2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects Iowa at #28 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +11.9 points per 100 possessions. That's roughly in line with last season's #23 finish. The model slots this team in the NCAA-tournament conversation.
Only 14% of last season's minutes return, so this roster will look very different. Expect some early-season volatility while new pieces settle in. The incoming class is headlined by 4-star Ethan Harris, part of a 2-commit group.
Last Season (2025-26)
Iowa finished 2025-26 at 21-12, ranked #23 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 121.7 and adjusted defense of 98.7 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates Iowa
Iowa's power rating of +11.9 is an adjusted efficiency margin: the points per 100 possessions the model expects them to outscore an average Division I team by, once you strip out schedule strength. It combines adjusted offensive efficiency, adjusted defensive efficiency, and pace into one number, so a rating of +11.9 means Iowa projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 8 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
Iowa Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. Iowa's rating has slipped compared to a few seasons ago. Their best finish in this window was #6 in 2020-21.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | +18.5 | #23 |
| 2024-25 | +4.8 | #101 |
| 2023-24 | +5.2 | #101 |
| 2022-23 | +10.2 | #55 |
| 2021-22 | +19.9 | #7 |
| 2020-21 | +20.6 | #6 |