Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - DISASTER? Iowa Hawkeyes Future SHAKEN if a Season of BREAKS Goes Against the Football Program

Episode Date: July 2, 2026

Iowa Hawkeyes football faces a potential crossroads as uncertainty looms for the 2026 season. Could issues at quarterback and defensive tackle derail Kirk Ferentz’s enduring success, shifting the Hawkeyes’ “floor” from reliable bowl contention to missing postseason play? Host Trent Condon lays out worst-case scenarios, spotlighting key concerns with Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski, and an unproven defensive front, along with the impact of losing special teams coordinator LeVar Woods. Tom Kakert of Hawkeye Report joins to weigh the pressure Ferentz could face after a disappointing season, speculating on succession plans involving Seth Wallace and the stability of Iowa’s football culture. The conversation shifts to Hawkeyes basketball, as the hype builds around Ben McCollum’s program and whether expectations now demand Sweet 16 or Final Four runs. Women’s basketball and a beefed-up Iowa baseball schedule round out this comprehensive, can’t-miss look at Hawkeye athletics’ uncertain but hopeful future. Follow Trent Condon on X: https://twitter.com/trentcondon LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-hawkeyes-daily-podcast-on-iowa-hawkeyes-football/id1441592240 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GTyz5ygevcGXdTF6QSoEo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnHawkeyes Photo: Jeffrey Becker - IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Earlier this week, we talked about the best case scenario for Iowa football. Everything goes right. What happens if everything goes wrong? Today, we break it down and look at what could be the future of this program. Where they go, if things go wrong in 2026. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in.

I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Lockdowne. on Hawkeyes podcast, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Coming up today, we're going to take a look at the Iowa baseball program, scheduling very aggressively coming up this season, a peek at that as well as we'll talk some Iowa baseball and some Iowa basketball, along with football, the future of Iowa football. Tom Kaker from Hawkeye Report's going to join us, an opportunity to join Tom on his podcast earlier this week

and a little home and home here as he's going to join us coming up here in just a little bit. But we begin today with a deep dive into Iowa football. so many of the things that we talked about in the positive realm. Well, we're going to go a different direction today. What if things go wrong for Iowa football in 2020? It is a question I think that lingers in the mind of a lot of people. So many things have gone so well for Iowa football throughout the years. So many positive, so many great things.

And yes, there are frustrations. Yes, there are things that leave us grumbling definitely as fans. But when you look at this team in this program, the consistent nature that they hit year in and year out, just how good this program is consistent. And that certainly leads to a level that you look at and you think of this program. What if it does fall back? What if the question marks that we have? One thing, what if they don't figure out quarterback this year?

And it's a back and forth and neither Hank Brown or Jeremy Higglinsky have a good season. Well, what that means in the offseason, likely, if neither of those guys proved to be the answer, you're either looking internally at a Jimmy Sullivan, a Trasian, Bessinger, a guy like that. And you're hoping that that can be the guy. or you're getting into the transfer portal market, and we know how expensive quarterbacks are in the portal. And suddenly you're swimming in those waters that change the perception and change financially what Iowa can also do in the program.

It truly feels like Iowa is trending and building for 2007. With the lack of seniors in this class, what they bring back potentially in the 2007 schedule. We know how difficult the schedule is this year, certainly early in the Big Ten, that this looks to be building blocks. what they did in the portal this year, going out and getting almost every one of their guys that have multiple years of eligibility that they're building for something.

But if you can't answer these questions, what happens if Iowa goes through this year and my biggest question mark, the defensive tackle spot, and suddenly they don't have an answer. Yeah, Bryce Hawthorne is fine, but Bryce Stevenson turns out not to be ready to play at this level, making the jump up from Holy Cross. A guy like Devin Kennedy is not ready at defensive tackle. the two veteran guys that have been around for a long time. Will Hubert just doesn't happen. And on and on and on in that defensive tackle position,

if you don't have that figured out up front, we've seen in the past how quickly, suddenly things can change to the Iowa defense as a whole. It's not just about, well, we're struggling a little bit at defensive tackle. We're going to be fine. It is such a backbone of the Iowa defense of what they're looking to do and defensive tackle and upfront defensive line as a whole. If that doesn't pan out and happen at a big level,

where you're going to see a step back from the linebacker play. And the defensive backfield's not going to matter at the same time. And just the visions of Oregon running, time in and time out and being able to figure out things that they were able to do a year ago at Kinnick Stadium, just pulverizing them up front. What if that's something that continues and happens throughout the course of the season? We're having a different kind of conversation. Another huge one as well is special teams.

