IOWA CITY — For a head coach entering his 27th season at the helm of a program, it’s not easy for something to feel like a new era.

Kirk Ferentz ’s tenure with Iowa football stretches far and wide, marking an improbable run of stability among an evolving college landscape. All three coordinators are back from last season. Almost all of the Hawkeyes’ position coaches returned. The only exception is running backs coach Ladell Betts, who left to join the New York Giants and was replaced by Omar Young.

So calling the 2025 season a new era for Iowa would be an exaggeration.

But it does feel pretty close.

Eleven of Iowa’s 22 starters (offense and defense) for the 2024 season-opener are no longer with the program. That includes seven of 11 on defense. Not to mention Kaleb Johnson, who di

See Full Page