Game Notes: Iowa vs. Minnesota

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1st and 10

1: Saturday marks the 130th anniversary of Iowa football. The Hawkeyes played their first football game on Nov. 16, 1889, against Grinnell. Iowa has played 1,255 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 656-560-39 (.538).
 
2. K Keith Duncan is tied for first in the country with 22 field goals made. Duncan kicked three field goals at Wisconsin to set Iowa’s single-season school record. His 86.1 field goal percentage is the best ever among Iowa kickers with at least 30 field goal attempts.
 
3. DE A.J. Epenesa leads a defense that ranks in the top 20 in scoring, rushing, passing, and total defense. Iowa is fourth in the country in scoring defense (11.7 ppg), 10th in passing defense (177.6), 11th in total defense (288.9 ypg), and 20th in rushing defense (111.3 ypg).
 
4: Iowa’s scoring defense (11.7 ppg) is the lowest total of the Ferentz era (next best is 13.0 in 2008), and the lowest by any Hawkeye team since 1959 (11.1). Iowa’s total defense is the lowest by any Hawkeye team since 2009 (276.5).
 
5. Iowa has allowed 12 touchdowns in nine games, third fewest in the country (Ohio State 8, Georgia 10). Iowa has four shutouts in its last 12 Big Ten Conference games (Rutgers and Northwestern in 2019, Maryland and Illinois in 2018). No other Big Ten team has more than one shutout since the start of 2018.
 
6: The Hawkeyes are playing their third trophy game of the season: Cy-Hawk Trophy, W, 18-17 at Iowa State; Heartland, L, 24-22, at Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes are 14-4 in their last 18 rivalry trophy games (Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin), with all four losses coming to Wisconsin.
 
7: QB Nate Stanley has started the last 35 games at quarterback (23-12). He ranks second in school history in passing touchdowns (64), and third in passing yards (7,509). He ranks second in the Big Ten this season in passing yards (2,158) and passing yards per game (239.8).
 
8. WR Tyrone Tracy set career highs in receptions (5) and receiving yards (130) last week at Wisconsin. It was his first career 100-yard receiving game, and the most receiving yards by a Hawkeye wide receiver since Marvin McNutt had 8 receptions for 130 yards against Michigan State in 2011.
 
9: Iowa’s three losses are to #10 Penn State (8-1), #19 Michigan (7-2), and #16 Wisconsin (7-2), who have a combined record of 22-5. All three losses were one possession games.
 
10: Kirk Ferentz has 94 Big Ten Conference wins, one shy of tying Joe Paterno for No. 5 all-time in conference history. Iowa is bowl eligible for the 18th time in the last 19 seasons.
 
        FLOYD OF ROSEDALE
        As a result of a bet between the governors of the two states in 1935, possession of Floyd of Rosedale is at stake Saturday.  The trophy is currently in possession of Iowa.  Minnesota holds a 42-40-2 advantage in the series with Floyd of Rosedale on the line. Iowa has won 14 of the last 18 meetings.
        The Floyd of Rosedale contest is one of four trophy games on Iowa’s 2017 schedule. Iowa is 1-1 in Trophy Games this season (W, 18-17 at Iowa State; L 24-22 at Wisconsin).
 
        THE SERIES
        Saturday will be the 113th meeting between Iowa and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes have won four straight, and 14 of the last 18. Saturday is the first meeting since 2003 that both team enter the game ranked: #20 Iowa defeated #19 Minnesota, 40-22, in Iowa City on Nov. 15, 2003.
        Minnesota holds a 62-48-2 advantage in a series that began with a 42-4 Gopher victory in 1891. The Golden Gophers won the first 12 games in the series before Iowa earned a 6-0 win in 1918.  The Hawkeyes are 30-23-1 against Minnesota in games played in Iowa City.

     IN THE RANKINGS
     Iowa is ranked No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the coaches poll. Iowa’s schedule includes four opponents ranked in the AP top 25 (#7 Minnesota, #9 Penn State, #14 Michigan, #15 Wisconsin). Those four opponents have a combined 31-5 record.
     Iowa is 0-3 against ranked teams this season, falling 10-3 at #19 Michigan on Oct. 5, 17-12 at home to #10 Penn State on Oct. 12, and 24-22 at #16 Wisconsin on Nov. 9. The Hawkeyes’ last win over a ranked opponent was against No. 18 Mississippi State, 27-22, on Jan. 1 at the 2019 Outback Bowl.
     Iowa defeated Iowa State, 18-17, on Sept. 14. The Cyclones were the first team outside the AP Top 25 when the teams met.
     These are Iowa’s most recent wins versus nationally-ranked opponents:
     Home:             55-24 over #3 Ohio State, 11/4/17
                                40-10 over #15 Nebraska, 11/25/16
                                14-13 over #2 Michigan, 11/12/16
     Road:               40-10 over #20 Northwestern, 10/17/15
                                10-6 over #18 Wisconsin, 10/3/15
                                38-28 over #24 Michigan, 10/16/10
     Neutral:          27-22 over #18 Mississippi State, Outback Bowl, 1/1/19
                                27-24 over #12 Missouri, Insight Bowl, 12/28/10
                                24-14 over #9 Georgia Tech, Orange Bowl, 1/5/10
 
