As the 2026 Iowa football season approaches, second-year defensive end Iose Epenesa has been named to the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list.

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The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field. 

The 6-foot-3, 269-pounder played in four games last year and recorded his first tackle in a 41-3 win over Minnesota in his first season on campus. The Edwardsville, Ill, product is expected to see significant playing time in 2026 for the Hawkeyes.

On display 💪

Iose Epenesa ➡️ Polynesian CFB POY Watch List 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Pg6UBSqv3q

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) August 20, 2026

While at Edwardsville High School, Epenesa was a first-team all-state honoree as a senior, an honorable mention all-state selection as a junior, a four-time first-team all-conference pick, and a three-time team lineman MVP.

Finalists for the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on Dec. 8 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 15. 

Iowa opens the 2026 season by hosting Northern Illinois for a 3:15 p.m. CT kickoff on Sept. 5 at Kinnick Stadium.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iose Epenesa named to Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list

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CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 18: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It will be a battle of southpaws in the Land of the Endless Strip Mall on Sunday afternoon as Andrew Abbott and Mitch Bratt share the mound in Chase Field for the finale of the series between the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Reds turned the tides on the Snakes late Saturday after having been demolished 9-0 on Friday night, the top of the order going nuts on old friend Zack Littell en route to a thunderous 11-5 win. JJ Bleday hit for the cycle, Elly De La Cruz smoked a 450 foot homer, and the vibes were generally good for a change for the otherwise abysmal offense.

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Now, the series is officially up for grabs.

Sunday’s game will see its first pitch chucked at 4:15 PM ET, and coverage for the day will be carried by Peacock, so good luck tracking that down.

Here’s how both clubs will line up to start:

Today’s Lineups

REDSDIAMONDBACKSElly De La Cruz – SSIldemaro Vargas – 2BSal Stewart – 1BCorbin Carroll – RFDane Myers – CFGabriel Moreno – DHTyler Stephenson – DHGeraldo Perdomo – SSEugenio Suarez – 3BNolan Arenado – 3BMatt McLain – 2BTim Tawa – 1BJJ Bleday – LFJordan Lawlar – CFWill Banfield – CJames McCann – CHector Rodriguez – RFRyan Waldschmidt – LFAndrew Abbott – LHPMitch Bratt – LHP

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