A closer look at Iowa football’s first game against Albany

IOWA CITY — Time to turn on the stadium lights.

Iowa football’s season opener isn’t a flashy matchup, but it’s finally time to see how the Hawkeyes have evolved. Hosting the Coastal Athletic Association’s (CAA) Albany on Saturday is all about setting the tone.

There’s questions head coach Kirk Ferentz wants answered. There’s questions fans want answered. Maybe those questions are the same. Maybe not.

One thing is certain: the Hawkeyes can make a statement. They’ll open the year on national television with an offense that has a whole new flair to it, and a defense that is reloading.

Will it be perfect? Probably not. But football is back in Iowa City, and that’s a start.

3 KEYS TO VICTORY

1. See what Mark Gronowski can do

If Saturday is any Iowa player’s show, it’s Mark Gronowski.

The South Dakota State transfer quarterback hasn’t played in front of Hawkeye fans aside from the team’s open scrimmage three weeks ago. He didn’t play in the spring, but he’s garnered a lot of attention.

Gronowski won’t play the entire game against Albany, but he’ll get a chance to showcase his skill set. He’ll show off his arm — also giving Iowa fans a look at the recently praised receiving corp — and could have a chance or two to find the end zone himself.

The one stipulation for Ferentz is to make sure Gronowski doesn’t overdo anything. Whether that be setting a number of snaps for Gronowski to do before the rest of the quarterbacks step in or simply keeping him in the pocket and avoid rushing, it still is Week 1.

2. Let position groups finalize depth

Ferentz has said throughout training camp that there are some positions that won’t have a finalized pecking order on the depth chart for a few weeks. Playing the Great Danes in Week 1 should help give the Hawkeye head coach a closer look at who truly is game ready.

Left tackle has been a position battle all throughout the preseason. As of Tuesday afternoon, Ferentz said he would start Trevor Lauck — but immediately added that Jack Doztler could take the starting job for the day depending on how practice went.

Other positions like wide receiver and defensive back are in similar positions. The Hawkeyes have options to start the season — and are healthy, too — which gives the team tons of looks to evaluate.

Having two or three players neck-and-neck is helpful for depth, especially as the season develops, but this Week 1 game is about knowing if it’s time to turn pencil marks into pen marks.

3. Don’t give too much away

This is always the hardest part of Week 1 — how much does Iowa put on tape?

The Hawkeyes have a date at Iowa State next week. Putting together an effective first game is important, but this is where long-term strategy comes in. Iowa doesn’t want to give away its entire playbook before the season really starts.

Still, the Hawkeyes, especially offensively, can show how they’ve improved in the offseason. Offensive coordinator Tim Lester is starting his second season, and Saturday is the right time to prove how the offense has grown since January.

Maybe we won’t see any newly designed plays this week, but some cleaned up routes and a few tweaks here and there won’t hurt.

PREDICTION

The Hawkeyes will slowly ease into the 2025 season and work out any issues before the season ramps up in Week 2. It’s as straightforward of a season opener as it can get, and it certainly helps the new players get adjusted to the likes of Kinnick Stadium.

Expect a very simple playbook — minimal intricate plays and a bigger focus on letting this Iowa team tackle, and be tackled, for the first time.

It’ll be a good atmosphere for first-time fans, and a fun way to get excited about the upcoming season.

Iowa 52, Albany 7

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com