There have been 10 Iowa football teams in school history to have won 10 games in a season: 1985, 1987, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2019, and 2021. How do the starters from each year break down in terms of experience? Shown below are their years on their respective teams. I'll award 4 points for seniors, 3 for juniors, 2 for sophomores, and 1 for freshman. You can argue starters ("Tom Poholsky started the first game of 1987 and then Dan McGwire played...") if you want, but the guys listed got the majority of the snaps for the season.
The '21 team, as you can see, edges out the 1987 and 2009 squads as the youngest team ever to have won 10 games at Iowa. This job the coaching staff did this year was pretty incredible when you consider this.
2021
QB Petras JR.
RB Goodson JR.
FB Pottebaum JR.
TE LaPorta JR.
WR Johnson FR.
WR Bruce FR.
LT Richman FR.
LG Ince JR. Schott SR.
C Linderbaum JR.
RG Colby FR.
RT Dejong SO.
K Shudak SR.
P Taylor SO
DE VanValkenburg SR.
DT Lee SO.
DT Shannon JR.
DE Waggoner JR.
OLB Benson JR.
MLB Campbell JR.
OLB Jacobs SO.
Cash Belton JR.
CB Moss SR.
CB Hankins SR.
S Koerner SR.
S Merriweather JR.
This year's team had 6 senior starters, one of whom was a specialist (Shudak) and one of whom missed half the season (Schott).
It had 11 junior starters, 4 sophomore starters (5 if you count Jermari Harris), and 4 freshman starters (5 if you count Gavin Williams).
16 upperclassmen started on O and D. Only 1 senior started on the offense. 2.76 average points.
1985
QB Long - SR.
RB Harmon - SR.
FB Bush - SR.
TE Flagg - SO.
WR Helverson - SR.
WR Happel - SR.
LT Croston - JR.
LG Humphrey - SR.
C Singlinger - JR.
RG Kratch - FR.
RT Haight - SR.
K Houghtlin SO.
P Kostrubala JR.
DL Pryor JR.
DL Vrieze JR.
DL Peterson SR.
DL Drost JR.
LB/DE Burrell SR.
LB Davis JR.
LB Station SR.
CB Creer SR.
CB Sims JR.
S Mitchell SR.
S Norvell SR.
This team started 13 seniors and 8 juniors for 21 total upperclassmen starters and 20 on O and D. It started 2 sophomores, one of whom was a specialist. It started 1 freshman. 3.38 average points.
1987
QB Hartlieb JR.
RB Harmon SR.
FB Hudson JR.
TE Cook JR.
LT Alexander SR.
LG Schmitt JR.
C Anderson SO
RG Kratch JR
RT Wester SR.
K Houghtlin SR.
P. Adams JR. / Cook JR.
DE Mott JR.
DL Keppy SR.
DL Haight JR.
DL Schuster SR.
OLB/DE Burke JR.
LB Puk SR.
LB Quast SO.
CB Hanks FR.
CB Wright SO.
S Sistrunk SR.
S Burt SR.
This team started 18 seniors between offense, defense, and special teams for an average score of 2.91 points.
1991
QB Rodgers SR.
RB Saunders SR.
FB Montgomery JR.
TE Cross JR.
WR Hughes JR.
WR Filloon SR .
LT Davis JR.
LG Velicer JR.
C Devlin JR.
RG Ferroni JR.
RT Baxley SR.
K Skillett SR.
P Hujsak SR.
DL Blue SO.
DL Wells SO.
DL Nelson JR.
DL Geater SR.
DL/OLB Smith SR.
LB Derby SR.
LB Faley JR.
CB Plate SO.
CB Polley SR.
S Clark SR.
S Wise SR.
This team started 21 upperclassmen including all 11 on offense. Average score: 3.38
2002
QB Banks SR.
RB Russell JR.
FB Cervantes JR.
TE Clark SR.
WR Jones SR.
WR Brown JR.
LT Gallery JR.
LG Steinbach SR.
C Nelson SR.
RG Lightfoot SR.
RT Porter SR.
K Kaeding JR.
P Bradley SO.
DE Hodges SO
DT Clauss JR.
DT. Cole SR.
DE Babineaux SO.
OLB Steen JR.
MLB Barr SR.
OLB Worthy JR.
CB Allen FR.
CB Johnson SR.
S Pagel SR.
S Sanders JR.
This team started 20 upperclassmen, including all 11 on offense. Average points: 3.25
2003
QB Chandler SR.
RB Russell SR.
FB Cervantes SR.
TE Jensen SR.
WR Brown SR.
WR Ochoa SR.
LT Gallery SR.
LG Jones FR.
C Rothwell SR.
RG McMahon JR.
RT Aiello SR.
K Kaeding SR.
P Bradley JR.
DE Roth JR.
DT Clauss SR.
DT Babineaux JR.
DE Hodges JR.
OLB Greenway SO.
MLB Hodge SO.
OLB Steen SR.
CB Allen SO.
CB Johnson SO.
S Sanders SR.
S Considine JR.
