On Iowa Podcast

It’s a two-part episode of the Hawk Off The Press podcast with The Gazette's John Steppe this week, centered on two big games in Iowa City this weekend. First up, Pat Lanni of NJ Advance Media joins to preview Saturday’s Rutgers-Iowa football game. Then, Iowa soccer coach Dave DiIanni talks about his team’s Big Ten tournament championship run and the Hawkeyes’ home game Friday against Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Bottom line: Iowa won. Three other Big Ten West teams that entered Saturday tied for first didn’t. So the Hawkeyes’ unconventional 10-7 win over Northwestern — a style of victory that is actually becoming conventional for Iowa — puts them alone in first in the West. We break down the game and the scene at Wrigley Field on The Final Score podcast.

It’s a mailbag edition of the Hawk Off The Press podcast, with most of the questions naturally centering on Iowa’s announcement earlier this week that offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz will not return next season. How will Kirk Ferentz handle that position moving forward? Plus, is there any hope for the offense during the remainder of the 2023 season?

Invalid fair catch? We discuss the call that wiped out Iowa’s would-be go-ahead touchdown in Saturday’s 12-10 loss to Minnesota and the brutal offense that put the Hawkeyes in a position to need that score on The Final Score podcast.

The play-by-play voice for Saturday’s Minnesota-Iowa football game on NBC is uniquely qualified to understand what Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill might be going through as he struggles. Former Iowa QB Paul Burmeister shares that perspective while previewing Saturday’s game on this week’s Hawk Off The Press podcast. He also talks about what it will be like to be back in his hometown and his favorite Hawkeye memories. The second segment of this week’s show features St. Pual Pioneer Press reporter Andy Greder breaking down what to expect from the 3-3 Golden Gophers.

Iowa is in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West, thanks to its defense, special teams (Tory Taylor, in particular) and a Leshon Williams 82-yard touchdown run. We discuss our takeaways from the Hawkeyes’ 15-6 win over Wisconsin on The Final Score podcast.

It’s another Big Ten West battle Saturday as Iowa travels to face Wisconsin. But what should the Hawkeyes expect from a Badgers team now coached by Luke Fickell? Jake Kocorowski of the Wisconsin State Journal joins The Gazette's John Steppe on this episode of the Hawk Off The Press podcast to provide the scouting report and break down the matchup. » Follow Iowa football coverage

Iowa’s offensive line played its best game of the season. Iowa’s defensive line played its best game of the season. That was enough for a 20-14 win over Purdue. The Gazette's John Steppe and Mike Hlas discuss their takeaways from the game and look ahead to the Hawkeyes’ game next week at Wisconsin on The Final Score.

Five games in, we know what this Iowa football team looks like. But going forward, it looks like it might not have quarterback Cade McNamara either. The Gazette's John Steppe and Mike Hlas discuss the Hawkeyes’ 26-16 win over Michigan State, Cooper DeJean’s heroics and where the Iowa offense goes from here on The Final Score.

It's a two-part episode of the Hawk Off The Press podcast with The Gazette's John Steppe ahead of Saturday's game against Michigan State. First, Matt Wenzel of MLive.com joins the show to tell us what to expect from the Spartans and the situation in East Lansing after Mel Tucker was fired. Then, John answers your questions about the Iowa offense.

The Iowa-Penn State game is always one to look forward to when it's on the Big Ten football schedule, and the latest chapter is another Top 25 matchup Saturday night. Can the 24th-ranked Hawkeyes win in a Whiteout at No. 7 Penn State? Ben Jones of StateCollege.com joins The Gazette's John Steppe on this episode of the Hawk Off The Press to break down the game.

Former Iowa quarterback Drew Tate is the guest on this week’s Hawk Off The Press podcast with The Gazette's John Steppe. Now an assistant coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Tate talks about his coaching journey in the Canadian Football League, his time as an assistant at Northern Iowa, what impresses him about Kirk Ferentz’s coaching career and more.

Defense, special teams and mostly mistake-free football. The same old formula worked for Iowa in its 20-13 win over Iowa State on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium to take back the Cy-Hawk Trophy. John Steppe and Mike Hlas have postgame takeaways.

Iowa State needed just 10 points to recapture the Cy-Hawk trophy last season, beating Iowa for the first time since 2014. Is another low-scoring game in store Saturday in Ames, or will the offenses answer early-season questions? The Gazette's John Steppe and Rob Gray preview the game on this episode of the Hawk Off The Press podcast.

Iowa's 24-14 win over Utah State wasn't a thing of beauty, but it wasn't 2022. The Gazette's John Steppe and Mike Hlas discuss their postgame takeaways on The Final Score.