      HAWKEYE HISTORY
      Iowa has played 1,255 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 656-560-39 (.538). That includes a 409-222-16 (.645) record in home games, a 247-338-23 (.425) record in games away from Iowa City, a 332-381-25 (.467) mark in Big Ten games and a 293-187-15 (.607) record in Kinnick Stadium. Oct. 5, 2019 marked the 90th anniversary of the first game in Kinnick Stadium, a 46-0 win over Monmouth.
      When Iowa hosts Minnesota on Saturday, it will mark the 130th anniversary of Iowa football. The Hawkeyes played their first football game on Nov. 16, 1889, against Grinnell.
 
    TROPHY COLLECTION
    The Hawkeyes are playing their third trophy game of the season. Iowa defended the Cy-Hawk Trophy with an 18-17 win at Iowa State on Sept. 14, and fell to #16 Wisconsin, 24-22, on Nov. 9 in a battle for the Heartland Trophy.
    The Hawkeyes are 14-4 in their last 18 rivalry trophy games (Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin), with all four losses coming to Wisconsin. 
 
Trophy                           Opponent           Date      Result
Cy-Hawk                        at Iowa State      9/14       W, 18-17
Heartland                      at Wisconsin       11/9       L, 22-24
Floyd of Rosedale      Minnesota          11/16
Heroes                           at Nebraska        11/29
 
      HAWKEYES AT NIGHT
      Iowa played #9 Penn State on Oct. 12 in the 20th night game in the history of Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes are 13-7 all-time in games played under the lights at Kinnick. Iowa is 1-1 at night this season, opening the year with a 38-14 win against Miami, Ohio, and falling to #9 Penn State, 17-12. The season opener marked the first time in program history Iowa has opened the season under the lights at Kinnick Stadium. Below is a list of night games in Kinnick Stadium:
 
Date                      Opponent           Result                   Start Time
Sept. 5, 1992       #1 Miami, FL       L, 7-24                   7 p.m.
Sept. 18, 1999    N. Illinois              W, 24-0                 5:15 p.m.
Sept. 14, 2002    Iowa State           L, 33-36                 5:05 p.m.
Sept. 20, 2003    #16 Arizona St.  W, 21-2                 5:05 p.m.
Sept. 30, 2006    #1 Ohio State     L, 17-38                 7:13 p.m.
Sept. 8, 2007       Syracuse              W, 35-0                 7:07 p.m.
Oct. 10, 2009      Michigan              W, 30-28              7:12 p.m.
Oct. 2, 2010         #20 Penn State W, 24-3                 7:12 p.m.
Oct. 15, 2011      Northwestern   W, 41-31              6 p.m.
Oct. 20, 2012      Penn State          L, 14-38                 7 p.m.
Sept. 19, 2015    Pittsburgh           W, 27-24              7:12 p.m.
Nov. 14, 2015     Minnesota          W, 40-35              7:12 p.m.
Sept. 10, 2016    Iowa State           W, 42-3                 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 12, 2016     #2 Michigan        W, 14-13              7:12 p.m.
Sept. 23, 2017    #4 Penn State    L, 19-21                 6:42 p.m.
Oct. 28, 2017     Minnesota          W, 17-10              5:35 p.m.
Sept. 15, 2018    Northern Iowa  W, 38-14              6:40 p.m.
Sept. 22, 2018    #18 Wisconsin   L, 17-28                 7:35 p.m.
Aug. 31, 2019     Miami, Ohio       W, 38-14              6:45 p.m.
Oct. 12, 2019      #9 Penn State    L, 12-17                 6:44 p.m.
 
      STANLEY CLIMBS SCHOOL AND CONFERENCE CHARTS
      QB Nate Stanley ranks second in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,158) and passing yards per game (239.8). He has 12 touchdown passes this season and 64 in his career, second all-time in program history. He trails Chuck Long (74) on the all-time list.
      Stanley is one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year quarterback in the nation. He is the only Big Ten quarterback o the list. He has started the last 35 games at quarterback (23-12), and the Hawkeyes have averaged 28.0 points per game in those starts. That average ranks seventh in school history. His streak of 35 consecutive starts at quarterback ranks second in history to Long (47).
      Stanley has 18 career multi-touchdown games, including four this season. He completed three touchdown passes in the season opener against Miami, Ohio, three more in Week 2 against Rutgers, two against Middle Tennessee in Week 4, and two against #16 Wisconsin in Week 9. He has 10 career games with at least three passing touchdowns. Only Long has more in program history (11).
      Stanley threw 26 touchdown passes in 2018, second most in the Big Ten, one shy of tying Chuck Long (1985) for the most in single season school history, and tied for second most all-time in single season history. Stanley also threw 26 touchdown passes in 2017. Stanley’s 52 touchdown passes from 2017-18 are the most ever in school history over a two-year span. Long tossed 49 touchdown passes from 1984 (22) to 1985 (27).
      Stanley threw for a career-high 2,852 yards in 2018, the seventh-highest single-season total in school history. He ranks third in career passing yards (7,509) and third in career total offense (7,377).
      Stanley was named to six preseason watch lists and listed on the preseason Big Ten third team by Phil Steele.
 
