowa doesn't find a way to win that @ WASH game.

I mean, if Minnesota can go in there and do it, Iowa surely can.

EvilMonkeyInTheCloset · Sunday at 1:55 PM

Anon1751800595 said:
I’m sticking to 9-3. A loss against OSU and Washington (look at our west coast record at night), and one other garbage loss we have no business losing.

Hope I’m wrong. Definitely capable of 11-1 or 10-2. A win this weekend, and who knows.

After losing to the f***ing Gophers, we need Washington to take on a nice, demoralizing loss to USC heading into their Friday night game against us and hope that they don't have any come-to-Jesus/rally the troops and treat our game like the f***ing Super Bowl, season on the line moments, which is what my one fear has always been about the position this game is in on our schedule................

We could have a close loss to Ohio State and look great in the process (hell We could even f***ing win), and Iowa would still go out west of the Rockies and look like they've never seen a football before, the next week because Kirk reasons.

HawksRule73 · Sunday at 1:58 PM

GoUIowa said:
Every week is going to be a battle. Purdue would be the only “garbage loss” left on the schedule. Every other team could legitimately bit you. Just ask Penn State (Wisconsin), Washington (Minnesota), and Indiana (Northwestern) after this weekend.

I said 7-5 before the season. This weekend would change my prediction to 8-4, with losses still to OSU, Wash, Illinois, and either Minn or Neb.

Is anyone allowed on this board that says there’s a chance we lose to Nebraska??

BigDelHawk · Sunday at 4:56 PM

Morrison71 said:
National Championship son.

F that, Washington got beat by MN. We can beat Washington.

Jonesy5960 · Sunday at 5:00 PM

HawksRule73 said:
Is anyone allowed on this board that says there’s a chance we lose to Nebraska??

BigOHawk1 · Sunday at 7:52 PM

bulletproof90 said:
10-2 most likely gets us into the playoffs, right?

Most likely yes, but lots of football ahead, a loss to OSU and another loss to a ranked team could def punch a ticket but does depend on how many the SEC gets in.

yrunvs · Sunday at 7:54 PM

I had them 8-4 losing to Michigan so I'd be good with 9-3 or better.

ajdl · Sunday at 8:18 PM

Not many easy ones. 11-1 obviously is the ceiling, and I’d say 8-4 is realistic. I’ll go 9-3. We will lose at least 2 of: Nebraska, IL, jNW, MN, WI. Lose to Ohio State. Beat our most hated rivals Purdue

Anon1751457816 · Sunday at 8:23 PM

Hopefully these couple of close wins against true competition helps the team gel and play more solid 60 minute football... But I know there is a garbage loss in there somewhere. it's just the Iowa way

Hawk4Ever! · Sunday at 8:40 PM

The margin for error for this team is very slim vs anyone (see ISU) Cannot count on completing two tipped passes at crucial times LOL and everyone says KF doesn't like trick plays! those were brilliant!
The pass D sucks again giving a TE playing qb 300 yds was awful and Hawks soft Oline is concerning.

Long season and we know how it usually goes.

Franisdaman · Monday at 11:00 AM

BlIIlken2 said:
Probably most likely but oh boy, if we somehow pull magic out this Saturday…

Crowd is gonna be lit.

Lets see what Phil and Tim can draw up....

Also, special teams have been really impressive so far....

the24fan · Monday at 11:09 AM

Gonna have to drag tOSU down into the muck to win this game.
It's gonna take defense and special teams to pull this out IMO.

Franisdaman · Monday at 11:27 AM

BlIIlken2 said:
I think that’s going to be the toughest defense (Mich) our offense sees all year. They still made enough plays in the pass game to get it done.

11 plays, 91 yards, 1 minute, 46 seconds.

Imagine what that drive had looked like with Deacon Hill at QB....

Franisdaman · Monday at 11:29 AM

bulletproof90 said:
10-2 most likely gets us into the playoffs, right?

You'd think. But there might be an 8-4 SEC team that had to go thru the gauntlet of an SEC schedule.

Franisdaman · Monday at 11:30 AM

MAXIMUSHAWKEYE said:
PLEASE LET THE OSU GAME BE A NIGHT ONE.

GoUIowa said:
It’s not. 2:30

I bet NBC would have loved to have this night game.

Franisdaman · Monday at 11:31 AM

52317Hawk said:
Iowa can win every game left on their schedule (not named fOSU). They could also lose every game left (not named PU).

Health and a viable running game will determine their record.

And will the bend but don't break Iowa defense hold up?

Like you said, a healthy defensive line all season long would be nice....

