Hawk Central Hour
Des Moines Register Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow leads the conversation with our beat writers and frequent special guests to discuss the latest in Iowa football, men's and women's basketball and more. Follow coverage from the entire Hawk Central team at hawkcentral.com or with the Hawk Central app.
Episodes
The Iowa-Ohio State football game is getting College GameDay treatment, but behind the festive nature of the contest what about the chess match within the game? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman dig into several questions surrounding the game, including how Tim Lester will trust Hank Brown and the passing game and how Phil Parker will go about defending incredible Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. Also, even with a ...
The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman go over the 20-19 win over Michigan again while spinning the conversation forward into what's next, a top-15 showdown against Ohio State.
The Hawkeyes defeated Michigan, 20-19, on Reece Vander Zee's 16-yard touchdown as time expired. But you already know that. Now come in and join the Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow as they go for 45 minutes to recap the crazy scene at Michigan Stadium.
No. 17 Iowa visits No. 18 Michigan in the Big Ten Conference opener on Saturday, with the Wolverines favored by 5.5 points. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman break down the stakes of the game, including what it would mean for a potential special season, and look at quarterbacks Hank Brown vs. Bryce Underwood. We also answer 5 Big Questions to preview the game.
The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman recap a 640-yard day on offense (including a Kirk Ferentz-era high of 422 rushing yards) while revisiting the quarterback conversation (one last time?) after Hank Brown's perfect day as Iowa defeats UNI, 55-0.
The Hawkeyes are saddled with some injury questions in Week 3, highlighted by star tight end DJ Vonnahme likely missing the Northern Iowa game. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman get you updated on the health front, the upside of this defense, the quarterback competition that is continuing and a preview of the UNI game.
Two days after Iowa defeated Iowa State, 16-13, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman review what we've learned about the Hawkeyes through two games. Chad also wonders, does Iowa now have to go 11-1 if it wants to be a playoff team?
That was closer than expected, but the Iowa football program moves to 2-0 with a 16-13 win against Iowa State. The Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow forge into the wee hours of Sunday morning to recap the good and the bad from the Hawkeyes' Cy-Hawk escape. We sift through a mixed bag of 3-word headlines, too.
We are deep into Cy-Hawk week, and the Hawkeyes have all the pressure as a two-touchdown favorite. What other story lines are dominating our thoughts heading into this game? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman answer questions about quarterbacks, Iowa State, the running game without LJ Phillips and offer predictions. There's also a notable Iowa basketball recruiting visitor coming to town.
Hey folks, this is the FULL version of the Hawk Central show on Monday ... the first version got cut off at 23 minutes for some reason. This is Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman on Iowa QBs, the defense and more heading into Iowa vs. Iowa State on Saturday.
The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman bring you a Labor Day podcast to dig deeper in Iowa football's Week 1 win over Northern Illinois and discuss quarterback play and what we think will and should happen against Iowa State.
The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman have lots to discuss after a 40-0 Hawkeye shutout of Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium, including a 500-yard day of offense, breakouts from Tony Diaz and Kamari Moulton and a shutout from the defense, which got a lot of guys some playing time.
Tyler Tachman of the Des Moines Register spoke with NIU interim head coach Rob Harley to preview Iowa’s 2026 season-opener
The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman get you primed for the Hawkeyes' long-awaited season opener vs. Northern Illinois with our game-preview show, which follows our annual format. First, big-picture topics, including the tea leaves on Kirk Ferentz's quarterback comments Tuesday and whether 9-3 would constitute a successful season. Second, our "Five Big Questions" segment helps preview the Hawkeyes' opponent and other int...
The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman react to the Hawkeyes' Week 1 depth chart reveal, which still provided no answers (or did it?) at quarterback between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski. There was still plenty of other news to discuss as well, with unexpected names at several positions.
The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman outline their thinking of the 2026 Iowa football season and provide rationale for their record predictions, along with where they might be overhyping or underselling the Hawkeyes.
Less than two weeks before Iowa's 2026 season kicks off, the Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow break down notable developments from the Hawkeyes' fall camp.
Three days removed from Kids Day at Kinnick, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman take another look at the day of quarterback performances from Jeremy Hecklinski, Hank Brown and up-and-coming Jimmy Sullivan. We also go back to our media-day reporting and Saturday viewing to come up with some of the Hawkeyes' biggest risers during this fall camp.
It was just one practice out of nine, Kirk Ferentz reminded us. But Jeremy Hecklinski's dominant performance at quarterback has certainly shifted the QB conversation with Iowa football, 3 weeks ahead of the season opener. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman react to what they saw at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, August 15.
Only three-plus weeks until the season, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman convene to offer their, mild, hot and ghost-pepper takes on the Iowa football season ahead. We choose 10 bold predictions in all, covering the offensive and defensive sides of the ball completely. And with media day on Aug. 14 and Kids Day at Kinnick to follow, Chad and Tyler provide a preview of what they're looking to learn.
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