Tag: Hawkeyes

Dec 30, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Marquis Johnson (2) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

No. 19 Missouri beats Iowa in Music City Bowl to notch 10-win season

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Brady Cook threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns as No. 19 Missouri rallied past Iowa 27-24 Monday afternoon in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.

The Tigers (10-3) erased a 24-14 third-quarter deficit. Blake Craig completed the comeback with decisive field goals of 51 and 56 yards in the fourth.

That gave Missouri a double-digit victory total in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013-14.

Marquis Johnson caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Theo Wease Jr. caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in the first half before exiting the game with an upper-body injury.

Cook, who completed 18 of 32 passes, was Missouri’s leading rusher with 54 yards as the Hawkeyes (8-5) contained the Tigers’ running backs.

Kamari Moulton rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown for Iowa and Jaziun Patterson added 74 yards on the ground. Brendan Sullivan completed 14 of 18 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Iowa took a 7-0 lead on its first possession. Sullivan capped the 70-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown flip to Terrell Washington Jr.

The Tigers responded with an 85-yard drive and Cook’s 8-yard scoring pass to Wease.

Kaden Wetjen answered with a 100-yard touchdown kickoff return touchdown to put the Hawkeyes up 14-7.

Missouri tied the game with a 75-yard drive that culminated with Cook’s 7-yard TD pass to Johnson.

Moulton’s 38-yard run set up his 1-yard touchdown dive with 49 seconds left in the first half. That put Iowa up 21-14 at halftime.

The Hawkeyes increased their lead to 24-14 with Drew Stevens’ 38-yard field goal with 5:19 left in the third quarter.

Cook’s 44-yard pass to Johnson set up Joshua Manning’s 4-yard touchdown run as Missouri cut its deficit to 24-21.

After Toriano Pride intercepted Sullivan, Craig’s 51-yard field goal tied the game. Craig’s 56-yard kick with 4:36 left put Missouri ahead.

Iowa’s final possession ended with 1:03 left to play when Missouri stopped Sullivan on its 46-yard line on a fourth-and-inches run.

–Field Level Media

Nov 8, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) chases down Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Iowa QB Brendan Sullivan (ankle) to start Music City Bowl

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Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan has recovered from a sprained ankle and will start the Music City Bowl against Missouri on Dec. 30, Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said Friday.

Sullivan missed the final two games of the regular season due to the ailment.

“He feels fully confident,” Ferentz said of Sullivan. “The injury is history now. It’s passed. Just getting caught up because he missed a couple weeks there. This has been a good period where he’s getting some work.”

Walk-on Jackson Stratton started victories over Maryland and Nebraska while Sullivan was out. Cade McNamara, the starter at the outset of the season, recently entered the transfer portal.

Sullivan has passed for 344 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 144 yards and four scores this season. He was injured during a loss to UCLA on Nov. 8.

Sullivan spent three seasons at Northwestern — redshirting his first campaign on campus — before transferring to Iowa following last season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa comes back for last-second victory over Nebraska

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Drew Stevens kicked a 53-yard field goal as time expired and Iowa rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Nebraska 13-10 on Friday night in a Big Ten game in Iowa City.

It was the second consecutive year the Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) won the annual rivalry game on a last-second kick, both by the same score. The latest victory ensured Iowa a ninth consecutive eight-win season, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola was strip-sacked by Iowa’s Max Llewellyn at the Cornhuskers 36-yard line with 20 seconds remaining. Three plays later, Stevens tucked the kick just inside the upright.

The second-coldest game in Kinnick Stadium history — it was 20 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff — saw less than 500 yards of offense, with Iowa managing just 164. The Hawkeyes made up for it with a pair of takeaways which led to six points.

Iowa trailed 10-0 at halftime, punting on all six full drives and managing only 20 yards on 20 plays with one first down. The Hawkeyes got 29 yards on their first drive of the second half, a march that included another punt but also a recovery of a muff at the Nebraska 4-yard line. Stevens made a 20-yard field goal with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

Kaleb Johnson scored on a 72-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Stratton on the first play of the fourth quarter, his 23rd score of the season, to tie it at 10. Iowa had only 65 yards prior to that play.