Franisdaman · Monday at 11:34 AM

BigOHawk1 said:
Most likely yes, but lots of football ahead, a loss to OSU and another loss to a ranked team could def punch a ticket but does depend on how many the SEC gets in.

eSECpn will want as many SEC teams as possible.

DukeSlater · Monday at 11:34 AM

Franisdaman said:
Sure, 12-0 or 11-1 would be great. The coaches & players obsioulsy plan and coach to win every game.

However for the fans, lets be real.

--> Ohio State is likely a loss unless we have a 2017-like surprise.

--> Almost every team (not just IOWA) lays an egg during the season.

Our 2026 Football Schedule:

Date Opponent Time/TV
Sat
Sep 5 WIN NIU
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 3:15pm CT
TV: BTN
Sat
Sep 12 WIN Iowa State
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 6:30 pm CT
TV: NBC
Sat
Sep 19 WIN Northern Iowa
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 3:00 pm CT
TV: FS1
Sat
Sep 26 WIN at Michigan
Michigan Stadium,
Ann Arbor, MI Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Oct 3 Ohio State
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Fri
Oct 9 at Washington
Husky Stadium,
Seattle, WA Time: 8:00 pm CT
TV: FOX/FS1
Sat
Oct 24 at Minnesota
Huntington Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis, MN Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Oct 31 Wisconsin
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 7 at Northwestern
NW Medicine at Martin Stadium,
Evanston, IL Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 14 Purdue
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time TBA
TV TBA
Sat
Nov 21 at Illinois
Gies Memorial Stadium,
Champaign, IL Time TBA
TV TBA
Fri
Nov 27 Nebraska
Kinnick Stadium,
Iowa City, IA Time: 11:00 am CT
TV: CBS

Actually, the goal should be 12-0 regular season. If the "goal" is to lose two games, somebody's doin' it wrong.

Do you think Cignetti told his team last year when they were 4-0 that their goal should be 11-1 or 12-2? LOL

The day Cignetti took the job he said the goal was to win every damn game, win the BIG, and win the national title. It took him all of two years to accomplish all of those things at a school that had NO football tradition and whose only Rose Bowl appearance was in 1967.

Iowa was a few bad breaks and bad calls from 12-0 last season. No reason to shoot for less or to expect less than a win every week. Settling is for losers.

DukeSlater · Monday at 11:35 AM

uihawk82 said:
Yes, OSU on offense is a monster team but, but Illinois had a lot of wide open receivers, Sayin is not 2017's Barrett as an OSU QB, but Sayin completes about 80% of his passes. So the hawk defense will have to play great which is no surprise but the hawk offense might need to really open up the passing game to beat OSU.

Some of the other teams that we play that looked sort of weak with warts have now looked a lot tougher. Yeah 10-2 is probably the ceiling but wow 11-1 would be great but I can see the hawks stumbling at jNW now, losing to Nebby who I didnt see crushing MSU.

Actually, the ceiling in the regular season is 12-0. It just is.

Franisdaman · Monday at 11:36 AM

Anon1751457816 said:
Hopefully these couple of close wins against true competition helps the team gel and play more solid 60 minute football... But I know there is a garbage loss in there somewhere. it's just the Iowa way

Garbage losses happen to most programs.

--> Washington losing at home to Minny

--> Oregon losing at Oklahoma State

And that's just 2 examples of many.

Sheet happens in games. That's why they are played.

DukeSlater · Monday at 11:40 AM

BlIIlken2 said:
I think that’s going to be the toughest defense (Mich) our offense sees all year. They still made enough plays in the pass game to get it done.

And Lester kept the playbook mostly closed. In both the ISU and Michigan games, Lester's play calling has resembled Brian Ferentz more than Shanahan. Saturday would be a pretty good time to open that massive playbook and use everything in it, including trick plays like Lester dialed up for a TD @ USC last season. The offense MUST throw the ball DOWN the DAMN FIELD! You complete one 10+ yard pass out of three on every series, you keep the ball the entire game despite completing only 33 percent. Throw on first down. Throw on second down. And if there is a third down, maybe you run because they're finally thinking pass.

And use misdirection in the running game AFTER you loosen 'em up with all those passes. The misdirection was fabulous when Lester called it last year. No time like Saturday to show it off again.

BTW: Boston Everitt is doing a terrific job as the punter. The kid had never played American football until this fall. He's another awesome Aussie.

DukeSlater · Monday at 11:41 AM

GoUIowa said:
It’s not. 2:30

It'll be night somewhere.

10-2 should NOW be the goal / hope for IOWA fans

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