Tuesdays with Torbee

I was going to start this column out writing about how we should evaluate Nebraska as a program right now, but quickly realized that is a super short column.

Nebraska is where they have been, intermittently, since firing Frank Solich for the absolutely horrendous failure of finishing a season 9-3 lo these 22 years ago, almost to the day.

That is: devoid of any clear identity, flailing with a “hot name” coach who appears out of his depth, pretty soft on both lines, awash with some nice athletes who don’t appear able to coalesce into a team, and preparing to “win” the off-season national championship for the 15th year running. Oh, and coming off a backbreaking loss to a tougher, tighter Iowa team that knows exactly what it is and is looking forward rather than to the past.

Rinse and repeat.

While mocking Nebraska’s hubris is one of my all-time favorite hobbies, I will instead stick to evaluating where Iowa is as a program, following a simultaneously inspiring and heartbreaking 8-4 regular season.

On paper, one would think the 2025 results were a downgrade from 2023 when Iowa finished the regular season 10-2 and appeared in the Big Ten championship game. But when you break down the schedule differences and how Iowa looked in each game, I think it’s pretty clear this year’s team is superior and the program is in a better place.

In 2023, Iowa won five one-possession games, including squeakers like 10-7 over Northwestern, 15-13 over Illinois, and 13-10 to best Nebraska. Even its “impressive” wins weren’t really: 24-14 over Utah State, 20-13 over Iowa State, and 26-16 to defeat Michigan State. In its three games against ranked opponents (#7 Penn State, #2 Michigan, and #21 Tennessee), the Hawkeyes were lambasted by a combined score of 92-0. Ouch. That is BAD.

Fast forward to this season, and Iowa was the team handing out the butt-kickings to over-matched rivals: 41-3 over the Gophers, 37-0 against Wisconsin, and 40-16 over Nebraska. Against ranked teams, unfortunately each game ended in a loss, but nowhere near as bad as the 2023 destructions: 20-15 to #2 Indiana, 18-16 on a last-second field goal to #6 Oregon, and 26-21 to #16 USC, which Iowa led by double digits into the fourth quarter.

Frustrating, heartbreaking, head-shaking, and maddening, yes. But progress nonetheless.

Heading into this season, one of the biggest question marks was whether Iowa could close the talent and production gap between itself and top-20 (and better) teams in the Big Ten and beyond. I think the results on the field, even in losses, definitively make that answer yes.

Most heartening, the national narrative of Iowa being the place offense goes to die is beginning to dissipate. The Hawkeyes finished 5th in scoring in the 18-team Big Ten at a robust 28.9 points per game. Given the reliably stout Iowa defense infrequently allows more than 20 (season average for 2025 was 15.2 ppg, good for 9th in the country), that is a recipe that will win plenty of games going forward.

In his second season with the Hawks, offensive coordinator Tim Lester demonstrated an excellent ability to tailor game plans around his players’ strengths and the opponents’ weak spots. He also showed the upside of having a mobile quarterback in his system, with Mark Gronowski doing as much or more damage with his legs than his strong arm. And as always, the run game was a strength of the team, helping control time of possession and grinding down opponents.

The good news is Iowa moved tangibly closer to College Football Playoff contention. The bad news is, as my dad always says, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. So what needs to be done to get over the hump?

I’m far from a football expert, but my fan eyes tell me Iowa needs a couple more game-breakers at the skill positions. A portal wide receiver or two with escapability would go a long way toward taking some pressure off the run game, particularly when Iowa doesn’t have a breakaway threat like a Kaleb Johnson. The tight end position also needs to return to at least a semblance of its former dominance. I love what I saw late in the year from DJ Vonnahme—he gives off faint Noah Fant vibes. Hopefully Alex Ostrenga comes back healthy and provides a potent pair of targets.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hawkeyes also need to find at least one road-grader interior lineman. In the Oregon and USC losses in particular, Iowa got worn down by the running game late, which contributed to the blown leads and losses.

Finally, although there were signs of it this season, I also think Kirk Ferentz needs to commit to a “pedal-to-the-metal” approach on offense. In the USC game in particular, I felt Iowa went into protection mode too early in the second half with a lead, giving the Trojans momentum and hope. Stay aggressive and have faith that if something goes awry, your stellar defense will bail you out.

It’s going to be a fascinating off-season, particularly on the quarterback front for Iowa. If the new guy has the goods and the portal and recruiting additions are high quality, Iowa has a good chance to be right in the thick of the Big Ten race—as it was this season—in 2026.

Follow me on BlueSky @torybrecht.bsky.social and tune in to the 12 Saturdays podcast on all platforms.