Nebraska (6-6, 3-6) scored on its opening possession, getting a 31-yard field goal from John Hohl. That was the only scoring in the game until the Cornhuskers’ Dante Dowdell scored on a 1-yard run with 38 seconds left before halftime.

Both schools will learn which bowl game they are in and their opponent on Dec. 8. Nebraska will make its first bowl appearance since 2016, while Iowa is bowl-eligible for the 12th straight season.

–Field Level Media

Iowa defensive back Jermari Harris (27) applauds after a play against Wisconsin Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Report: Iowa CB Jermari Harris opts out of rest of season

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Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris has opted out of the remainder of the 2024 season in order to prepare for the NFL draft, according to a report by 247Sports.com.

The 6-foot-1 sixth-year senior from Chicago has recorded 27 tackles, three interceptions and a team-high seven pass breakups in 10 games for the Hawkeyes this season. That includes a pick-6 in a 38-21 win over Troy earlier this season.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) plays at Maryland on Saturday before closing out its regular season at home against Nebraska on Nov. 29. The Hawkeyes are already bowl eligible, so Harris is likely opting out of three games in total.

After missing the entire 2022 season due to an ankle injury, Harris was suspended for two games of the following season for his involvement in the gambling investigation into Iowa athletics. He later emerged as the Hawkeyes’ top cornerback, earning the team’s comeback player of the year award after compiling 42 tackles, one interception and eight pass breakups.

Harris will finish his college career with 105 tackles and eight interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (2) stiff arms Northwestern’s Jack Oyola (27) enroute to scoring a touchdown in the second quarter Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

After 2nd-quarter QB change, Iowa reels off 35 unanswered to rout Northwestern

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Iowa exploded for five straight touchdowns bridging halftime, three by star running back Kaleb Johnson and another on Kaden Wetjen’s 85-yard punt return, as the Hawkeyes blew out the Northwestern Wildcats 40-14 in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday.

Johnson, who entered the afternoon second in FBS in rushing yards with 1,035, shook off a slow start and amassed 109 yards on 14 carries. He had only 4 yards in his first seven rushes.

Brendan Sullivan replaced Cade McNamara at quarterback for Iowa early in the second quarter to provide a lift. After three straight three-and-out drives, Sullivan and the Hawkeyes engineered a 52-yard scoring drive in just 43 seconds late in the quarter to help Iowa (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) to a 12-7 lead at halftime. On third-and-1, Johnson found a hole up the middle and went 26 yards for the touchdown.

Sullivan then capped a seven-play, 78-yard drive on Iowa’s first possession of the third quarter, scoring on a 6-yard scamper. Sullivan finished with 79 yards on 9-of-14 passing and 41 yards on eight carries.

When Northwestern (3-5, 1-4) went three-and-out and punted on its first possession of the second half, Wetjen broke to the left sideline and barely managed to stay in bounds before padding the lead to 26-7.

The rout was on when Johnson scored on bursts of 41 and 25 yards inside the last five minutes of the third quarter.

None of the Wildcats’ points came from their offense. In the second quarter, Theran Johnson picked off a pass from McNamara and took it 85 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead. McNamara was pulled after that interception.

In the fourth quarter, Drew Wagner dodged a cluster of defenders after catching a punt and took it 72 yards for a touchdown to make it 40-14.

Iowa, which opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal by Drew Stevens, also got points from its stifling defense. It happened after punter Rhys Dakin pinned the Wildcats on their 6-yard line. On the next play, Hawkeyes lineman Max Llewellyn sacked quarterback Jack Lausch for a safety, cutting the deficit to 7-5.

Northwestern finished with 163 total yards, while Iowa racked up 355.

Lausch went 10-of-19 passing for 62 yards and two interceptions. Ryan Hilinski completed 5 of 8 passes for 58 yards in relief of Lausch. Cam Porter led Northwestern with 50 yards on 13 rushes.