Field goal kicking has been so good. And we think back through the past and all the big kicks that they have made throughout the years. walkoff wins against Michigan and Penn State, the number of victories that they've had against Nebraska that ended in a field goal from Miguel Rosinos knocking one in to a guy that nobody knew. Look, I pride myself in knowing the whole Iowa football roster and knowing every guy that comes in and somebody sitting at Kinnick Stadium,

hey, who's this guy as he comes in there? It's something, but when Marshall Meeter tried it out to knock in a field goal against Nebraska to win it, I said, who's this guy? And then, oh, that guy, I remember him. They just need another leg for camp. here he is in the most important moment coming in there and knocking in a field goal to beat the Huskers. Well, so many of those kicks have gone in.

And short of the miss last year against Indiana, it has been time in a timeout. I was come up with those big kicks. A couple of those kicks go awry. A potential game winner falls by the wayside. And suddenly, you're left questioning what's happening there. I was won so many games in special teams with the return game. We've had a special one. You had a special one in Charlie Jones.

The last couple of seasons, it's been Keaton Weechin. Well, whoever turns out to be the returner. What if they don't have that same kind of juice? What if not just the juice in the return man, but just what they're doing schematically, because remember, LeVar Woods, now he's getting his mail in East Lansing, Michigan. And now suddenly that thing that was a big differentiator, something that won Iowa football so many games in the past,

that's not there anymore in the special teams. And what could be an eight and four, even a nine and three type of season, it's down to six and six. And here's another component. What if things really do go awry? The sudden acceleration of the negativity that is out there in the Hawkeye fan base. We know this. Any loss.

Go back to the game a year ago. And yes, I was roaring mad myself after another loss to Iowa State. And how can they lose to this team? And how does this keep happening on and on and on? What if that happens again? And you have yet another loss with a new staff and a new regime, something that happened back in the, what, Gene Chisick days, a team that started the season, oh and two and looked awful.

with losses against Kent State and somebody else, and they come in and beat Iowa. What if that happens again for Jimmy Rogers Squad that comes in with 90 new guys on the roster and they're able to do it again, that negativity that starts to seep in. We have this thought of a baseline. What is the low for Iowa football?

And it feels like, well, they're going to be seven and five. But what if they're not? That negativity, what they coach, that is in his 70s and how that's going to permeate people ready for a change looking for something new. We know that there's a lot of people in all corners of Hawkeye Phantom, regardless of the success, regardless of the consistency that Iowa has year in and year out that just wants a change, wants something different. And if it happens with this kind of season, how much of that is going to impact what happens there? Potentially either Kirk Farrant saying, I'm going to hang it up.

I'm going to go a different direction. I'm too old for this crap. Or just going into a season now with a bullseye in is back for 2007. Again, we're talking worst case scenario. I think this team is going to be fine. But there's enough that you can look at, enough question marks that are there, that things where you think that floor is a seven and five,

where it's a five and seven. And it ends in a season where they don't get to a bowl game. You go through the schedule, and O and three start in the Big Ten, it's not a stretch. Losing to PJ Fleck in Minnesota for the first time ever up in Minnesota, it's not a stretch. I was won so many close games.

And the ball, it takes funny bounces. It's an oblam object. that we're talking about here, and it can go a different direction. And if that happens and we have these conversations, it is more than just a bad season. There's so much extra that goes into it because of Kirk's age, because of the longevity, all those things. Yes, does he deserve another season if it plays out that way? Absolutely, there is not a doubt in my mind.

However, we know that negativity and what that can do, and that's something that just lingers in the back of our mind. This was worst case. This was negative. We're going to move past that. We're going to talk with Tom Kaker from hawkeye report.com. Does a great job over there on three media. You can find him along with rivals and the great work that they're doing,

pumping out content. It's coming up on 4th of July. That means the annual Tom Kaker makes his season prediction. He launches that every single year on the 4th of July. We'll see if we can get a sneak peek of that when Tom joins us coming up next. We stay right there as we continue. This is Lock on Hawkeyes. The biggest stage in world soccer is here.

