Ex-Hawkeyes again shined everywhere in Week 1 of the NFL season. Here are three former Iowa players who stood out.

Find single game tickets to the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. UMass Minutemen college football Week 3 matchup on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium.

The opening weekend of the NFL season is complete, with TJ Hockenson and the Vikings picking up a win over the Bears on Monday Night. 29 former Hawkeyes were on active rosters for week one, while 13 players were in the starting lineup.

The Iowa football team focused on the 24-hour following its loss to rival Iowa State, 16-13, at Jack Trice Stadium. For the players, the game is done, flushed, and it’s time to move on mentally to the rest of the season.

There's no denying the deja vu from last season to now. The Hawkeyes left too many plays on the field, including having to settle for a field goal in the third quarter. It took four drives before Iowa's offense got a first down.

The Athletic recently released their projections for the College Football Playoff picture and all bowl games. When it came to Iowa, they shockingly predicted the team to end up in the playoff. To be exact, the Hawkeyes were projected to be the No. 9 ranked team in the playoff bracket.

Still, the Hawkeyes fought out of an early 13-3 hole and pulled even on Drew Stevens' 36-yard field goal with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter. Iowa mustered just 35 total yards the rest of the way, allowing Iowa State (3-0) to swipe this one late. Tough loss for the Hawkeyes.

Revived discontent sprouted back up in Hawkeye World after Saturday’s game, with plenty of looking back in anger. Losing to the Cyclones is always a prickly matter, but the primary reason for the unhappiness is an older wound that just won’t heal. Iowa’s offense in general and passing game in specific have remained uninspiring, to put it kindly.

Iowa Hawkeyes football quarterback Mark Gronowski hasn't played to his potential in his first two games. But he needs help from his pass catchers.