Hawk Central Hour

"How good is Iowa?" is a question that consumes the first half of this week's Hawk Central Hour, followed by "Five Big Questions" to examine the formidable challenge that Iowa is facing this Saturday against Washington (11 a.m. CT, FOX). The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman go the distance in this one, which also includes some men's basketball expectations and our football score predictions.

Through five games, the Hawkeyes have shown flashes of offensive improvement while also suffering two disappointing losses for different reasons. The schedule eases up the rest of the way, starting with Saturday's Big Ten home opener vs. Washington, so what does Iowa make out of what's left? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman discuss that question, plus dive into Iowa's recent departures (Leshon Williams, Kaleb Brown) and Addison Ostrenga's sudden injury absence.

The Hawkeyes hung tough in Columbus for about a half and trailed by seven at intermission. Predictably, though, Ohio State zoomed by Iowa in the second half behind 21 third-quarter points. Live from Ohio Stadium, the Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow dissect another dreadful Iowa showing against a ranked foe.

Which matchups should worry Hawkeye fans the most? Where might Iowa have some advantages? How will Tim Lester call this game? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman dig into the details to get you set for Saturday's matchup in Columbus.

Refreshed after a needed bye week, a healthy Iowa football team heads into Columbus trying to do something Kirk Ferentz has never done...win at Ohio State. Another elite Buckeyes team is on the other side, so how do the Hawkeyes possibly pull a stunner? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman discuss.

With a 3-1 start and an encouraging 31-14 win at Minnesota in the books, the Iowa football team turns its attention to getting better and then Ohio State. The Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow navigate discussions on offense with Tim Lester, defense with Phil Parker and special teams with LeVar Woods during this bye week.

Just when it seemed another back-and-forth Iowa-Minnesota game was on tap, the Hawkeyes zoomed away for a 31-14 win to reclaim Floyd. Even with Cade McNamara struggling, Iowa leaned on a robust ground game to score the final 24 points Saturday night. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman dissect what it mean for the Hawkeyes moving forward.

A major game looms for the 2024 Iowa football team, one that can put this season back on a positive course. The Hawkeyes' first road game of the season, at Minnesota, will reveal either a path of hope or a path of potential disappointment. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman go through Kaleb Johnson's rise, the big-play defense and "Five Big Questions" to preview this monster game.

Iowa's offense was always going to be under the microscope this season after what's unfolded the last few years. Through three games with Tim Lester's system in place, the Hawkeyes have shown flashes of brilliance while still needing to find another gear as Big Ten play commences. The Iowa ground game has carried things. The Iowa passing game is trying to match. Ahead of Saturday's game at Minnesota, the Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow dissect what's next for the Hawkeyes offense.

The script changed a bit Saturday in Iowa City, where the Hawkeyes lean on a second-half offensive outburst to offset some defensive lapses for a 38-21 win over Troy. Iowa gave up big plays for all three of Troy's scores, but the Hawkeyes' ground game answered back with authority. Live from Kinnick Stadium, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman dissect it all.

After Tuesday's quarterback-centered podcast, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman on Wednesday delve into the "moving on" phase of Iowa football after the disheartening loss to Iowa State. What stuff is going well? What stuff needs addressing ahead of Big Ten play?

The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman emerge from Tuesday's media availability with Iowa football to discuss one topic: The quarterbacks. What we've learned about Cade McNamara and Brendan Sullivan heading into Saturday's game vs. Troy and whether both should play meaningful snaps.

Everything was fine until it wasn't for the Hawkeyes. A dominant first half was seemingly enough Saturday vs. Iowa State, only for the Cyclones to swipe a 20-19 win late on a game-winning field goal. Live from Kinnick Stadium, the Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow sift through the aftermath of a stunning afternoon in Iowa City.

The Des Moines Register's Chad Leistikow welcomes colleague Travis Hines to the show to preview the Iowa-Iowa State football showdown from both teams' perspectives. Later, Chad is joined by Tyler Tachman to dig into "Five Big Questions" ahead of Saturday's matchup and offer their final predictions.

After sitting out the season opener with a one-game suspension, Kirk Ferentz will be back on the sidelines for Iowa's important Week 2 showdown vs. Iowa State. Although the Hawkeyes have largely dominated the rivalry of late, it's quietly been since 2018 that Iowa last had a Cy-Hawk win in Kinnick Stadium. Can the Hawkeyes move to 2-0 with their leader back in the fold? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman discuss.

IOWA CITY — While a 40-0 win in Week 1 usually doesn't come with much long-term impact, Iowa's emphatic performance vs. Illinois State was full of noteworthy items. The horrendous start (six points and barely 70 total yards at halftime), the second-half outburst (34 points and multiple splash plays), the hope that what was shown late can stick — all of it made Saturday's shellacking more than your average blowout. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman break down everything live from Kinnick Stadium.

There's no doubt that Iowa's offense is in the center of the discussion for the Hawkeyes' season opener, and the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman dive into the process and approach of offensive coordinator Tim Lester. As we will every week in our game-preview segment, Chad and Tyler dive into "Five Big Questions" and give our score predictions for Saturday's game.

Kirk Ferentz's first Tuesday game-week presser unfolded with plenty of noteworthy items. Atop the list are the emergence of running back Kamari Moulton, the return of quarterback Cade McNamara and the insertion of Seth Wallace as head coach as Ferentz serves his one-game suspension for impermissible contact. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman dissect it all.

A bombshell dropped late Wednesday and into Thursday morning regarding Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz. He, along with Hawkeyes wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr, will be suspended for Iowa's season opener vs. Illinois State thanks to a recruiting violation stemming from the Cade McNamara acquisition in late 2022. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman break down what we know so far.

After discussion about the quarterbacks and what we learned from Phil Parker, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman look closer at the first four-game block of the season, Iose Epenesa's commitment and underpublicized players to watch in 2024 for the Hawkeyes.