Iowa is carrying momentum into the final tune-up before Big Ten play, and the ranking bump that came out of Week 2 reflects it. After beating Iowa State in the Cy-Hawk game, the Hawkeyes moved up to No. 18 in the AP poll, a three-spot jump from No.
- They’re also No. 20 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
The win over the Cyclones came with a little extra hardware for the special teams room. Caden Buhr was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after drilling the game-winning 42-yard field goal on Saturday. Buhr went 3-for-3 on field goals against Iowa State and became the first Hawkeye to pick up a weekly conference honor this season.
That rivalry victory also pushed Iowa to its eighth straight win in night games. And with the other rivalry results already in the books, the Hawkeyes are sitting on all four of their rivalry trophies, with three more games still to come later this season.
Now Iowa turns to Northern Iowa to wrap up the nonconference schedule. It’s the first meeting between the Hawkeyes and Panthers since 2018, and it comes before Iowa’s Big Ten opener at Michigan on Sept. 26, a game that has been set for 2:30 p.m. on CBS.
The depth chart offered a few things to watch heading into this week. Iowa still listed an “OR” at quarterback between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, even though Brown played the full game against Iowa State. Kamari Moulton remained on the depth chart after leaving the Cyclones game early, while LJ Phillips and defensive back Tyler Brown were not listed.
Around the conference, Week 2 brought some heavy swings. Ohio State and Oregon both took their first losses of the season, with the Buckeyes falling to now-No.
1 Texas and the Ducks losing to Oklahoma State. Ohio State, previously in the top ten, dropped to No. 6, while Oregon slid to No.
Seven Big Ten teams remained in the AP top 25: No. 4 Indiana, No.
6 Ohio State, No. 12 USC, No.
14 Penn State, No. 18 Iowa, No.
19 Michigan and No. 21 Oregon.
Michigan was the league’s only team to land a ranked win last week, beating No. 24 Oklahoma.
This week, Michigan State is the lone Big Ten team facing a ranked opponent, traveling to No. 3 Notre Dame.
Conference play also gets rolling this weekend, with Purdue and UCLA and USC and Rutgers among the Saturday matchups.
Northern Iowa arrives in Iowa City after earning its first win of the season, a 56-14 victory over Drake in its home opener on Sept. 12. Quarterback Jaxon Dailey has thrown for 529 yards with three touchdowns and one interception across the Panthers’ first two games.
The Hawkeyes are UNI’s only Power Four opponent on the schedule this season.
This trip to Iowa City also comes with a solemn note for the Panthers. It’s their first game there since the death of former Panther and Iowa City native Parker Sutherland, who died on Feb.
- UNI is wearing helmet decals this season in his honor.
Elsewhere in the national schedule, the biggest non-Big Ten game is LSU at Ole Miss, which brings Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin back to Oxford, Miss. Michigan, Iowa’s next opponent, hosts UTEP at 2:30 p.m.
In Other News...
Iowa Escaped Cy-Hawk Trouble But One Concern Just Got Louder
Iowa left the Cy-Hawk game with a win, but the margin did little to soften the familiar concerns that followed it out of the stadium. A game-winning field goal was enough to settle a tense afternoon, yet the broader picture still pointed back to an offense that struggled to find rhythm for long stretches, even as the defense supplied the kind of steady work Iowa fans have come to expect in rivalry games.
Special teams again played a central role in the outcome, and the defense had plenty of moments worth spotlighting, including strong showings from a few key players who helped keep Iowa State from taking control. Still, the most lasting takeaway may be how loudly the offensive issues now stand out, especially after a game in which the Hawkeyes needed every bit of their edge in field position, defense and composure just to survive a competitive Cyclone team. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Beat Iowa State But One Offensive Concern Isnt Going Away
Iowas win over Iowa State came with the kind of grind-it-out feel these rivalry games often deliver, and the Hawkeyes found just enough offense to leave with a 16-13 victory. Caden Buhr supplied the game-winner, while Hank Brown handled the passing game cleanly, completing 21 of 30 throws and avoiding any sacks behind an offensive line that held up well overall.
Still, the same concern that has followed Iowa at times did not disappear. The rushing attack never found much room, finishing at 93 yards on 29 carries, and the offense also sputtered on third down by converting only 5 of 15 chances. For a team that can lean on defense and field position, that kind of inconsistency is the sort of thing that tends to linger even after a rivalry win. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Week 3 Depth Chart Keeps One Big Offensive Question Alive
The Week 3 depth chart gave Iowa some clarity before its matchup with Northern Iowa, and Kamari Moulton is set to remain part of the plan after leaving the previous game late in the fourth quarter. Kirk Ferentz said Moulton is expected to play, which matters for an offense that wants to establish some stability early in the season.
The biggest question, though, still sits at quarterback, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski remain listed without a decision made public. Elsewhere, the special teams picture stayed the same, with Reece Vander Zee holding the punt return job and Zach Lutmer behind him, but the Hawkeyes still have one notable offensive spot that has yet to settle into place. [Read more 🡒]