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Iowa football: The most confusing team in college football

By Dillon VanOosbree

Sep 10, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; The line of scrimmage during the first quarter between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; The line of scrimmage during the first quarter between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Iowa’s Tory Taylor, left, high-fives placekicker Aaron Blom (1) after a field goal during the Hawkeyes’ final spring NCAA football practice, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.230422 Iowa Spring Fb 100 Jpg
Iowa’s Tory Taylor, left, high-fives placekicker Aaron Blom (1) after a field goal during the Hawkeyes’ final spring NCAA football practice, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.230422 Iowa Spring Fb 100 Jpg /

Special teams

In order to keep themselves in games, Iowa is a force when it comes to special teams. They are consistently top five special teams unit in the country year in and year out (thanks Levar Woods).

They are not a flashy team, and they rarely blow opponents out. Instead, the Hawkeyes grind out victories with a systematic approach.

Playing “complimentary football” allows Iowa to pin their opponents deep in their own territory with a punt, and let their defense create a short field for their offense. Iowa might be the only team in the country that campaigns for their punter to be a Heisman candidate (queue the Tory Taylor highlights).

A key to this special team’s renaissance could be using their starting defenders, such as Butkus Award-winning linebacker Jack Campbell, and first-team All-Big Ten defensive back Cooper Dejean.

Many teams are afraid to use their star players on special teams, but the Hawks find it a key part of their game plan.

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