Iowa wasted little time setting the tone against Northwestern, and the opening quarter had already given the Hawkeyes a 7-0 lead by the time the first frame wound down.
The first punch came from Hank Brown, who finished Iowa’s opening drive by taking it in himself from 21 yards out at 11:10 of the first quarter. The PAT was good, and the Hawkeyes had something they hadn’t done this season against a Power Four opponent: score a touchdown on their opening drive.
That march covered 75 yards in 3:50, and it immediately got the home crowd going with “let’s go Hawks” chants.
Northwestern had a chance to answer, but Iowa’s defense kept closing the door. The Wildcats punted after a 7-play, 32-yard drive at 7:28 of the quarter, with a solid PBU by Styles on third down stopping the possession in neutral territory.
Iowa’s next series didn’t last long, as the Hawkeyes punted after a 3-play, 7-yard drive at 5:57, sending Northwestern back on offense at its own 42-yard line.
The Wildcats again failed to move the chains in a meaningful way, punting after a 6-play, 15-yard drive at 2:28. Iowa took over at its own 3-yard line.
The Hawkeyes then flipped the field late in the quarter, helped by a 45-yard run from L.J. Phillips Jr. Iowa finished the first quarter on the move, facing 2nd & 3 from the Northwestern 41 to begin the second.
Both teams entered the matchup at 6-2, trying to keep their College Football Playoff-potential seasons alive, but Iowa had the better opening stretch and carried a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
In Other News...
Iowa Northwestern Stakes Just Changed With A New QB Twist
A Big Ten game that already carried plenty of weight got a little more interesting this week, with Iowa and Northwestern both entering Ryan Field at 6-2 and trying to keep themselves in the league race. The Hawkeyes are going back to Hank Brown at quarterback after another strong defensive outing, a familiar formula for a team that has leaned on field position, toughness and steady play to stay in the mix.
Northwesterns side of the matchup has a new wrinkle of its own, with Nicco Marchiol likely to get the start at quarterback because Aidan Chiles is doubtful. That shift matters in a game where every edge feels magnified, and it has already sent the prediction chatter in different directions, with some analysts leaning Iowa and others taking Northwestern even before the latest injury news was factored in. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Walks Into A Brutal Early Test At UConn
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The meeting is part of a two-year home-and-home series, with UConn getting the first turn on its floor before Iowa is set to return the favor in the 2027-28 season. For the Hawkeyes, it is the kind of nonconference test that can reveal a lot early, especially against a program that rarely offers much room for error. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Showed The Formula Fans Needed To See Before Bigger Tests
Iowa got the kind of tune-up it needed against Eastern Illinois, rolling to a 91-47 win behind a defense that never let the Panthers settle in. The Hawkeyes held Eastern Illinois to 33 percent shooting, kept it from making a three-pointer and turned 13 turnovers into 21 points while also getting a steady offensive lift from TyReek Coleman, Trevin Jirak, Peyton McCollum and Trey Thompson.
For a team that is going to be judged more harshly once the schedule stiffens, this was the cleaner version of Iowa basketball fans have been waiting to see. The Hawkeyes shot 46.7 percent from deep, controlled the pace from start to finish and showed the kind of pressure and balance that can travel better when the tests get bigger, even if the real answer on how far it can carry them still lies ahead. [Read more 🡒]