%20--%3e%3csvg%20xmlns:inkpad='http://taptrix.com/inkpad/svg_extensions'%20height='231pt'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20width='796pt'%20version='1.1'%20viewBox='0,0,796,231'%3e%3cdefs/%3e%3cg%20id='Untitled'%20inkpad:layerName='Untitled'%3e%3cpath%20d='M102.252+48.3067L83.5399+48.3067L83.5399+182.202L102.252+182.202L102.252+230.822L-0.0490809+230.822L-0.0490809+182.202L18.6626+182.202L18.6626+48.3067L-0.0490809+48.3067L-0.0490809+0.300613L102.252+0.300613L102.252+48.3067ZM239.828+230.822L165.748+230.822C138.908+230.822+121.27+213.184+121.27+184.35L121.27+46.773C121.27+18.092+139.215+0.300602+165.748+0.300602L239.828+0.300602C266.669+0.300602+284.307+18.2454+284.307+46.773L284.307+184.35C284.307+213.031+266.362+230.822+239.828+230.822ZM218.816+182.356L218.816+48.4601L186.607+48.4601L186.607+182.356L218.816+182.356ZM313.448+48.3067L297.037+48.3067L297.037+0.300613L394.123+0.300613L394.123+48.6135L375.718+48.6135L392.282+159.503L426.945+0.300613L476.025+0.300613L512.834+159.503L526.178+48.6135L509.307+48.6135L509.307+0.300613L605.166+0.300613L605.166+48.6135L589.368+48.6135L560.534+231.129L482.313+231.129L451.945+95.0859L420.963+230.822L345.81+230.822L313.448+48.3067ZM588.141+182.356L605.779+182.356L640.902+0.300613L745.656+0.300613L780.166+182.356L796.577+182.356L796.577+230.975L718.356+230.975L710.994+174.687L672.19+174.687L665.288+230.975L588.601+230.975L588.141+182.356L588.141+182.356ZM706.853+132.509L691.975+39.4111L676.638+132.509L706.853+132.509Z'%20opacity='1'%20fill='%23ffcd00'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa’s offensive line has been recognized as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2026 Joe Moore Award, it was announced Wednesday. This marks the fifth time Iowa has been a semifinalist for the honor since 2016.
The Joe Moore Award honors offensive line units that display a high level of toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique and finishing. It is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history. It is the only major college football award to honor a unit.
Iowa’s offensive line includes centers Cael Winter and Michael Myslinski, guards Kade Pieper and Leighton Jones and tackles Trevor Lauck and Jack Dotzler. The unit has combined to start 71 career games.
The recognition comes on the heels of individual accolades for the group, as fourth-year linemen Trevor Lauck (left tackle) and Kade Pieper (right guard) were named Lombardi Award semifinalists last week.
Iowa has rushed for 200+ yards in three games this season, including a 422-yard output in Week 2 against Northern Iowa. The total is the seventh-most in a single game in program history.
In the victory over the Panthers, the offensive line cleared path for three different 100-yard rushers — a feat Iowa had not accomplished in a single game since 1983. In total, Iowa has produced five 100-yard rushers – the most in a season in program history -- and six 100-yard rushing performances in 2026,including a season-best 208-yard output from running back Kamari Moulton in Week 6 at Washington.
The Hawkeyes are averaging 27.8 points and 373.9 yards of total offense. Iowa’s rushing attack is averaging 173.8 yards per game and the o-line has surrendered just eight sacks through nine contests.
Finalists for the 2026 Joe Moore Award will be unveiled in early December, with the winner announced in late December.
Iowa has earned the Joe Moore Award in 2016 and 2025. The Hawkeyes are one of three schools, along with Michigan and Alabama, to be a two-time winner.
No. 16 Iowa (7-2, 4-2) hosts Purdue (3-6, 2-4) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. The game will be televised on NBC and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.