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From the opening whistle to the final kick, let there be goals on Fandual. Visit Fandual.com to get started now. Trent, kind of back with you once again here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. And I am continuing a home and home yesterday. It was the Hawkeye Report.com podcast with Tom Kekert. I joined as a guest. Now he's coming back. The other way, and joining us here on Lockdown Hawkeyes. He is Tom Caker at Hawkeye Report. Tom, as always good, catching up with you. How's the road trip down to St. Louis?

Good. It's a lot of crawling with bears, so we've got a lot of police behavior myself. But good, good so far. A lot of smokies out there. Yeah, keep your head out of swivel and keep your eyes. Keep at 10 and 2 and make your way down there. Yes, we're heading to an annual event at Hawkeye Report, and that is your release of your.

season prediction. You've done this for years now on the 4th of July. So I'm sure it's already in the can. You've already worked through it. I'm not going to ask you for a full preview of everything here, but we know the number seven and a half over with our friends at Fanduil. That's the over under for the season. Can you at least tell us that? Are you going to be over or under the wind total that is out there for the guys at Fanduel? I am over the total. I think I was gone over the total just about every year for like the last decade or something. Yeah. I think. It's up at seven and a half. keeps one in eight, eight, nine, ten games.

So the, over the total. And, yeah, I can see something between, maybe you think so really bad seven and five, but I think eight and fours, maybe the four and two is probably the ceiling to the team. Feels about right.

And earlier this week, I laid out that best case scenario. I had it at 10 and 2. Everything breaks right. You figure out quarterback, defense and tackle, all the things we've talked about going back to the spring. it all breaks right.

I went the other way today, and it all goes wrong. They don't figure out quarterback, and it's a back and forth, and maybe there's an injury, they got to go to one of the young guys, it just doesn't go out, and then you're thinking about, well, what do they do in the offseason? Do they got to go into the portal? And we know how expensive that can be at the quarterback position and a cost that continues to rise.

They can't figure out defensive tackle. The shot that they took in the portal this year with all these multi-year FCS guys and kind of go in a different direction, that doesn't play out. And suddenly the ball doesn't bounce their way. and instead even fall into seven and five, six, and six. It's a five and seven type of year, something like that. And the grumbling that's going to happen.

Tom, you've run message boards for decades. You know the negativity that is just waiting for that moment. If it does play out that, that's fashion. Just imagine, if you will, it is an incredibly disappointing year, and they do finish five and seven. How much pressure is in Kirk Farrants going into 27? Yeah, I think that would be a lot of pressure because I think then you're starting to hear people say,

maybe it's time. You know, they have welcoming. It feels like maybe a thing that they get by with, I shouldn't think it by. They're successful with, and you hear of national people talk about it, they just have built such a solid foundation, a solid with culture within the program, that it's almost, it can't fail, level that you go like, oh, man, maybe it's not.

That culture is as good as, if the wind of loss is, then if it becomes bad, then maybe it's... Another thing that's lingered in my mind, and I brought it up here from time to time, is the possibility is if, even if it's not a great year, they go out there and they're 7 and 5 this year, something like that. A little bit of pressure starting to build, but Kurt just at some point, maybe during next summer, walks away, much like Bo Ryan did and basically forcing the hand of the athletic department

to have to hire his assistant coach, different circumstances. What happened with Dusty May, though, and Boynton getting the job with the Michigan Wolverine basketball program this season is, Kirk, I don't want to say handcuffing, you know, Beth Gads or doing anything like that,

but giving a leg up for his assistant. And it feels like Seth is probably likely that guy, that that would potentially would be something there. If I gave you a 50-fifty proposition, is it more likely, Kirk, he's not forced out anything like that, but you see him doing something similar to that, or it's a traditional.

after the season walking away, the job opens up. What would you see it would be the betting favorite right now of those two options? That's a great question. You know who I always think about that situation? Being Smith walking away just before the start of season and a long-time assistant Bill Guthridge because he needs Bill Guthridge is never going to get hired if they did it, if he did it when he was gone. Herkes definitely put his thumb on the scale and the elevation of stuff. He'll want to be a head coach who had been a head coach 10 years ago.

I don't know that Kirk would be done coaching if he decided not to be head coach. He said it many times. He's going to go like coach line for a B3 team or a high school team or something. That's what his mentor, Joe Moore, did. I'm hearing people prep and how they got Bob Sanders and Hinkle and all those guys. Joe Moore was up there working with all. I think he'd want to say, I do. I think he'd want to.

