Iowa’s 55-0 rout of UNI on Saturday was the kind of afternoon that makes a box score look almost unreal. The Hawkeyes piled up yards in bunches, ran wild, and kept the pressure on from start to finish in a performance that pushed them to 3-0.
The story started with quarterback Hank Brown, who was spotless in his first five drives at the controls. He completed all 12 of his passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with true freshman walk-on Braeden Jackson on a 24-yard score and tight end Addison Ostrenga on a 14-yarder. Brown is now up to 473 passing yards on the season.
But this one was really about Iowa’s ground game. The Hawkeyes rolled up 422 rushing yards, with Xavier Williams, Nathan McNeil and Jackson combining for 386 of them. It was the first time Iowa had three rushers go over 100 yards in the same game since Minnesota in 1983.
Williams led the charge with 151 rushing yards on just six carries, a ridiculous 25.2 yards per attempt, and he found the end zone three times. Two of those touchdowns came in the first half, and his third opened the second half to make it 49-0.
With Kamari Moulton and L.J. Phillips Jr. out, Williams, McNeil and Jackson stepped in and delivered.
McNeil had a breakthrough of his own, scoring the first two touchdowns of his college career. He punched in a 2-yard run in the first quarter and added a 12-yard score in the second, finishing with 111 yards on 12 carries.
Jackson, the son of former NFL running back Fred Jackson, kept the big plays coming. The true freshman from Ankeny Centennial finished with 125 rushing yards and his first two touchdowns as a Hawkeye. He also had a 24-yard catch earlier in the game before breaking loose for a 65-yard run in the fourth quarter to push Iowa ahead 55-0.
The offense barely blinked all afternoon. Iowa averaged 10 yards per play and moved the chains 33 times on 64 plays.
Its 640 total yards included 218 through the air from Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski combined. The Hawkeyes also put up 418 first-half yards, their most since a 1995 game against New Mexico State.
Even the kicking game held up its end. Boston Everitt, the Aussie-born punter in his first year of American football, averaged 49.7 yards on three punts, sending them 54, 58 and 37 yards.
In Other News...
Iowa May Have Found Its Next Linebacker Anchor
Cam Buffington has opened the 2026 season looking every bit like a linebacker Iowa can build around. The third-year defender has piled up 21 total tackles through two games, and his most eye-catching effort came in the Cy-Hawk game against Iowa State, where he was around the ball all afternoon. For a defense that has long valued reliable play in the middle, that kind of early production is hard to ignore.
Kirk Ferentz has already pointed to Buffingtons instincts and potential, praising the way he recognizes plays quickly and accelerates into them. That sort of feel for the game can separate a steady contributor from a true defensive anchor, and Iowa appears to be leaning that way with Buffington. The challenge now is whether he can keep that level of command going as the season starts to deepen and opponents adjust. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa May Have Found The Frontcourt Fix Fans Were Waiting For
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His value could go beyond just being a towering presence in the paint. McKeevers offensive rebounding stood out at Saint Marys, and his role there suggested he can provide steady minutes without needing to be the focal point of an offense. For Iowa, the bigger question now is how that size and production translate in a new setting, and how quickly he can settle into what could be an important frontcourt role. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Heads Into Iowa With Two Troubling Lineup Questions
Michigans 52-17 win over UTEP still left a couple of lingering concerns as the Wolverines turn their attention to Iowa. Jordan Marshall exited because of an injury tied to a previous game, while starting right tackle Andrew Sprague was not available because of an unexpected issue, leaving two key spots in flux as the week moves on.
Kyle Whittingham offered updates on both players conditions and said he was hopeful they could be back for the matchup in Iowa. For a defense-first game on the road, the status of the backfield and the offensive line figures to matter plenty, especially with Michigan having already shown it can get pushed early before settling in. [Read more 🡒]