Danny Collins takes over as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, charged with keeping the Gophers’ stingy 2024 numbers while developing depth on the line and in the secondary. Four position battles anchor fall camp, plus a punt competition after Mark Crawford’s departure. Za’Quan Bryan looks poised to win the starting cornerback job, with Iowa’s John Nestor and redshirt freshman Mike Gerald pushing for time and fellow newcomers Jaylen Bowden and Naiim Parrish in the mix.

Up front, interior depth behind Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding is unproven but intriguing, led by Riley Sunram and Nate Becker in camp. Rushawn Lawrence adds experience from Stony Brook, while injuries sidelined Mo Omonode and Theorin Randle. On the edge, Anthony Smith is locked at one end as Jaxon Howard presses for the other. Linebacker duties hinge on Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams, with transfers and a four-star recruit—Emmanuel Karmo—eyeing snaps.

Special teams look to replace a long-time contributor, with Tom Weston competing with Luke Ryerse and others to pin opponents deep. Weston’s NCAA Division II pedigree and 23 punts inside the 20 could influence field position early, testing a defense that aims to sustain national-ranked metrics while integrating new pieces into a cohesive unit.

Mark Gronowski arrived in Iowa City with a veteran résumé and a confessed fondness for contact, hoping to jump-start an Iowa offense that staggered through 2023. After a shoulder repair kept him out of spring work, the South Dakota State transfer promises a refreshed arm and an opportunity-driven mindset. Iowa’s passing attack lagged near the bottom of the Big Ten last season, forcing a reshuffle at QB as the team sought a steadier, more productive signal-caller to pair with a bevy of weapons.

Running back Kaleb Johnson departs a bit of the thunder, but the Iowa backfield still aims to be versatile, with Kamari Moulton, Jaziun Patterson, Terrell Washington Jr. and others in the mix. Defensive depth at linebacker will be tested by the losses of Higgins and Jackson, while Petras’ injury history looms as a reminder of the fragile nature of QB stability. Ferentz enters year 27 with a chance to catch Woody Hayes by piling up wins, two shy as he eyes a historic plateau for the program.

The Big Ten’s latest playoff idea would push the College Football Playoff toward as many as 28 teams, with seven automatic bids each for the Big Ten and SEC and additional bids for other leagues. The proposal even hints at unranked teams entering the mix, a move critics say would devalue the regular season and undermine credibility. Tony Petitti’s offseason appetite for bold formats has drawn sharp scrutiny, including past attempts at a 16-team plan. The SEC and ACC coaches currently favor a more measured expansion, with discussions centered on a 5+11 model and a continued reliance on at-large bids. Even if a compromise emerges, alignment among major conferences remains elusive, leaving the current 12-team format as a reference point. The debate spotlights not just postseason structure, but which teams and programs benefit most when the playoff field grows—and how much momentum a top program should lose to a broader invitation.

The COVID-era super senior class is nearing the finish line, and Deuce Hogan epitomizes the era’s final wave. After a multi-stop college run that began at Iowa, included a two-year stint at Kentucky under pro-style coaches, a season with New Mexico State in 2024, and a recent move to Nicholls, Hogan is set to start at Nicholls for a sixth season. Nicholls State, an FCS program in Louisiana with seven playoff appearances, opens the year with a Week Zero home date against Incarnate Word, broadcast by ESPN2 at noon. Hogan’s arrival signals a veteran quarterback at the helm for a Colonels squad aiming to lean on experience as it navigates a schedule that blends FCS play and a hopeful postseason push. The hire of first-year head coach Tommy Rybacki adds a fresh game plan as Nicholls tries to maximize Hogan’s seasoned decision-making and leadership.

Hogan’s trajectory — Iowa to Kentucky to New Mexico State and now Nicholls — highlights a broader trend in college football: seniors with extra years can redefine an offense in the FCS, especially when paired with a coach eager to deploy a pro-style attack. His journey also underscores the visibility of Week Zero games as early testing grounds for veteran quarterbacks trying to prove they still have ammunition at a new level. For fantasy-minded followers, Hogan’s Week Zero opportunity is a key early-season anchor to monitor, with the potential for steady if not explosive production should health cooperate and Nicholls’ game plan leverage his breadth of experience.

Brandon Scherff has quietly closed a ten-year NFL career, retiring at 33 after earning more than $111 million. A 2015 top-5 pick by Washington, he shifted from right tackle to guard and became one of the league’s premier interior blockers, earning five Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro honor in 2020. He finished his career with the Jaguars, starting every game across three seasons after leaving Washington in 2022. The retirement came with little fanfare, publicly confirmed via his alma mater Iowa’s site as part of a Hall of Fame profile. The piece also notes Scherff’s run of durability and the guard-value debate that Jay Gruden once highlighted, framing a career built on consistency and longevity. His story ends with a dream-come-true sentiment about life after football and time with his family.