Yeah, and him and Seth Wallace, they can just flip-flop, right? Seth takes over as the head coach. and Kirk goes back and coach's offensive line of co. They'll just flip flop there. I think we got this one figured out, Tom. Tom Kaker joining us from hawkyeorport.com as we take a look at some Iowa football here. Getting ready for the 4th of July. And you can catch Tom's season prediction coming up on the 4th of July at hawkireport.com.

One more football question for you. And I know yesterday you and I, we kind of went through position groups and the different parts of it. I told you and I've maintained it's not quarterback for me. It's defensive tackle. Is that the position? for you that still gives you the most pause about this squad? It is because I think they can get by with the quarterback, and I think both the quarterbacks are going to be serviceable.

I think that's not going to be a disaster. I would be surprised. I just don't know what to expect. You know, it's Bryce Hawthorne and a bunch of unknowns. Kelvin Bell and guys off the analogy to make it. work. I always do. I trust to the film, but I see it this year. I really do because I am

worried the time of people stop to run and you can't stop the run. It can be a pretty long... No doubt about it. Tom, why don't jump over to a little basketball for you and I know I posed to this to you all the time on radio and expectations and

the expectation level where you are, the fan bases, they're usually kind of different degrees that we have here. But after the run for Ben McCullum to the elite eight this past season. Feels like expectations now outside of the program continue to rise and inside the fan base of what it's going to be. You finally break through, get to the sweet 16 and eventually to the elite eight. A lot of new faces.

And of course, you lose an NBA first round pick and Bennett starts. And that's going to be a change. But are your expectations just make the tournament, do that, kind of continue the transition here, year number two. Is that your baseline or is it a little bit higher for you? Yeah, I think making the tournament, that second weekend, I think, should program, you know, 50% of the time moving forward. I just, I think that's, that's got to be something around that, you know, you can't expect it every year, but, you know, 40% of the time that they can make it to that second weekend and then, you know, all bets are obviously. Tom, when we take a big picture look then, not just this upcoming season, but same about it.

Ben McCullum's here for the next 10 years. Do you think of Final Four? I know they're eight minutes away from a Final Four this season, but, you know, is a Final Four, if they don't get to that mark, you know, if that doesn't happen, I can't consider it a disappointment, not knowing what else happens over that next decade. But, boy, that Shining Light, I was, well, I was not born yet. It happened in 1980, March of 1980, and I was born April 11th of 1980. So I wasn't quite there for that Final Four run of what it was.

But I know that's where the expectations are. great thing is, though, Ben McCollum, he's not one to Thornt expectations. He is one that he expects a lot out of him in his program wherever he is. Yeah, he does. And that's the expectation for him. To make it the final four, it's been for finals. It can be a crapshoot. It is. It's always going to be a cramp shoot.

But I think his team can peak at that time of the year. Work out every year, no, have a bad shooting game, and you're done. against games are built to play well in March. And I think that you saw this year. And I think that's what you're going to see moving forward. Tom, one final thing over back to the expectation question. Your expectations for the women's team, after first two years of Jan Jensen, very successful regular seasons this past year, I don't know,

how it ended in the championship of the Big Ten tournament, left that one staking. Of course, what happened in the second round, the year previous, not losing to Jenny Branchick in Oklahoma, but it was the fashion that they lost. left is sour taste. I know in a lot of people's mouth after that one. Is there a little more pressure on Jan this year? You go out

and get Danny Carnegie, where the top players in the portal. You still have returning talent, including all Big Ten Center, Ava Hayden, who feels like her upside still not even close to being met of what she can still be. Is there a little pressure on Jan now to at minimum breakthrough and get to that second weekend?

Yeah, I think there is, especially just that sour taste. But I, now I'm going to contend They lost the season ended when GCLA just put that, that, and that's where I kind of landed on last year. I think they've upgraded the talent. Now, there's been, they've got to stay healthy, but I think they've got to get to that at the middle of this year.

Well, Tom, we're getting to that checkpoint, the 4th of July. That means your preview is going to be up in your season-long prediction of Hawkeye report. Big Ten media days right around the corner will be in Iowa City for Iowa football media days. Summer don't want to wish it away, but, boy, it's almost crazy that here we are on Fourth of July weekend. Hope you enjoy it and have a great one out there. Yes, thanks for having me on trap me on tramp. As always, and any time, I'm happy to come back on. Absolutely, looking forward to it.

