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The Top Hawkeye Fireworks of 2025-26
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- The Top Hawkeye Fireworks of 2025-26
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Though the Fourth of July is technically over, HawkeyeRoundtable is still celebrating America's 250th birthday with another special piece.
Millions of people witnessed fireworks shows across the globe, but if you're an Iowa fan, the show is just now entering its final encore.
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The Hawkeyes produced many memorable moments for their fans throughout the 2025-26 athletics season, so in honor of Independence Day fireworks lighting the sky on Saturday, we're going to take a look at some of these Iowa "fireworks" - memorable instants during games that sparked giant waves of emotion or even anger from Hawkeye Nation.
Golden vs. McCollum
This wasn't even a play, but when you're talking about in-game moments that produced fireworks in 2025-26, this one has to be mentioned. The ending of the Iowa men's basketball's second round victory over Florida is coming up in this article shortly, but that moment doesn't arrive without this firework-worthy moment.
Midway through the first half, Hawkeye forward Alvaro Folgueiras and Florida center Alex Condon got tied up and ended up in a shoving match, which Florida head coach Todd Golden didn't appreciate.
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Golden would express his disappointment toward the Iowa sideline, and this is all you need to see:
Folguerias Ends Decades Of Postseason Futility
This play doesn't need much of a description. Top-seeded and defending national champion Florida was expected to roll ninth-seeded Iowa in the second round, but the underdog Hawkeyes held their own.
Trailing by two in the waning seconds, Bennett Stirtz found a wide-open Folgueiras in the corner, and the junior forward showed no hesitation and buried the shot to send Iowa to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 27 years.
Every game during the Hawkeyes' memorable Elite Eight run could be included in here, but for the sake of time, enjoy the moment that finally pushed Iowa over the postseason hump.
Stevens Wins It On Senior Day
Iowa probably shouldn't have needed a walk-off field goal to beat 3-7 Michigan State, but that's what happened.
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The Hawkeyes trailed 17-7 late in the fourth quarter before quarterback Mark Gronowski and the offense woke up just in time to tie the game late. A defensive stop gave Iowa one final chance to try to get in field goal range before overtime, and a ridiculous catch by Reece Vander Zee set up a 44-yard field goal try for senior kicker Drew Stevens.
Just like he did in 2024, Stevens drilled the game-winner on Senior Day to give the Hawkeyes an improbable victory.
Lutmer's Interception Against Indiana
Some of you may not appreciate seeing a play from an Iowa loss, but this play is the definition of a firework. Unranked Iowa had then-No. 11 Indiana on the ropes in this late September battle, and with the contest tied at 13 with under three minutes left, the Hawkeyes appeared poised for the upset.
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Sophomore defensive back Zach Lutmer stepped right in front of a Fernando Mendoza pass and took it deep in to Hoosier territory to give the Hawkeyes a golden opportunity for the upset.
Iowa would ultimately lose this game in heartbreaking fashion, 20-15, but the roar that this play produced inside Kinnick Stadium makes it more than worthy of being a firework.
There were many other "firework" moments in Hawkeye athletics in 2025-26, but to keep you all engaged, this is where we're drawing the line.
Could 2026-27 bring even more fireworks? Only time will tell.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io