The Wildcats have lost four of their last five games.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) runs the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

No. 3 Ohio State, dominant in second half this season, meets Iowa

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If Iowa hopes to upset No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday afternoon in Columbus, it would be wise for the Hawkeyes to get off to a good start.

While the Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) have outscored opponents by an average of 42 points (48.8 to 6.8), they have been more vulnerable in the first half before making defensive adjustments.

The Buckeyes have a 91-3 scoring advantage after halftime after a combined 104-24 in the first two quarters.

Their yards allowed are just as dramatic. They gave up 186 in the first half to Marshall on Sept. 21 and 203 last Saturday in a 38-7 victory over Michigan State followed by second-half totals of 61 and 60, respectively.

“We want to get stops. We want to force three-and-outs,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We’re going to deal with the same thing this week. Those guys (Iowa) have made improvements in a lot of areas on offense, and I think they’re playing really well, so it’s another challenge for our defense.”

Iowa (3-1, 1-0) likely won’t be able to match the Buckeyes’ high-powered offense but will try to control the ball and take the crowd out of the game.

One of the keys will be Hamilton, Ohio native Kaleb Johnson. In a 31-14 win against Minnesota on Sept. 21, he rushed for a career-high 206 yards on a 9.8 yards-per-carry average with three touchdowns for his fourth straight 100-plus-yard game.

He is No. 2 nationally with 685 yards.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz knows the Buckeyes will be ready for Johnson.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge,” Ferentz said. “The holes are going to close quick.”

Johnson has 12 runs of 20 or more yards this season, including a 64-yarder, which likely will be of concern to the Buckeyes. But the Hawkeyes will face a stern defense that is second nationally in total defense (196.5 yards per game). The Hawkeyes are 18th (272.8).

Iowa will have to contain a multi-faceted Ohio State offense that features running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson — who have combined for 666 rushing yards and nine touchdowns — and a group of talented receivers led by freshman Jeremiah Smith (19 catches for 364 yards and five TDs).

“They are very balanced and talented at every position,” Ferentz said. “They’ve got really good players in all three phases, and I think are really deserving of their ranking. Certainly, they’ve had great production in all three phases, and they’re really well-coached in all three phases. So it’s kind of what you’d expect of a top-ranked team like that.”

Meanwhile, with so much reliance on the running game, Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara has been efficient. He was 11 for 19 for only 62 yards against Minnesota but did not have a turnover for a second straight game.

McNamara referenced Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, who completed 18 of 18 passes vs. the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.

“There’s always going to be ups and downs in games,” McNamara said. “Other than basically Jared Goff, you can’t play a perfect game.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) and defensive lineman Yahya Black (94) celebrate with the Floyd of Rosedale trophy after the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson rushes for 206 yards, 3 TDs as Hawkeyes roll Minnesota

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Kaleb Johnson ran for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns, helping lead Iowa to a 31-14 win over Minnesota in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Jaziun Patterson added 66 rushing yards for the Hawkeyes (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who won the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy, given annually to the winner of the game. Cade McNamara completed 11 of 19 passes for just 62 yards, but Iowa won its ninth game in 10 contests against Minnesota.

The Golden Gophers (2-2, 0-1) led 14-7 before Iowa outscored them 24-0 in the second half. Max Brosmer completed 22 of 37 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Daniel Jackson hauled in nine passes for a game-high 112 yards for Minnesota.

Trailing by 7 points at halftime, Iowa’s five-play, 67-yard scoring drive on the opening possession of the second half was stamped with Johnson’s 15-yard score with 12:56 left.

After a Minnesota punt, McNamara found Reece Vander Zee for an 18-yard pickup on 3rd-and-6, advancing to the Iowa 49-yard line. Three plays later, Johnson reeled off his third touchdown of the game, a 40-yarder to give the Hawkeyes a 21-14 lead with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter.

Iowa added a field goal with 48 seconds left in the third, as Drew Stevens connected on a 46-yarder.

Following the Golden Gophers’ fourth straight punt, Johnson took a 33-yard run to the Minnesota 19-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter. After advancing to the goal line, quarterback Brendan Sullivan replaced McNamara for the short-yardage attempt and extended the Iowa lead to 31-14 with a one-yard rushing score with 11:13 left in the game.

