The Iowa Hawkeyes have received some bad news. Iowa offensive lineman Ike Boettger received even worse. The former will be without the latter for the rest of the season, while the latter's career with the former is probably done.

Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed that Ike Boettger has been diagnosed with an Achilles tendon injury. That injury is as awful as it sounds. The starting right tackle sustained the injury in a wild Week 2 win over in-state rival Iowa State.

As a result of the injury, Boettger will be sidelined for the next 4-6 months. Since college football seasons don't last that long, it means his season is done. But wait, it gets even worse.

Boettger is a fifth-year senior. It is incredibly unlikely the NCAA will grant him a sixth-year of eligibity playing collegiate football. In turn, barring a miracle, it appears his career at Iowa is over.

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This is a substantial loss for the Hawkeyes.

Boettger started the first six games of the 2015 season at right tackle before going down with a season-ending injury (he, apparently, has none of the luck). That is obviously too many games for him to have qualified for a medical hardship waiver toward any potential sixth season of eligibility.

The only glimmer of hope here is that the big man only played in two games this year. While that is usually too much as well, maybe the governing body of college sports will take a look at his 2015 campaign, couple it with his short 2017 voyage, and make a bit of a lifetime ruling.

Last season, Boettger started all 12 games in which he played. He started the first two games of the 2017 season as well.