After a successful 2019 season and a victory over Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl, the Iowa football program has received its fair share of hype during the offseason. Multiple publications have the Hawkeyes ranked in preseason Top 25 polls based largely on the strength of returning standouts such as Nate Stanley, AJ Epenesa, Tristan Wirfs, and Alaric Jackson. Iowa is no stranger to preseason rankings, as the Hawkeyes have been included in six preseason AP Top 25 polls during the Kirk Ferentz era, in addition to ten such rankings under Hayden Fry.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Football, and the Burden of Preseason Expectations
