Iowa enters the final three weeks of the 2026 regular season at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten, ranked No. 16 in the AP poll with an elite defense allowing just 12.2 points per game. The Hawkeyes have won their last two contests convincingly, including a shutout of Wisconsin and a 24-10 road victory at Northwestern, while showing resilience in narrow wins over Michigan and Washington. With home games against Purdue and Nebraska plus a road matchup at Illinois remaining—all projected as favorable by most models—Iowa’s floor appears high under longtime head coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker. Recent turnover issues and an average offense (27.8 points per game) remain variables, but the team’s schedule strength and defensive consistency support strong expectations for a nine- or ten-win finish.