After a long offseason and wild season up to this point, the final regular-season game of the 2025 campaign has arrived for Iowa.
What awaits them is a trip to Lincoln for the annual Black Friday matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This is a special iteration of this rivalry game since it's the final time these two teams will play on Black Friday for the foreseeable future. The Hawkeyes and Cornhuskers will face off in week five next season. And both teams enter this game on opposite sides of the emotional spectrum.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Hawkeyes are coming off a thrilling senior day comeback victory over Michigan State, while the Cornhuskers are coming off a humiliating and embarrassing blowout loss to Penn State. But in typical fashion for this rivalry, expect this game to come down to the wire. Iowa will need all hands on deck to walk out of Lincoln with a win. The latest depth chart provided some insight into who might not be available for the Hawkeyes this Friday.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from the latest Iowa football depth chart.
TJ Hall is absent
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back TJ Hall (2) hugs Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz after the Hawkeys’ win against the Massachusetts Minutemen Sept. 13, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.The biggest and worst piece of news on this depth chart for Iowa is the absence of senior cornerback TJ Hall, who missed the win over Michigan State with an injury he suffered against USC. Hall has been the Hawkeyes' best corner all season long and was playing some outstanding football before getting injured. If he's unable to go on Friday, Iowa will turn to junior Deshaun Lee and sophomore Zach Lutmer on the outside.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHawkeye fans are getting some PTSD seeing their top corner unavailable for the game against Nebraska. The only Cornhusker win in this series in the last decade came in 2022, when Cooper DeJean, Iowa's best corner, left the game early on with an injury. Nebraska attacked DeJean's backups all game long and hit some explosive plays through the air to help win the game. The Hawkeyes need to make sure that doesn't happen on Friday if Hall is out.
Tight end room shakeup
Iowa Hawkeyes tight end DJ Vonnahme (81) makes a catch around Iowa State Cyclones' defensive back Marcus Neal Jr.(31) and linebacker Kooper Ebel (47) during the fourth quarter in the Cy-Hawk football at Jack Trice Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025, in Ames, IowaThe Hawkeyes have been looking for some more production from their tight end room all season, and freshman DJ Vonnahme has provided that recently. And he's now reaping the benefits of his great play. For the first time all season, Vonnahme is listed as the starting tight end on the depth chart, with junior Zach Ortwerth backing him up. Senior Hayden Large, who missed last week's game, is not listed on the depth chart, signaling he could be out again this week.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVonnahme has been the only tight end all season long to give Iowa a spark in the receiving game, and it looks like he has the coaching staff's confidence going forward. He'll be a big part of the game plan on Friday, as Nebraska will try to slow down Iowa's rushing game, leaving some opportunities to attack the field vertically with Vonnahme. Don't be surprised if he makes a big play or two on Friday.
Offensive line seems healthy
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67), center, stands with teammates for the national anthem Nov. 8, 2025 before a Big Ten Football game against the Oregon Ducks at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.Iowa's offensive line has dealt with its fair share of injury concerns this season, with numerous guys exiting and re-entering games. And once again, it seems like this group is going to tough it out and give it all they've got. The entire starting offensive line is on the depth chart, a good sign that the whole group will be good to go against Nebraska.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBeau Stephens, Kade Pieper, and Gennings Dunker have all been banged up recently and throughout the season. They'll be fantastic when healthy, aiding a strong Hawkeye rushing attack. Iowa will need that running game this weekend, so seeing the offensive line healthy on the depth chart is fantastic news.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football depth chart takeaways vs. Nebraska: Will TJ Hall play?
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