The Hawkeye Report Podcast reviews the year in Iowa athletics

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! It’s a marathon podcast to wrap up the year of Iowa athletics. Tom Kakert, Matt Randazzo, Kyle Huesmann and Tanner Lafever come together to talk all things Hawkeyes for one of the longest pods we’ve done.

First, we open a talking transfer portal and the latest Iowa football news. They got a defensive lineman effort, and we discuss that news and how he fits into the roster. We also talk about the Hawkeyes missing a quarterback in the portal and look at what could potentially be next at the position. Additionally, we discuss other prospects that Iowa is looking for on the portal.

Second, we discuss the Hawkeye basketball team coming from behind to win at a neutral site over Utah. What were our thoughts on the win and how Payton Sandfort, Josh Dix and Brock Harding were key in the game. Why was this win so important to the Hawkeyes’ postseason hopes as they get ready to head back to conference play to start the new year?

Then we go into a long and interesting look back at Iowa athletics in 2024. We start with the biggest story of the year, Caitlin Clark and Iowa women’s basketball and the impact they had not only in Iowa, but around the country. We look back at Lisa Bluder’s retirement, Jan Jensen’s hiring and Lucy Olsen choosing the Hawkeyes.

Then we go to wrestling where Tanner discusses the Iowa women’s team winning a national title and Spencer Lee and Kennedy Blades taking silver medals at the Paris Olympics and maybe more to come in LA in 2028.

We talk Iowa football and baseball before diving into the top stories for the Hawkeye men’s basketball team, which includes the son of the head coach set to play basketball at Butler. Finally, we’ll wrap up the nearly two-hour podcast with a long discussion about Iowa football, and we’ll pick some bowl game winners for you.