Iowa didn’t waste any time showing off the depth everyone talked about all offseason.
With Kamari Moulton held out because of injury, the Hawkeyes opened against Northern Iowa by leaning on a running back room that kept coming in waves and a tight end group that got involved right away. The result was a 75-yard march on eight plays to start the game, capped by a 2-yard Nathan McNeil touchdown run and setting the tone for a 55-0 rout.
McNeil was part of a rotation that never let UNI settle in. He opened the drive with a 16-yard catch from Hank Brown, added a 5-yard run on the next snap, and then watched Xavier Williams rip off a 25-yard carry and catch a 4-yard pass.
Walk-on Braeden Jackson chipped in with a 14-yard pitch left and a 4-yard run before Brown hit tight end Mason Woods for 5 yards to the 1. That was Woods’ first career catch, and McNeil finished the job.
The Hawkeyes kept stacking plays like that all afternoon. McNeil scored again late in the second quarter, giving him the first two touchdowns of his career, and Iowa raced to a 42-0 halftime lead.
It was the first time the Hawkeyes had scored at least 42 points in the first half since Sept. 3, 2005, when they beat Ball State 56-0. Iowa also scored 42 points in the second half against Nebraska in 2017, a 56-14 win in Lincoln.
By the time it was over, the ground game had turned the night into a runaway. Williams piled up 151 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries, McNeil finished with 111 yards on 12 carries, and Iowa totaled 422 rushing yards, its most in a game since 1990.
Brown was just as sharp through the air. He went 12-for-12 for 153 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Iowa quarterback to complete at least 11 straight passes since C.J.
Beathard in 2015. He handled the first-half work before Jeremy Hecklinski took over for the final two possessions before halftime, then started the second half and played through the third quarter before giving way to Jimmy Sullivan.
Jackson made his own mark too. The son of former NFL running back Fred Jackson hauled in a wheel route down the sideline for a 24-yard touchdown, then broke loose for a 62-yard score in the fourth quarter.
He finished with 108 yards on nine carries. After Fred Jackson’s pro career, the family settled in Ankeny, and Braeden Jackson graduated from Centennial High School.
Iowa’s defense joined the party as well. Sophomore defensive back Jacob Wallace picked off Jaxon Dailey for his first career interception in the second quarter. Defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne also left the game after injuring his leg on a UNI chop block in the first half and limping off under his own power.
The game also carried a little ceremony before kickoff. Mike Hlas, Steve Batterson, Gary Dolphin and Steve Roe were honored as the newest members of the Kinnick Stadium Media Wall of Fame.
Hlas covered Iowa for The Gazette from 1981 to 2025, Batterson covered the Hawkeyes for the Quad-City Times from 1985 to 2023, Dolphin is Iowa’s longtime radio voice for football and men’s basketball, and Roe worked in Iowa’s sports information department from 1990 to 2023. Batterson was honored posthumously.
Iowa was also without running backs L.J. Phillips and Kamari Moulton, along with starting tight end D.J.
Vonnahme. Phillips missed a second straight game, and all three are expected back next week.
Defensive back Tyler Brown, the James Madison transfer, returned to action for the first time this season after missing Iowa’s first two games.
The Hawkeyes now head to Michigan for their Big Ten opener next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Big House, with CBS carrying the game. UNI returns to FCS play with a matchup against nationally top-five ranked Illinois State at 4 p.m. in the UNI-Dome.
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 🡒]