Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — November 2017
IOWA CITY, Iowa – – The University of Iowa football team has been named the FWAA National Team of the Week following the 55-24 win over No. 3 Ohio State Saturday in Kinnick Stadium. The Football Writers Association of America made the announcement Monday.
The recognition marks the third time Iowa has been recognized by the FWAA since 2002. The Hawkeyes were the team of the week following a 37-6 win over No. 5 Michigan State in 2010, and following a 24-23 victory over No. 3 Penn State in 2008. Iowa is 4-1 in home games against top-five-ranked teams since 2008.
The Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-3) scored on a 30-yard interception return on the first play of the game and never trailed in defeating the Buckeyes for the first time since 2004, snapping a five-game losing streak in the series. After the score was tied at 17-17 in the second period, Iowa scored 31 straight points before a fourth quarter OSU touchdown.
The 55 points are the most scored by Iowa in the 65-game series, and the most scored by the Hawkeyes against a ranked opponent since a 55-17 win over No. 19 Texas in the 1984 Freedom Bowl. With the win, Iowa is bowl eligible for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes are ranked 25th in the latest Associated Press rankings, their first time in the rankings since the end of the 2016 regular season.
The Iowa defense held Ohio State to 24 points and 371 yards in total offense, 22 points below its scoring average and 200 yards below its total offense average. Iowa’s offense gained 487 yards total offense (243 yards rushing, 244 yards passing), after Ohio State entered the game allowing opponents just 18.2 points and 302.5 yards total offense.
Junior defensive back Josh Jackson tied a school record with three interceptions in the game, earning national defensive Player of the Week honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was also named the Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Sophomore quarterback Nathan Stanley has been recognized for his play in the victory after completing 20-of-31 pass attempts for 226 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Stanley tied the Kinnick Stadium record for scoring passes, while senior running back Akrum Wadley rushed for 118 yards and gained 40 yards on three receptions.
The 25th-ranked Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-3) travel to sixth-ranked Wisconsin (9-0, 6-0) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC).
Tickets for Iowa’s final home game against Purdue (Nov. 18, TBA) are available online at hawkeyesports.com or over the phone at (800) IA-HAWKS.
