It's a fairly normal and unthreatening non-conference slate for the Hawkeyes, but none of the four games are automatic wins.
Football season is coming! This could be one of the most pivotal seasons in Hawkeye history, one that stands to frame the state of the program—especially if the Kirk Ferentz era is as much in its twilight as many fans suspect. But there's 12+ games to play, and those each matter a whole lot more than narrative.
So with that in mind, here's what to expect in the first stretch of the season, before Iowa careens into Big Ten play.