Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says while the Hawkeyes have high hopes for the season there are still plenty of question marks. The Hawks return 16 starters from last year’s team that finished 9-4 and beat South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

Ferentz says it feels like the team they had one year ago with the returning numbers. He says if you look back all season last year they were competitive, but didn’t get it done in some ball games. Ferentz says they are starting over again once all is said and done.

Ferentz says experience does not always lead to a successful season, as they had gone to 4 straight January bowls in 2006 and didn’t do well. While last year they came off a disappointing loss that kept them out of a bowl game and were able to overcome it. Ferentz says it all depends on what they do in the next weeks and how they come along at spots where they are inexperienced.

Iowa opens September fifth against UNI.