Iowa didn’t make it pretty. It didn’t need to.
The Hawkeyes and Iowa State spent most of Saturday night grinding through a bruising, ugly Cy-Hawk fight, and in the end Iowa found just enough to pull out a 16-13 win at a packed Kinnick Stadium. That meant leaning on the old Hawkeye formula: hang around, cash in on the key moments, win the special teams battle, and steal it late.
That last part belonged to Caden Buhr. Iowa’s new kicker stepped into the biggest swing of the night and didn’t blink, drilling the game-winner with minimal time left.
He was perfect on the evening, going 3-for-3 on field goals and adding an extra point. He also led Iowa in scoring, and the confidence boost from a night like this is obvious.
Iowa has its new kicker.
Tony Diaz gave the Hawkeyes a spark through the air, and it was the kind of playmaking Iowa has been missing in its passing game. Diaz finished with eight catches for 95 yards, including a 56-yard grab that helped set up Iowa’s first touchdown. If he keeps forcing defenses to respect the deep ball, that changes things for this offense.
On defense, Cam Buffington was all over the field. He shadowed Jaylen Raynor and turned in a huge performance, finishing with 15 total tackles, nine of them solo. It was the kind of outing that makes a linebacker look like he’s everywhere at once, and it confirmed what Iowa saw in him.
The hidden edge, as so often happens in these games, came on special teams. Boston Everitt handled six punts in his first season with the Hawkeyes and averaged 44 yards per kick. Four of those punts were downed inside the Iowa State 20-yard line, a massive field-position swing in a game where every yard mattered.
Iowa State walked out of the game without a win, but the Cyclones showed enough to deserve credit. Jimmy Rogers’ team played fast and aggressive on defense, and that intensity showed up on the field.
The offense still has work to do, which makes sense with so many transfer portal pieces in the mix, but the early signs are there. The new era is still young, but Iowa State already looks like a team that’s going to make people take notice this season.
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 🡒]