The Iowa Hawkeyes impressed everyone last season, finishing the 2015 season undefeated. Quarterback C.J. Bethard returns this season after a successful first-year campaign, but will face some adversity after two of his wide receivers graduated.
Thorpe Award winner Desmond King returns at corner for an Iowa defense that finished second in the Big Ten last season. Josey Jewell will return for the line backing corps that lost a few parts as well. Jewell led Iowa in tackles with 126 and added four interceptions.
Key Returners
QB: C.J. Bethard
LB: Josey Jewell
CB: Desmond King
Key Departures
DE- Drew Ott
RB- Jordan Canzeri
WR- Tevaun Smith
Iowa had a favorable schedule last season, and this season should not be too much different. The Hawkeyes start out the season with three more-than-winnable non-conference games against Miami (OH), Iowa State, and North Dakota State.
The team's true challenges in conference play this season come at home against Northwestern, Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska.
For more on the Iowa Hawkeye's 2016 football season listen to Joe Quinn and Nick Handley from Omaha Sports Insider on AM590 ESPN Radio talk with Chad Leistekow from the Des Moines Register below.
