Joel Klatt expresses belief in Iowa, Hawkeye offense as Top-25 team entering next year

Few programs have been as consistent this century as the Iowa Hawkeyes. That’s why Joel Klatt is expecting more of the same from them, if not more, come kickoff this fall.

Klatt released his Post-Spring Top 25 during the latest episode of his show on Monday. He slotted Iowa at No. 23 in that ranking, considering how consistently it has finished under Kirk Ferentz. That includes their latest record of 8-5 last fall, with three of those coming by less than a field goal and one coming on the road against the eventual national champions.

“Let’s move to 23 and a team that, I gotta tell ya, I think I believe in them a lot more than others and I’ll tell you why,” Klatt said. “It’s Iowa.

“Iowa has earned the benefit of the doubt, first and foremost, and, secondly, there are some metrics that I think can lead you to believe that this will continue to improve. First and foremost, you look down? They were 8-5. Is that great last year? Eh, maybe, 8-5 is not great. But, three of those losses were by three points or less, so they’re right there. A lot of times, close losses can turn into close wins the next year, in particular if you’re improving, if you’re on an upward trajectory. I believe that they are.”

Klatt didn’t even consider the defense in this, as the Hawkeyes’ units have finished in the Top 20 nationally in every season over the past ten. It’s the offense that has been the obvious issue, though, with none finishing better than 40th in that same span, including a pair that were among the worst in the country in 2022 and 2023.

However, the Hawkeyes did improve on that side of the football last season in averaging 27.7 points on 328.8 yards of offense. They could now do so again depending on how QB Mark Gronowski adjusts from his career in the FCS to now being in the FBS.

“Tim Lester came in as the offensive coordinator and that’s always been the question with Iowa, is offense. Can they play any offense, right, because we know Phil Parker’s defense is going to be outstanding. We know. I don’t care who they graduate. I don’t care who’s drafted. They’re going to play fine on the defensive side,” Klatt said. “So, it’s always offense. Well, last year, they improved – 72nd in the country in scoring. And, you might be thinking to yourself, like, that doesn’t sound great. No, no, no. I’m talking about Iowa. If Iowa can get up there to where it’s like, they’re kind of middle of the pack? That’s excellent. So, upward trajectory. I think close losses can turn into close wins.

“Iowa generally doesn’t get great quarterback play. I think, this year, they could. Why? Well, Mark Gronowski is transferring in from South Dakota State. Gronowski has been exceptional at the FCS level. I think he could have a Kurtis Rourke–like impact on Iowa. Rourke comes in – now, Rourke didn’t come from FCS. He came in from the MAC and did great at Indiana. But this resumé is incredible,” Klatt continued. “Gronowski was the FCS Heisman in 2023, he was a finalist again in 2024. He’s won two national championships at that level. And he’s started 55 games. 55! Which means, if he starts another 12, he’s gonna be at 67 starts! That’s outrageous. He is, right now in his career, 49-6 as a starting quarterback. You put a quarterback like that, who I think that we can trust, okay? Past success is indicative of future results, possibly with Gronowski.”

With that, Klatt thinks that Iowa could again be in contention to make the College Football Playoff. That’s with a chance of the Hawkeyes getting close to double-digit wins again, depending on the results of their rivalry game and a pair of conference games, with all three of those teams also making his Top 20.

“I think you look at them and you think to yourself, okay, they could do it. They could get to nine wins, 10 wins. If they get to 10, now we’re talking about a fringe playoff team,” Klatt said. “Cy-Hawk game early in the season is in Ames. That’s always tough, and I think Iowa State is going to be very good. You’re going to see them in this Top 25. Their two toughest games are against Oregon and Penn State. Both of those at home.

“If they can beat their in-state rival and win the Cy-Hawk Trophy? Then, watch out. Watch out for Iowa.”

Iowa is averaging over eight wins a season since 2001, and pushing that closer to nine wins over the last dozen years since 2013, under Ferentz. They could be set to post a similar, or better, record again with that assumption of them helping the Hawkeyes to make it into this Top 25 for Klatt.