2020 Iowa Hawkeyes football team


The 2020 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by 22nd-year head coach Kirk Ferentz.
On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, on September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24. The Hawkeyes compiled a 6–2 record, all in conference games. The team was set to face [2020 2020 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri] in the Music City Bowl, but the game was canceled after Missouri had to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues.
Junior defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and was a unanimous First-team All-American.

Schedule

Iowa had games scheduled against Northern Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois, but canceled these games on July 9 due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rankings

Big Ten Conference members were not eligible for the Week 2 of the AP and Coaches Polls and Week 3 of the AP due to not having a scheduled season at the time.

Game summaries

At Purdue

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StatisticsIOWAPUR
First downs1924
Total yards460386
Rushing yards195104
Passing yards265282
Turnovers22
Time of possession29:4930:11

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IowaPassingSpencer Petras22–39, 265 yards
IowaRushingTyler Goodson16 carries, 77 yards
IowaReceivingSam LaPorta5 receptions, 71 yards
PurduePassingAidan O'Connell31–50, 282 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
PurdueRushingZander Horvath21 carries, 129 yards
PurdueReceivingDavid Bell13 receptions, 121 yards, 3 TD

Northwestern

  • Source:
StatisticsNWIOWA
First downs1820
Total yards273293
Rushing yards14377
Passing yards130216
Turnovers13
Time of possession33:3326:27

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NorthwesternPassingPeyton Ramsey11–18, 130 yards, INT
NorthwesternRushingIsaiah Bowser25 carries, 85 yards
NorthwesternReceivingKyric McGowan5 receptions, 63 yards
IowaPassingSpencer Petras26–50, 216 yards, TD, 3 INT
IowaRushingTyler Goodson13 carries, 43 yards, TD
IowaReceivingIhmir Smith-Marsette7 receptions, 84 yards

Michigan State

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Iowa's first win over Michigan State since 2012, and the Hawkeyes' largest in the 48-game series, gave Kirk Ferentz his 163rd win as coach, passing Joe Paterno in total wins as a Big Ten head coach. The Hawkeyes dominated in all three phases of the game and gave Spartan quarterback Rocky Lombardi a long day, intercepting him three times.
StatisticsMSUIOWA
First downs1019
Total yards286405
Rushing yards59226
Passing yards227179
Turnovers30
Time of possession27:5532:05

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Michigan StatePassingRocky Lombardi17–37, 227 yards, 3 INT
Michigan StateRushingJordan Simmons9 carries, 34 yards
Michigan StateReceivingJalen Nailor4 receptions, 119 yards
IowaPassingSpencer Petras15–27, 167 yards, TD
IowaRushingTyler Goodson14 carries, 113 yards, 2 TD
IowaReceivingTyrone Tracy4 receptions, 38 yards

At Minnesota

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Iowa has won eight of the last nine meetings in this series. The Hawkeyes dominated the Golden Gophers, winning for the third straight time in Minneapolis, to keep Floyd of Rosedale in Iowa City for a sixth straight year.
StatisticsIOWAMINN
First downs2019
Total yards346312
Rushing yards235145
Passing yards111167
Turnovers12
Time of possession23:5036:10

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IowaPassingSpencer Petras9–18, 111 yards, TD, INT
IowaRushingTyler Goodson20 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD
IowaReceivingTyrone Tracy3 receptions, 36 yards
MinnesotaPassingTanner Morgan16–33, 167 yards, TD, 2 INT
MinnesotaRushingMohamed Ibrahim33 carries, 144 yards
MinnesotaReceivingRashod Bateman8 receptions, 111 yards, TD

At Penn State

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Iowa earned their first win over Penn State since 2010, forcing four turnovers in the process. The victory gave Kirk Ferentz his 100th Big Ten win - just the 4th coach in conference history to achieve the feat - and Penn State their first-ever 0–5 start in the program's 134-year history.
StatisticsIOWAPSU
First downs2419
Total yards361342
Rushing yards17562
Passing yards186280
Turnovers14
Time of possession31:5028:10

