2024 Iowa Hawkeyes football team


The 2024 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes were led by Kirk Ferentz in his 26th year as head coach. Iowa played their home games at Kinnick Stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, and sold out all seven home contests for the third consecutive season.
The Hawkeyes ended the 2024 season with a 27–24 loss to No. 19 [2024 2024 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri] in the Music City Bowl to finish with an 8–5 record.
Senior linebacker Jay Higgins was named First-team All-Big Ten for the second time, Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, and a Unanimous First-team All-American. Junior running back Kaleb Johnson was named First-team All-Big Ten, Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year, and a Consensus First-team All-American. He was also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, and established single-season program records for rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. Senior return specialist Kaden Wetjen was named First-team All-Big Ten and Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year.

Game summaries

No. 19 (FCS) Illinois State

Iowa opened the season against Illinois State, whom they had played only once previously, a 31–14 win to open the 2015 season. The Hawkeyes had just a 6–0 lead at halftime, but the offense came alive in the second half, scoring 34 points behind a balanced attack. The Hawkeye defense forced three turnovers, had four sacks, and pitched a shutout in a game in which the Redbirds never put together a scoring threat. Head coach Kirk Ferentz served a one-game suspension following a recruiting violation, making this the first game since November 25, 1978, that neither Hayden Fry nor Ferentz patrolled the Iowa sideline.
StatisticsILSTIOWA
First downs1223
Total yards189492
Rushing yards56241
Passing yards133251
Passing: Comp–Att–Int14–29–121–31–0
Time of possession25:1234:48

Iowa State (rivalry)

Iowa had won seven of the last eight in this trophy series. While the Hawkeyes had a double-digit lead at halftime, two first and goal situations inside the 5 yard line and a failed two-point conversion set the stage for Iowa State's comeback win.
StatisticsISUIOWA
First downs1516
Total yards64–36167–303
Rushing yards28–8938–204
Passing yards27299
Passing: comp–att–int23–36–113–29–2
Time of possession30:1029:50

Troy

In the last non-conference game for the Hawkeyes, the team struggled in the first half but put up four touchdowns in the second.
StatisticsTROYIOWA
First downs1025
Total yards47–25369–462
Rushing yards21–2445–284
Passing yards229178
Passing: comp–att–int16–26–120–24–0
Time of possession23:4136:19

at Minnesota (rivalry)

Iowa was out for revenge and to recapture Floyd after the previous year's controversial ending. They were outplayed in the first half but completely dominated the second. The victory was the fifth consecutive for the Hawkeyes at Huntington Bank Stadium and tied Kirk Ferentz with Amos Alonzo Stagg in career wins as a Big Ten coach.
StatisticsIOWAMINN
First downs1915
Total yards64–33458–288
Rushing yards45–27221–79
Passing yards62209
Passing: comp–att–int11–19–022–37–2
Time of possession31:4328:17

at No. 3 Ohio State

The Hawkeyes haven't won in Columbus since 1991 and were humbled during their last visit two years prior. After a competitive first half the Buckeyes ran away with the game in the second.
StatisticsIOWAOSU
First downs1021
Total yards48–22665–412
Rushing yards27–11640–203
Passing yards110209
Passing: comp–att–int15–21–121–25–1
Time of possession25:1434:46

Washington

These programs hadn't faced each other since the 1995 Sun Bowl. Playing Washington for the first time as a Big Ten opponent, Iowa held a 10-point halftime lead before dominating the second half. The victory gave Kirk Ferentz his 200th win at Iowa.
StatisticsWASHIOWA
First downs2320
Total yards80–39351–328
Rushing yards30–12737–220
Passing yards266108
Passing: comp–att–int34–50–18–14–0
Time of possession34:5922:03

at Michigan State

Iowa's offense sputtered for most of the game, and Michigan State sustained drives consistently in earning a homecoming victory in East Lansing.
StatisticsIOWAMSU
First downs1227
Total yards46–28370–468
Rushing yards23–13340–212
Passing yards150256
Passing: comp–att–int11–23–122–30–1
Time of possession20:1639:44

Northwestern

Iowa has won four of last five in this series. However, the Wildcats have spoiled two previous homecomings in the Ferentz era. After struggling for most of the first half, the Iowa offense exploded in the third quarter with four touchdowns.
StatisticsNWIOWA
First downs1114
Total yards51–16366–355
Rushing yards24–4339–203
Passing yards120152
Passing: comp–att–int15–27–216–27–1
Time of possession25:3634:24

Wisconsin (rivalry)

Wisconsin hasn't won at Kinnick Stadium since 2018. Iowa also hadn't won three in a row in this series in two decades. This was the first career start at Iowa for Brendan Sullivan. The Hawkeyes capitalized on two interceptions to keep the bull in Iowa City for a third year in a row and reach bowl eligibility for a twelfth consecutive year.
StatisticsWISIOWA
First downs1622
Total yards57–26164–422
Rushing yards28–12454–329
Passing yards13793
Passing: comp–att–int15–29–27–10–0
Time of possession26:3433:26

at UCLA

After a strong first quarter, the Hawkeyes remain winless at the Rose Bowl since January 1, 1959. UCLA won their third straight with a strong running game and limiting the running game of the Hawkeyes, who had been the Big Ten's top rushing team. This was the first matchup in the series since the 1986 Rose Bowl, the first regular season matchup since the 1981 season, and Iowa's first visit to Pasadena since the 2016 Rose Bowl.
StatisticsIOWAUCLA
First downs1223
Total yards46–26573–414
Rushing yards31–8039–211
Passing yards185203
Passing: comp–att–int9–15–221–34–2
Time of possession22:2737:33

at Maryland

The Hawkeyes bounced back against Maryland a team they haven't lost to since 2014 to earn the 700th win in program history. This was also the first time Brian Ferentz coached against his father. Five Drew Stevens field goals tying a single-game program record kept Iowa in the lead throughout. Junior running back Kaleb Johnson set the single-season program record for rushing touchdowns.
StatisticsIOWAMD
First downs2114
Total yards72–34457–227
Rushing yards58–26826–98
Passing yards76129
Passing: comp–att–int10–14–017–31–2
Time of possession37:4122:19

Nebraska (rivalry)

Iowa won for the ninth time in ten tries in this rivalry series. Drew Stevens nailed a 53-yard field goal as time expired to keep the Heroes Trophy in Iowa City.
StatisticsNEBIOWA
First downs205
Total yards76–33441–164
Rushing yards43–14426–49
Passing yards190115
Passing: comp–att–int22–33–08–15–0
Time of possession39:0120:59

vs No. 19 Missouri (Music City Bowl)

These two programs haven't played since the 2010 Insight Bowl. They were scheduled to play in same bowl four years prior but it was cancelled due to COVID-19 complications. This is also the second time Iowa has been invited to this bowl in the last three seasons. Additionally, a victory would have had Kirk Ferentz tied with Woody Hayes in Big Ten career wins. Costly mistakes hurt the Hawkeyes throughout the game.
StatisticsIOWAMIZZ
First downs1823
Total yards56–29766–376
Rushing yards38–16633–89
Passing yards131287
Passing: Comp–Att–Int14–18–118–33–0
Time of possession28:3031:30

Players drafted into the NFL

383Kaleb JohnsonRBPittsburgh Steelers
5164Yahya BlackDTPittsburgh Steelers
7234Mason RichmanOTSeattle Seahawks
7249Connor ColbyOGSan Francisco 49ers
7255Luke LacheyTEHouston Texans