After the teams traded punts on the opening possessions, Brosmer was picked off by Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins at the Minnesota 38-yard line.

On the ensuing drive, Johnson’s 23-yard run was followed by his one-yard score, giving Iowa a 7-0 lead with 8:03 left in the first quarter.

From there, each team punted on three straight drives before Minnesota tied the game on Brosmer’s three-yard pass to Jameson Geers.

Following Iowa’s fifth punt of the first half, Brosmer led the Golden Gophers on an eight-play, 68-yard scoring drive, capped with an 11-yard passing touchdown from Brosmer to Elijah Spencer with 21 seconds left in the half. Minnesota held a 222-107 edge in total yards at the break, including Brosmer’s 165-16 passing yards advantage over McNamara.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Deontae Craig (45) pressures Troy Trojans quarterback Matthew Caldwell (12) during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa survives Troy upset scare

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The Iowa Hawkeyes survived a scare against the Troy Trojans Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa, defeating the Sun Belt Conference team 38-21.

Iowa (2-1) entered the second half down four points, after entering the game a 22 and ½-point favorite against Troy (0-3), but needed a second half turnover and strong running performance to defeat the Spartans.

Kaleb Johnson led the Hawkeyes on the ground with 173 yards and two touchdowns. The junior had two runs over 30 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter, putting Iowa ahead 31-21.

Devonte Ross paced the Trojans with 142 yards receiving and two touchdowns on five catches, adding a punt return score.

Brendan Sullivan, a transfer from Northwestern, gave Iowa its first lead of the second half with his only pass of the game. Entering the game on a redzone play, Sullivan sent a shovel pass to Addison Ostrenga for a touchdown.

The touchdown was Iowa’s only through the air, with Cade McNamara passing for 176 yards on 19 for 23 passing.

Then, with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter, Iowa added to its lead with a 28-yard pick six with Jermari Harris reading a pass from Matthew Caldwell and diving into the endzone to cap the return.

Iowa put the game away for good in the fourth quarter when Jaziun Patterson ran 39 yards for a touchdown putting the Hawkeyes up 38-21. Iowa outgained Troy 284-24 on the ground.

Troy gave the Big Ten squad a scare throughout the first three quarters of the game, thanks in part to the play of Ross.

In the second quarter, down 7-0, Ross caught a 63-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Caldwell down the left sideline. Then, with one minute remaining in the first half, Ross scored on a 77-yard punt return to put the Trojans ahead 14-10 at halftime.

In the second half, Ross repeated his first half receiving prowess with a different quarterback. After Caldwell, who had 156 passing yards and a touchdown, threw his interception, the quarterback went to the bench in favor of Tucker Kilcrease. On the sophomore’s first pass, he found Ross for a 62-yard touchdown pass.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State’s Rocco Becht (3) hands off the ball to Abu Sama III (24) against Iowa during the CyHawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Last-second field goal lifts Iowa State over No. 21 Iowa

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Kyle Konrardy converted a 54-yard field goal Saturday with six seconds left, capping an Iowa State comeback from a 13-point halftime deficit as it defeated in-state rival No. 21 Iowa 20-19 in Iowa City.

The Cyclones (2-0) drove 42 yards in five plays after taking possession at their 22 with 34 seconds left. The big play was Rocco Becht’s 30-yard completion to Jaylin Noel that got Iowa State to the Hawkeyes’ 38. Two plays later, Konrardy hit the game-winner.

Becht was 23 of 35 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Noel caught five passes for 133 yards as the Cyclones outgained Iowa (1-1) 361-303.

Kaleb Johnson starred in defeat for the Hawkeyes, rushing for 187 yards and both of Iowa’s touchdowns on 25 carries. Quarterback Cade McNamara hit just 13 of 29 passes for 99 yards and tossed two interceptions.

Konrardy also hit a 46-yard field goal with 11:32 remaining to pull Iowa State within 19-17, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

Iowa controlled the first half, allowing no first downs and only 18 total yards in the first quarter while controlling the ball behind Johnson’s big runs.