This team started 19 upperclassmen. Average points: 3.29
2004
QB Tate SO
RB Brownlee JR.
FB Mickens SR.
TE Jackson SR.
WR Hinkel JR.
WR Solomon JR.
LT Grey SR.
LG Jones SO.
C Elgin JR.
RG Ferentz JR.
RT McMahon SR.
K Schlicker JR.
P Bradley SR.
DE Roth SR.
DT Luebke SR
DT Babineaux SR.
DE Robinson SR.
OLB Greenway JR.
MLB Hodge JR.
OLB Lewis SR.
CB Allen JR.
CB Johnson JR.
S Considine SR.
S Paschal SO.
This team started 21 upperclassmen for an average point total of 3.33
2009
QB Stanzi JR.
RB Robinson FR.
FB Morse JR.
TE Moeaki SR.
WR McNutt SO
WR Johnson-Koulianos JR.
LT Bulaga JR.
LG Reiff FR.
C Eubanks SR.
RG Vandervelde JR.
RT Calloway JR.
K Murray JR.
P Donahue JR.
DE Clayborn JR.
DT Klug SO.
DT Ballard JR.
DE Binns SO.
OLB Hunter JR.
MLB Angerer SR.
OLB Edds SR.
CB Spievey JR.
CB Prater SO.
S Greenwood JR.
S Sash SO.
17 upperclassmen started this season. Average points: 2.79
2015
QB Beathard JR.
RB Canzeri SR.
FB Plewa SR.
TE Krieger-Cobble SR.
WR Smith SR.
WR Vandeberg JR.
LT Myers SO.
LG Welsh SO.
C Blythe SR.
RG Walsh SR.
RT Boettger SO.
K Koehn SR.
P Kidd SR.
DE Meier SR.
DT Johnson JR.
DT Bazata SO.
DE Hesse FR.
OLB Fisher SR.
MLB Jewell SO.
OLB Neimann SO.
CB Mabin JR.
CB King JR.
S Lomax SR.
S Taylor SO.
16 upperclassmen starters for this squad. Average points: 3.08
2019
QB Stanley SR.
RB Sargent SR.
FB Ross SR.
TE Weiting SR.
WR Smith JR.
WR Smith Marsette JR.
LT Jackson JR.
LG Paulson SR.
C Linderbaum FR.
RG Schott SO.
RT Wirfs JR.
K Duncan JR.
P Sleep-Dalton SR.
DE Epenesa JR.
DT Reiff SR.
DT Lattimore SR.
DE Golston JR.
OLB Colbert SO.
MLB Welch SR.
OLB Neimann JR.
Cash Belton FR.
CB Ojemudia SR.
CB Hankins JR.
S Koerner SO.
S Stone JR.
20 Upperclassmen starters for this team. Average points: 3.12
The '21 team, as you can see, edges out the 1987 and 2009 squads as the youngest team ever to have won 10 games at Iowa. This job the coaching staff did this year was pretty incredible when you consider this.
2021
QB Petras JR.
RB Goodson JR.
FB Pottebaum JR.
TE LaPorta JR.
WR Johnson FR.
WR Bruce FR.
LT Richman FR.
LG Ince JR. Schott SR.
C Linderbaum JR.
RG Colby FR.
RT Dejong SO.
K Shudak SR.
P Taylor SO
DE VanValkenburg SR.
DT Lee SO.
DT Shannon JR.
DE Waggoner JR.
OLB Benson JR.
MLB Campbell JR.
OLB Jacobs SO.
Cash Belton JR.
CB Moss SR.
CB Hankins SR.
S Koerner SR.
S Merriweather JR.
This year's team had 6 senior starters, one of whom was a specialist (Shudak) and one of whom missed half the season (Schott).
It had 11 junior starters, 4 sophomore starters (5 if you count Jermari Harris), and 4 freshman starters (5 if you count Gavin Williams).
16 upperclassmen started on O and D. Only 1 senior started on the offense. 2.76 average points.
1985
QB Long - SR.
RB Harmon - SR.
FB Bush - SR.
TE Flagg - SO.
WR Helverson - SR.
WR Happel - SR.
LT Croston - JR.
LG Humphrey - SR.
C Singlinger - JR.
RG Kratch - FR.
RT Haight - SR.
K Houghtlin SO.
P Kostrubala JR.
DL Pryor JR.
DL Vrieze JR.
DL Peterson SR.
DL Drost JR.
LB/DE Burrell SR.
LB Davis JR.
LB Station SR.
CB Creer SR.
CB Sims JR.
S Mitchell SR.
S Norvell SR.
This team started 13 seniors and 8 juniors for 21 total upperclassmen starters and 20 on O and D. It started 2 sophomores, one of whom was a specialist. It started 1 freshman. 3.38 average points.
1987
QB Hartlieb JR.
RB Harmon SR.
FB Hudson JR.
TE Cook JR.
LT Alexander SR.
LG Schmitt JR.
C Anderson SO
RG Kratch JR
RT Wester SR.
K Houghtlin SR.
P. Adams JR. / Cook JR.
DE Mott JR.
