Hawkeyes Season Opener Preview | Iowa Hawkeyes Football News

Iowa Hawkeyes kick off their season against Northern Illinois with high stakes and plenty of storylines to watch. Running back L.J. Phillips Jr., fresh off a nearly 2,000-yard campaign, headlines a stacked backfield, while quarterback duties are split between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski in a battle that could extend into their Iowa State showdown. The defensive line, missing key starters, leans on returning vets and raw talent for answers, facing a mobile NIU QB. Special teams, led by untested rookies including kicker Caden Buhr and punter Boston Everitt (making his debut), will need consistency early. Even the dominant offensive line, now reshuffled after losing starters, must adapt as veterans Trevor Lauck and Kade Pieper lead the charge. Saturday’s game is a true test of depth, development, and resilience across the board. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/14c0e861b805af5d