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IowaPassingSpencer Petras18/28, 186 yards
IowaRushingMekhi Sargent15 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD
IowaReceivingNico Ragaini4 receptions, 46 yards
Penn StatePassingSean Clifford13/22, 174 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Penn StateRushingWill Levis15 carries, 34 yards
Penn StateReceivingJahan Dotson8 receptions, 139 yards, TD

Nebraska

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Iowa was victorious for the sixth straight time - and seventh in eight meetings - against Nebraska. In this back-and-forth game, turnovers in the fourth quarter hurt the Cornhuskers, as they fumbled twice in the last 10:17. The second of which was forced by Chauncey Golston to keep the Heroes Trophy in Iowa City. Senior Keith Duncan kicked four field goals in a game for the fourth time in his career, joining Nate Kaeding as the only Hawkeye kickers to achieve the feat.
StatisticsNEBIOWA
First downs2022
Total yards338322
Rushing yards143129
Passing yards195193
Turnovers21
Time of possession25:3634:24

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NebraskaPassingAdrian Martinez18/20, 174 yards
NebraskaRushingWan'Dale Robinson
Luke McCaffrey		6 carries, 42 yards
5 carries, 42 yards
NebraskaReceivingWan'Dale Robinson9 receptions, 75 yards
IowaPassingSpencer Petras18/30, 193 yards, TD, INT
IowaRushingTyler Goodson30 carries, 111 yards
IowaReceivingSam LaPorta5 receptions, 38 yards

At Illinois

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Iowa hasn't lost to Illinois since 2008. This was their seventh straight victory in the series and have won 12 of the last 13 overall. Illinois jumped out to a 14–0 lead early but the Hawkeyes put up 35 unanswered points and controlled the line of scrimmage from that point on having the ability to both run and pass the ball effectively.
StatisticsIOWAILL
First downs2220
Total yards424348
Rushing yards204149
Passing yards220199
Turnovers00
Time of possession30:2629:34

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IowaPassingSpencer Petras18/28, 220 yards, 3 TD
IowaRushingTyler Goodson19 carries, 92 yards
IowaReceivingBrandon Smith5 receptions, 58 yards
IllinoisPassingBrandon Peters10/18, 116 yards, 2 TD
IllinoisRushingChase Brown18 carries, 83 yards
IllinoisReceivingJosh Imatorbhebhe4 receptions, 48 yards, TD

Wisconsin

Iowa won at home over Wisconsin for the first time since 2008 to recapture the bull. After a slow start on the snow-covered field in the first half, the Hawkeyes put up three touchdowns in the second, and were able to stop the Badgers on several fourth down attempts.
StatisticsWISIOWA
First downs1113
Total yards225338
Rushing yards56127
Passing yards169211
Turnovers21
Time of possession34:1125:49

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
WisconsinPassingGraham Mertz20/38, 169 yards, INT
WisconsinRushingNakia Watson13 carries, 29 yards, TD
WisconsinReceivingJack Dunn5 receptions, 55 yards
IowaPassingSpencer Petras14/25, 211 yards, 2 TD
IowaRushingTyler Goodson11 carries, 106 yards, TD
IowaReceivingIhmir Smith-Marsette7 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TD

Michigan

Iowa was looking to avenge a loss in Ann Arbor from previous season, but it was announced on December 15 the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Wolverines program.

Vs. Missouri (Music City Bowl)

Due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Tigers' football program, the Music City Bowl was canceled, ending the season for both the Hawkeyes and the Tigers.
Had the game been played, it would have been the first meeting between Iowa and Missouri in a decade. If Iowa had won the game, it would have given Kirk Ferentz his 10th bowl win, which would have tied Joe Paterno for first all-time in Big 10 history.

Players drafted into the NFL

384Chauncey GolstonDEDallas Cowboys
5157Ihmir Smith-MarsetteWRMinnesota Vikings
5158Daviyon NixonDTCarolina Panthers
6185Nick NiemannILBLos Angeles Chargers