Spring ball is in the rearview mirror, and the college football world is buzzing with way-too-early top 25 rankings as we head into the summer lull before fall camp. Sure, a million things can change before Week 1 kicks off, but these rankings give us a solid starting point for the conversation.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are once again hovering around the top 25, landing at No. 21 in the latest USA TODAY Sports projections. It's a familiar spot for Iowa—never too flashy, but always sneaking just inside the cut line. FOX's Joel Klatt agrees, also slotting the Hawkeyes at No. 21 in his post-spring rankings. He calls them a "staple" in the top 25, but he's raising an eyebrow at an unexpected position group: the offensive line.

"At 21, another staple here, and I understand, they don't know what's going on at the quarterback position, but remember, it's not a quarterback-centric team," Klatt explained. "If Tennessee is a quarterback-centric team, Iowa is anything other than that. That quarterback battle is going to go on. Do we care? Yes, we kind of do. But I'm more concerned that they are replacing some key players off of that offensive line."

Klatt is pointing to the departure of three starting offensive linemen—Gennings Dunker, Logan Jones, and Beau Stephens—who all heard their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft. Those are big shoes to fill for a unit that won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in the country last season.

But there's plenty of reason for optimism in Iowa City. Running back Kamari Moulton is back to anchor the ground game, and head coach Kirk Ferentz remains one of the most respected minds in the sport. Tight end DJ Vonnahme, a freshman All-American, could be the next great Hawkeye at the position—a tradition that has produced some of the NFL's best.

Here's where things get really interesting: Klatt's analysis is drawing comparisons to another Big Ten program that made waves last season—Indiana under Curt Cignetti. Like the Hoosiers, Iowa is building its roster around a tough, physical identity that doesn't rely on flashy quarterback play. Instead, it's about winning in the trenches, controlling the clock, and letting the defense do its thing. It's a formula that has kept Iowa relevant year after year, and it's one that fans of the game can appreciate, especially when you're looking for that perfect game-day gear to match the Hawkeyes' blue-collar mentality.