Riley Donald, Hawkeyes WireMon, December 1, 2025 at 12:25 PM UTC·1 min readSitting at 6-4 just a few weeks ago after back-to-back heartbreaking losses to USC and Oregon, the Iowa Hawkeyes had a decision to make over the final two games of the 2025 regular season. In typical Iowa fashion, under the leadership of head coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes rallied.
Iowa used a last-second field goal to win at home in Kinnick Stadium on Senior Day against Michigan State and followed it up by going on the road and dismantling Nebraska 40-16 to end the year strong, with an 8-4 overall record.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIowa's four losses, all of which came by one score, were games in which they had chances to win. While losses, it proved the Hawkeyes are here to compete, and the 2025 season could be remembered as one that helped them start to turn the corner.
It is also a regular season that sees the Iowa Hawkeyes make a return to the top 25 of the USA TODAY 1-136 NCAA College Football Re-Rank as the regular season has concluded. It wasn't a big jump, but the Hawkeyes come in at No. 24 in this week's renditions of the rankings ahead of conference championships and bowl games, as Iowa awaits its destination.
The win over Nebraska sent them on a large slide down the rankings, falling 10 spots to No. 44 as they finished the regular season 7-5 after jumping out to a 5-1 start.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football ends regular season in USA TODAY NCAA Re-Rank Top 25
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