Tom Kekert from hawkye report.com joining us as we break down all things Hawkeyes with Tom. Always appreciate his time. I join me all the time on my radio show. Back in the day, we talked to Tom a lot. Usually on Fridays is when Tom would join us and get a breakdown of everything coming up for the weekend. And hopefully down the line that will continue in one form or fashion. We'll see. Maybe later this week, I might put a bow on things that happen on radio.

I talked a few different places about it. But let you guys, the great listeners out there, in a little bit more of kind of what happened, what went on there. And it gave you my perception, you tried to say, you wonder why I'm not on radio anymore. There we are. I'm here with you, though, on the Hawkeye Report on the Lockout on the Lockheye's podcast. Hawkeye Report was yesterday with Tom, but you can join us each and every day here. Got a lot of coverage coming up and a lot of fun things happening here on the lockdown feed that we're going to be working on, continuing to build and grow with us. You can join us.

Make sure you hit subscribe if you're watching on YouTube. If you're on the podcast side, those five-star reviews, they really do go a long way. You're looking for something. You want to help. You want to support. It takes a second. Five-star review, watching on YouTube, hit subscribe. It really does go a long way for us and greatly appreciate each and every one of you listeners out there.

Couldn't do it without your guys' support. Coming back on the other side, we're going to change topics. Something we haven't mentioned much here during the offseason is Iowa baseball. Frustrating end to things at the Big Ten baseball tournament this season, retooling, reshuffling. Well, they are not shying away from this schedule. Some more big games coming up for Iowa baseball. That's coming up next year as we continue.

Stay right there. This is Lockdown Hawkeyes. Trent, kind of back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Thanks for being with us, as always, here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Well, another piece down for the Iowa baseball schedule coming up this year. We know during conference play,

they'll play those midweek games, usually UIC, UW Milwaukee, Bradley, those usually comprise a bunch of those games throughout the course of the year. It would be fun if there was something a little different. There was a little bit more that they could add there. But fortunately, there's just not the volume of programs that happen in the South and you don't have a bunch of Sun Belt teams and Conference USA teams. The pickings are a little bit slim on that front. But as it pertains to the meat of the

non-conference schedule, it's getting pretty hefty here. I was going out to Vegas. Love that as a guy that loves Vegas. See my love up here of Circa out there downtown Las Vegas. They're going to be joined by Arizona State, power programs, one national championship, some greats that have gone through there. Oregon State saw them in the non-conference a couple of years ago when they made their way over Des Moines in that matchup there to end the season. And then LSU. And what I think collegiate baseball, I think of LSU. The way that they travel to Omaha, even when LSU isn't there. And when they are, they're doing jello shots. They're taking things to a next level. That is star-studded. Four programs, LSU, Oregon State, Arizona State, and Iowa. That is some heavyheads, definitely in this one.

I love that. I love that part about that of putting together these schedules. And we've seen Iowa baseball under Rick Heller in the past be able to do some good things, pick up some quality victories and augment themselves and build a resume that puts them in a position to make the NCAA tournament. They've fallen short the last couple of years. And in order to get back there for the first time since 2023 has to take a step forward. We saw moments out of the pitching rotation, but definitely not the staff, both rotation

and bullpen-wise that was elite, but they got a ton of guys back. this year, including that rotation that looks to be in pretty good shape. I think the potential is there for them to make that kind of run. We know they're going to be at minimum solid. The consecutive year streak that they are making the Big Ten tournament, they're going to be good. They're going to be solid. Now it's going to be about taking that next step and pushing forward.

I think the pieces are definitely there, even with some of the subtractions that they've had throughout the course of the season to make that happen. Looking forward to that. Looking forward to Iowa baseball, but we got a lot more before we have to worry about baseball. We got football. We got basketball. We got everything in between and we got you covered here on Locked on Hawkeyes. As always, thanks for making

Locked on Hawkeyes, your first listen every day. For your second listen, make sure you check out Locked on Big Ten. Craig Sheeman breaks down the most exciting conference in college sports. From the rivalries to the championship and every game in between. Find Locked on Big Ten on YouTube or wherever

you listen to podcasts, all part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. with you tomorrow. We got a lot of things going on here. We'll continue talking some Iowa football topics, get you set. And there was a rating out there. Kirk Ferrence, where do you rate him in the Big Ten out of the 18 coaches? We'll talk about that tomorrow here on the podcast. Thanks for being with us as always. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.