The Hawkeyes initiated scoring on their second possession, cashing in a 43-yard field after a short jump. Johnson covered the final 27 yards for a 7-0 lead at the 6:29 mark of the first quarter.

Iowa nudged the lead to 13-0 at halftime as Drew Stevens converted second-quarter field goals of 23 and 21 yards. The Hawkeyes failed to get six points on the first field goals after getting possession at the Iowa State 12, then drove 77 yards before the next scoring drive stalled out at the 4.

Trailing 13-0 at halftime, the Cyclones cranked up their offense in the second half. Becht got them on the board via a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins, then answered Johnson’s 3-yard scoring jaunt by connecting with Noel for a 75-yard touchdown at the 4:31 mark of the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Iowa’s Cade McNamara (12) looks to throw during Kids Day at Kinnick Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Iowa QB Cade McNamara ready for opener vs. Illinois State

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A wobbly fall camp and rustiness from last season’s knee injury didn’t prevent Cade McNamara from winning Iowa’s starting quarterback job.

McNamara will play his first game in 11 months on Saturday when the No. 25 Hawkeyes face FCS program Illinois State at Iowa City, Iowa.

McNamara tore the ACL in his left knee last Sept. 30 against Michigan State. He was cleared to resume football activities in June and held off a challenge from Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan in fall camp.

“It’s been a long time,” McNamara told reporters on Tuesday. “I’ve been really anticipating this, really ever since surgery. I’ve been working for this week and just putting my body and my mind in the best position to help out the team.”

McNamara passed for 505 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions last season prior to the injury.

McNamara played for Michigan from 2020-22 prior to transferring to Iowa.

However, Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz jumped the gun in seeking McNamara’s services and contacted him prior to the quarterback entering the transfer portal. That led to an NCAA violation and one-game suspension that Ferentz will serve on Saturday.

Assistant head coach Seth Wallace will serve as Iowa’s head coach.

It will be the first time someone other than College Hall of Famer Hayden Fry or Ferentz has coached the Hawkeyes since Nov. 25, 1978, at Michigan State.

“We have a good leadership group here, and they’ll do great,” said Ferentz, in his 26th season as the Iowa head coach. “There’s going to be some challenges, there’s no question about that.”

Receivers coach Jon Budmayr also is suspended for the opener due to the violation.

McNamara chose not to discuss what happened during his session with reporters.

“I’m not going to comment (on the) NCAA review or anything,” McNamara said. “But this team really loves Coach Ferentz and we’re going to rally behind him.

“Coach Wallace is an awesome dude. Everyone is just focused on doing the best that we can to prepare for this week.”

One player the Hawkeyes expect great play from is national defensive player of the year candidate Jay Higgins, the linebacker who led the nation with 171 tackles during last season’s 10-4 campaign. That tied the school mark set by Andre Jackson in 1972.

Illinois State didn’t play an FBS opponent last season while going 6-5.

The Redbirds haven’t named a starting quarterback for the opener and coach Brock Spack indicated that both Tommy Rittenhouse and Jake Rubley will play against the Hawkeyes. Rubley is the son of former NFL quarterback T.J. Rubley.

Rittenhouse started five games over the past two seasons while the now-departed Zack Annexstad was out with injuries. He passed for 684 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions and also had four rushing scores.

Rubley is a transfer from Kansas State. He got into six games over the past two seasons for the Wildcats and completed five of six passes.

“Once we get in game scenarios, the guy with the hot hand will probably play more,” Spack said. “Both guys are doing a great job and playing really well.”

Illinois State returns star receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, who had 68 catches for 933 yards and 10 scoring receptions last year. Also back is running back Mason King, who had 980 yards and 14 scores last season while known as Mason Blakemore.

Defensively, safety Keondre Jackson is the leading returning tackler (76). Linebacker Amir Abdullah had a team-best 9.5 sacks last season.

In the only previous meeting, Iowa posted a 31-14 home win over the Redbirds in 2015.

–Field Level Media