Latest news with #TimLester
USA Today
05-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports reveals hilarious recent Iowa football betting trend
It's no secret that over the past five years, Iowa's offense has been the butt of many jokes. Whether it's winning a game 7-3 against an FCS school without scoring a touchdown or the numerous offensive shortcomings against great teams, the Hawkeyes' offense has become an easy target for fans and media alike. They saw a big improvement last season under Tim Lester, and Iowa fans are hoping for another jump in 2025. If that happens, sports books will have to alter their betting lines drastically for Iowa games. CBS Sports released an article on Friday talking about the teams that routinely hit their over and the ones that hit the under the most over the past three seasons. And in doing so, they brought up a hilarious fact when it comes to Iowa football and their over/under number. It's no surprise that Iowa has hit the under in 59.5% of its games the past three seasons. They're 15-22 on the over/under since 2022, the tenth-worst record in the country. This is especially bad given how comically low some of the over/unders have been for Iowa football in that stretch. I mean, just take a look at this tweet from before the Iowa vs Nebraska game in 2023. And yes, if you're wondering, the under still hit in that game when Iowa won 13-10. However, 2024 saw improvement from Iowa when it came to hitting overs. Iowa football games hit the over nine times last season, a testament to a much-improved offense under Lester, and some sports books still giving Iowa games extremely low over/unders. CBS Sports explained it well. Easily my favorite part of this list is that Iowa is still hovering around 60% to the under for the last three years despite going over in nine (9!) games last season. That wasn't because Iowa's offense somehow became an unstoppable juggernaut, but it's a perfect example of sportsbooks overcorrecting so hard to getting killed by Iowa unders for the past two seasons that they routinely put Iowa totals in the 30s last year. -CBS Sports. Heading into the 2025 season and beyond, Iowa fans are hoping that the offense will stop being a national joke and continue to take big steps forward. And maybe the sports books will set the over/under in the 40s for future Iowa games. Regardless, it's crazy how many games Iowa has won the past three years, given their offensive struggles. Phil Parker deserves a statue for the work his defense did during that stretch. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Iowa Offense Preview 2025: The Hawkeyes Have a Star in Mark Gronowski
There was a passing game in offensive coordinator Tim Lester's will never wing the ball all over the place, and only four teams threw for fewer yards - and three of them were service academies - but the offense pushed past a 60% completion rate for the first time in well over a ground game was the second-best in the Big Ten, and the 360 points were the most since 2018. And now ... X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Iowa Preview Iowa Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season - The passing game should be even stronger. Again, it wasn't exactly a high-octane attack, but it was more efficient and effective. But everyone who threw a pass is gone. On the plus side, Iowa upgraded at Gronowski won the 2023 Walter Payton Award as the best FCS player in America, and he closed out his South Dakota State career with over 10,000 passing yards and 93 scores. Auburn's Hank Brown was a nice No. 2 guy to grab. - It's still Iowa, and it'll still run the ball. Kaleb Johnson is now a Pittsburgh Steeler, and the Hawkeyes have to replace the 1,537 yards and 21 scores. Kamari Moulton was second on the team with 473 yards and three touchdowns, and Jazium Patterson was second with just over 300 yards and two scores. Gronowski can run, too. - It's a stretch to say the Iowa offensive line got by on reputation, but it sort of did. And then it started blasting away last year and did a nice job in pass protection. There's some work to do, but the options are there to work with in fall camp around All-Big Ten talents Logan Jones at center and Gennings Dunker at tackle. - There's a chance this is the deepest Iowa receiving corps in a long while. Jacob Gill led the team with 35 catches for 411 yards and two scores, and the rest of the top wide receivers return. Gill is the No. 1 guy, but the No. 2 wideout, Reece Vander Zee, only caught 14 Iowa, so the tight ends will shine. Addison Ostrenga and Zach Ortworth will be involved more. Iowa Defense Breakdown2025 Iowa Preview Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski ranks as one of ESPN's top NFL draft prospects
Iowa football QB Mark Gronowski ranks as one of ESPN's top NFL draft prospects Whether it is fair or not, the 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes football season is beginning to look like it is going to see its success rest on the shoulders of the offense once again. A trend that has become commonplace for Iowa with their stout defense, the offense continues to be the biggest question mark. Iowa improved last year and enters the second year with Tim Lester calling plays, which should only continue to see the offense open up more and gain traction. Leading his offense is proven talent Mark Gronowski, a quarterback transfer from South Dakota State. While Mark Gronowski chose to join the Hawkeyes, he had NFL interest last year and could have taken the leap to go pro with a likely chance to make a roster. Despite snubbing the NFL last year, he still finds himself ranked as one of ESPN's top NFL QB draft prospects in the 2026 draft. Mark Gronowski, Iowa