DL Keppy SR.
DL Haight JR.
DL Schuster SR.
OLB/DE Burke JR.
LB Puk SR.
LB Quast SO.
CB Hanks FR.
CB Wright SO.
S Sistrunk SR.
S Burt SR.
This team started 18 seniors between offense, defense, and special teams for an average score of 2.91 points.
1991
QB Rodgers SR.
RB Saunders SR.
FB Montgomery JR.
TE Cross JR.
WR Hughes JR.
WR Filloon SR .
LT Davis JR.
LG Velicer JR.
C Devlin JR.
RG Ferroni JR.
RT Baxley SR.
K Skillett SR.
P Hujsak SR.
DL Blue SO.
DL Wells SO.
DL Nelson JR.
DL Geater SR.
DL/OLB Smith SR.
LB Derby SR.
LB Faley JR.
CB Plate SO.
CB Polley SR.
S Clark SR.
S Wise SR.
This team started 21 upperclassmen including all 11 on offense. Average score: 3.38
2002
QB Banks SR.
RB Russell JR.
FB Cervantes JR.
TE Clark SR.
WR Jones SR.
WR Brown JR.
LT Gallery JR.
LG Steinbach SR.
C Nelson SR.
RG Lightfoot SR.
RT Porter SR.
K Kaeding JR.
P Bradley SO.
DE Hodges SO
DT Clauss JR.
DT. Cole SR.
DE Babineaux SO.
OLB Steen JR.
MLB Barr SR.
OLB Worthy JR.
CB Allen FR.
CB Johnson SR.
S Pagel SR.
S Sanders JR.
This team started 20 upperclassmen, including all 11 on offense. Average points: 3.25
2003
QB Chandler SR.
RB Russell SR.
FB Cervantes SR.
TE Jensen SR.
WR Brown SR.
WR Ochoa SR.
LT Gallery SR.
LG Jones FR.
C Rothwell SR.
RG McMahon JR.
RT Aiello SR.
K Kaeding SR.
P Bradley JR.
DE Roth JR.
DT Clauss SR.
DT Babineaux JR.
DE Hodges JR.
OLB Greenway SO.
MLB Hodge SO.
OLB Steen SR.
CB Allen SO.
CB Johnson SO.
S Sanders SR.
S Considine JR.
This team started 19 upperclassmen. Average points: 3.29
2004
QB Tate SO
RB Brownlee JR.
FB Mickens SR.
TE Jackson SR.
WR Hinkel JR.
WR Solomon JR.
LT Grey SR.
LG Jones SO.
C Elgin JR.
RG Ferentz JR.
RT McMahon SR.
K Schlicker JR.
P Bradley SR.
DE Roth SR.
DT Luebke SR
DT Babineaux SR.
DE Robinson SR.
OLB Greenway JR.
MLB Hodge JR.
OLB Lewis SR.
CB Allen JR.
CB Johnson JR.
S Considine SR.
S Paschal SO.
This team started 21 upperclassmen for an average point total of 3.33
2009
QB Stanzi JR.
RB Robinson FR.
FB Morse JR.
TE Moeaki SR.
WR McNutt SO
WR Johnson-Koulianos JR.
LT Bulaga JR.
LG Reiff FR.
C Eubanks SR.
RG Vandervelde JR.
RT Calloway JR.
K Murray JR.
P Donahue JR.
DE Clayborn JR.
DT Klug SO.
DT Ballard JR.
DE Binns SO.
OLB Hunter JR.
MLB Angerer SR.
OLB Edds SR.
CB Spievey JR.
CB Prater SO.
S Greenwood JR.
S Sash SO.
17 upperclassmen started this season. Average points: 2.79
2015
QB Beathard JR.
RB Canzeri SR.
FB Plewa SR.
TE Krieger-Cobble SR.
WR Smith SR.
WR Vandeberg JR.
LT Myers SO.
LG Welsh SO.
C Blythe SR.
RG Walsh SR.
RT Boettger SO.
K Koehn SR.
P Kidd SR.
DE Meier SR.
DT Johnson JR.
DT Bazata SO.
DE Hesse FR.
OLB Fisher SR.
MLB Jewell SO.
OLB Neimann SO.
CB Mabin JR.
CB King JR.
S Lomax SR.
S Taylor SO.
16 upperclassmen starters for this squad. Average points: 3.08
2019
QB Stanley SR.
RB Sargent SR.
FB Ross SR.
TE Weiting SR.
WR Smith JR.
WR Smith Marsette JR.
LT Jackson JR.
LG Paulson SR.
C Linderbaum FR.
RG Schott SO.
RT Wirfs JR.
K Duncan JR.
P Sleep-Dalton SR.
DE Epenesa JR.
DT Reiff SR.
DT Lattimore SR.
DE Golston JR.
OLB Colbert SO.
MLB Welch SR.
OLB Neimann JR.
Cash Belton FR.
CB Ojemudia SR.
CB Hankins JR.
S Koerner SO.
S Stone JR.
20 Upperclassmen starters for this team. Average points: 3.12
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