The Iowa Hawkeyes are known as a defensive-oriented squad around the college football landscape. However, they took it to the next level during the 2023 campaign, finishing with a top-five defense but one of the worst offenses in the country. While head coach Kirk Ferentz’s defense kept opponents under 15 points per game, the offense bested only Kent State in points per game scored. Despite the offensive woes, Iowa earned a trip to the Big Ten title game, an eventual 26-0 blowout loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
Under Kirk Ferentz’s guidance, Iowa has finished with a winning record for 11 straight seasons, but brutal showings on offense since 2020 have lowered their ceiling in a winnable Big Ten West Division. Their offensive woes were not lost on the producers of EA Sports College Football 25, one of the most anticipated video games ever. On Friday, the company released gameplay footage, showing off specific teams’ rankings, including Iowa football. While sporting a 94 rating on defense, Iowa comes in with a brutal 71 rating on offense, with college football fans flooding Twitter, also known as X, to poke fun at the team for the discrepancy in the two units.
College Football Fans: Clown Iowa Football Offense
![TRENDING: Iowa Football Receives Laughably Low Offensive Rating in EA Sports College Football 25; Fans React to Hawkeyes Brutal Ranking Reveal 1 Iowa Hawkeyes Punter Tory Taylor](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/USATSI_19071374_168400517_lowres-scaled-e1702154329732.jpg)
EA Sports College Football 25 will get its release in mid-July, and on Friday, they dropped highly anticipated gameplay footage to their fans. The video showed rankings for specific teams, including the Iowa football program of the Big Ten conference. Unfortunately, the Hawkeyes drew the most attention, with an eye-catching difference in offensive and defensive rating. The Big Ten squad will enter EA Sports College Football 25 with a 94 rating on defense but a brutal 71 on offense. Fans were quick to have their voices heard when making light of Iowa’s offensive woes leaking into the next rendition of a college football video game.
Unfortunately, EA Sports has seemingly nailed the accuracy of college football. pic.twitter.com/AZTMZ8NARD
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) May 31, 2024
EA Sports rating Iowa's offense in NCAA 25 as a 71 is one of the funniest things I've ever seen dawg. 😭 pic.twitter.com/tMu1ZGZvnf
— Terrence ✨️ (@Terrbear2K24) May 31, 2024
Beyond ready for this game to drop…
How do we feel about the ratings? Kinda think Iowa's 71 rating should be higher since Brian Ferentz left Iowa…. https://t.co/S68KAdq4Zg pic.twitter.com/O06KRgue5q
— Greg Kajewski (BettorEdge) (@gkajewski) May 31, 2024
Iowa’s offense is a 71… Very realistic pic.twitter.com/4ofL3B0aHS
— Husker Wave (@HuskerWave) May 31, 2024
Honestly 71 might be too high and 94 is probably too low .. https://t.co/gXGu4hHpNn
— Kennington Lloyd Smith III (@SkinnyKenny_) May 31, 2024
71 offense, pic.twitter.com/61ATRMqRz2
— DJ (Tombstone Pizza Ambassador) (@djv2023) May 31, 2024
Iowa Offense: Continued Offensive Struggles Last Year
![TRENDING: Iowa Football Receives Laughably Low Offensive Rating in EA Sports College Football 25; Fans React to Hawkeyes Brutal Ranking Reveal 2 Iowa Football, EA Sports College Football, College Football](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_21493405.jpg)
After finishing 99th in the country regarding points per game scored in 2021, the Iowa football program took a significant step back in 2022, scoring 17.7 points per game, the 123rd-highest mark in the country. However, they looked even worse last year, scoring 15.4 points per game, the second-lowest average in the nation. Behind the quarterback duo of Deacon Hill and Cade McNamara, the Hawkeyes threw for just nine touchdowns against 11 picks. They also combined to complete less than 50% of their passes.
The rushing attack was equally abysmal, averaging 3.3 yards per carry on nearly 35 rush attempts per contest. Iowa finished dead last in the Big Ten regarding offensive yards and yards per play while placing in the top half in turnovers committed. Iowa also got shut out three times last year while failing to score more than 15 points in more than half of their games. Despite last year’s offensive struggles, the backfield duo of McNamara and running back LeShon Williams will likely return to their starting roles next season.
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