Gronowski had a historic career at South Dakota State, leading the Jackrabbits to two national championships and tying for the most-ever wins (49) for an FCS starting quarterback. He flirted with entering the 2025 NFL draft and even got an invite to the combine but decided to go to Iowa, whose offense showed improvement in 2024. The 6-3, 230-pounder is a densely built passer who can also make plays with his legs. - Jordan Reid, ESPN Gronowski's dual-threat ability makes him unique and intriguing to NFL teams, as his speed, arm talent, and rushing ability, paired with his big frame, is a mix that is not often found. If Tim Lester can unlock the same dual-threat ability that Gronowski displayed for the Jackrabbits, where he won two national championships at the FCS level, the Hawkeyes instantly get an upgrade at the quarterback position with arguably their best talent at the spot in the last half-decade. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
CBS Sports picks Iowa football to 'soar' past season win total in 2025
CBS Sports picks Iowa football to 'soar' past season win total in 2025 The Iowa Hawkeyes enter the 2025-26 college football season with excitement surrounding their new transfer portal additions and the second year under offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The jump in production in 2024 saw the Hawkeyes have more than a pulse on offense and be more than competent most of the year. Can that production increase continue this season? Iowa has brought in FCS star quarterback Mark Gronowski and a two-time FCS national champion to command the offense. He is a proven winner, a talented passer, and not afraid to use his legs. That is a trifecta with the potential to take the Hawkeyes to another level. The potential he brings is noted by CBS Sports as they have Iowa as a team that can soar past their 2025 season win total, which is set at 7.5 wins, per FanDuel. Iowa Hawkeyes (7.5 wins) Key factor: For the first time in more than a decade, Iowa's offense finishing in the top half of Big Ten. The Hawkeyes haven't had a quarterback throw 20 or more touchdown passes since the 2018 season with Nate Stanley, but that chould change this fall after adding Mark Gronowski from South Dakota State via the transfer portal. Second-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester helped Iowa climb out of the Big Ten's offensive cellar last fall with enhanced productivity on third down, and now he gets one of the most experienced passers at the college level to orchestrate his scheme. One of the most under-the-radar hires this offseason was former Wake Forest play caller Warren Ruggiero landing with the Hawkeyes as a senior offensive analyst. His slow mesh concepts over the last decade with the Demon Deacons produced sizable numbers with quarterbacks Jamie Newman, Sam Hartman and others. Perhaps he can unlock a few new wrinkles in Iowa's rushing attack, which must replace 1,500-yard back Kaleb Johnson. - Brad Crawford, CBS Sports Iowa has quietly, but very productively, built up its offensive staff with experienced, veteran coaches who have been around the game for years with multiple quarterbacks, schemes, and game plans, which can all morph into one in Iowa City. If the Hawkeyes can find success on the ground, which should be their path to success behind an experienced offensive line, life could get easier for Gronowski in the passing game and breathe life into an area of offense that Iowa has been desperately yearning for. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football grabs transfer portal commitment from Wake Forest QB
Iowa football grabs transfer portal commitment from Wake Forest QB Iowa football has found another signal-caller for Tim Lester and the Hawkeyes to work with. Following a recent visit to Iowa, the Hawkeyes have landed a commitment from Wake Forest transfer quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski. A 6-foot quarterback, Hecklinski saw action in just one game last season with the Demon Deacons when he took three snaps in a 31-24 loss against North Carolina. Out of Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia, Hecklinski was the 2023 MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year and the 2023 GPB Georgia Offensive Player of the Year. During his senior year, Hecklinski led Walton to the Class 7A GHSA state championship game after throwing for 3,835 passing yards and 50 touchdowns against just six interceptions. Hecklinski completed 201-of-309 attempts (65.0 pct.) in 14 games played while holding a 141.9 passer rating. When Hecklinski signed with Wake Forest, he became the Demon Deacons' highest-rated quarterback signee during the 247Sports composite era. According to 247Sports, Hecklinski was the nation's No. 25 quarterback and the No. 42 player from Georgia. Both On3 and 247Sports rank Hecklinski as a three-star transfer portal prospect. 247Sports rates Hecklinski as the No. 61 quarterback in its transfer rankings. The Georgia product comes to Iowa from an athletic family. Hecklinski's dad, Randy, played quarterback at Bowling Green from 1990-95 and his uncle, Jeff, played quarterback at Illinois and Western Illinois. Hecklinski joins a quarterback room at Iowa that features South Dakota State transfer and presumed starter Mark Gronowski, Auburn transfer Hank Brown, Jackson Stratton and class of 2025 signee Jimmy Sullivan. Dating back to early last December, the Hawkeyes have seen a near-complete restructuring of its quarterbacks room. The only holdover is Stratton. Cade McNamara, Brendan Sullivan, Marco Lainez and James Resar all entered the NCAA transfer portal. Here's a look at Hecklinski's high school highlights: Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
