Aug 18, 2026 · 20 min
Iowa State bets on a rebuilt offensive line
DAILY CLONE: Ranking Iowa State's Position Groups 1-10
The offensive line could define Iowa State’s 2026 ceiling, with coaching, investment, size, transfers, and returning talent all under scrutiny.
- 1Jake Thornton’s coaching anchors an offensive line receiving significant program investment before the 2026 season.
- 2Iowa State’s position group combines major-program transfers, lower-division additions, All-Americans, and returning players.
- 3Preseason confidence remains measured because position-group rankings cannot resolve how the unit will perform in games.
Don't miss
Mahoney’s detailed offensive-line evaluation brings together coaching, financial investment, transfers, size, and returning talent while preserving uncertainty about preseason projections.
The brief
Grant Mahoney introduces the Daily Clone ahead of Iowa State’s Media Day, framing the 2026 season through Jake Brend’s position-group rankings.
The opening ranking centers on the offensive line, where coach Jake Thornton, program investment, player size, transfers, and returning talent create a strong preseason case.
Iowa State’s line draws from players connected to major programs and lower divisions, making the room’s depth and development as important as its headline names.
Mahoney expresses confidence in the group while acknowledging that preseason rankings remain provisional until the line handles real competition.
The offensive line emerges as the episode’s central test: can coaching and investment convert a promising collection of players into dependable production?
Featuring
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.