Nate Stanley Awards Watch

• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist
• Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
• Manning Award Preseason Watch List
• Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List
• O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List
• CFPA Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List
• Preseason third-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele
• Preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports

                 
     POCKET PRESSURE
     DE A.J. Epenesa leads a defense that ranks in the top 20 in scoring, rushing, passing, and total defense. Iowa is fourth in the country in scoring defense (11.7 ppg), 10th in passing defense (177.6), 11th in total defense (288.9 ypg), and 20th in rushing defense (111.3 ypg). Iowa’s scoring defense is second in the Big Ten to Ohio State, who leads the country with 8.6 ppg.
     Iowa’s scoring defense is the lowest total of the Ferentz era (next best is 13.0 in 2008), and the lowest by any Hawkeye team since 1959 (11.1). Iowa’s total defense is the lowest by any Hawkeye team since 2009 (276.5).
     The Hawkeyes have allowed just 135 first downs (15.0 per game), tied for eighth fewest in the country and third in the Big Ten.  
     Iowa has allowed 12 touchdowns in nine games, third fewest in the country (Ohio State 8, Georgia 10). Iowa is one of five schools in the country to allow just three rushing touchdowns or fewer (Georgia 0, Iowa 3, Ohio State 3, Oregon 3, Utah 3).  
     Iowa’s defense allowed just five first downs against Rutgers in Week 2. That ties for the fewest allowed in the Kirk Ferentz era (Syracuse, 2007). Rutgers’ 125 yards of total offense ranks as the fifth lowest total in the Ferentz era.
     In its Week 7 win against Purdue, Iowa allowed 33 yards rushing, its lowest total against a Big Ten opponent since 2013.
     Epenesa leads Iowa with 4.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries. He led the Big Ten and ranked ninth in the country with 10.5 sacks in 2018. His running mate, DE Chauncey Golston, has a team-high 7.5 tackles-for-loss (21 yards).
     Epenesa is a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He was named to four preseason All-America first teams, listed on six preseason watch lists, and is preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com.
     Epenesa recorded at least one sack in nine of 13 games last season and was named first-team All-Big Ten by league media, and second-team All-Big Ten by league coaches. He ranked second in the conference and 16th nationally in forced fumbles (4), and ranked fourth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss. He totaled 37 tackles, four pass breakups, eight QB pressures, and a blocked punt in 2018. He recovered his own forced fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown at Illinois.
     The Hawkeyes ranked third in the Big Ten last season with 35 sacks, the second highest single-season total in the Ferentz era (2002, 40).
 
A.J. Epenesa Awards Watch

• Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist
• Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
• Big Ten Conference Preseason Watch List
• Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
• Polynesian Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
• Hendricks Award Preseason Watch List
• Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com
• Preseason first team All-America by Associated Press
• Preseason first-team All-America by Sports Illustrated
• Preseason first-team All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com
• Preseason first-team All-America by Athlon Sports
• Preseason second-team All-America by Phil Steele
• Preseason first-team All-Big Ten by CollegeFootballNews.com
• Preseason first-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele
• Preseason first-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports

 
     RETURN TO SENDER
     WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette is named on the Paul Hornung Award watch list, an honor bestowed to the most versatile player in college football.
     Smith-Marsette averages 27.9 yards on 38 career kickoff returns, the best in school history among players with at least 30 returns. The Big Ten record of average kickoff return yardage (minimum 40 returns) is 28.8, set by Stan Brown of Purdue (1968-70). Smith-Marsette has 1,062 kickoff return yards, eighth all-time in program history.
     Smith-Marsette leads the team in receiving yards (490) and all-purpose yards (754). He is tied for second on the team with 33 receptions. He rushed for a touchdown (14 yards) in Week 4, and is tied for the team lead with four touchdowns. He set a career high with 113 receiving yards in Week 2.
     Smith-Marsette has 1,038 career receiving yards, 40th all-time in program history. He has 2,274 all-purpose yards. Only 19 players in school history have 2,500 or more.
     In 2018, Smith-Marsette led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 in the country, averaging 29.5 yards on 24 kickoff returns. He was named Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year in the Big Ten Conference.  He had 23 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns. His 15.7 yards per catch led the Hawkeyes (minimum 20 receptions).  
 
     SARGENT LEADS RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
     RB Mekhi Sargent leads the team in carries (102) and rushing yards (464). He was named on the Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List.
     RB Toren Young (71) and RB Tyler Goodson (69) rank second and third, respective, in rush attempts. Young has 401 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, best on the team and ninth in the Big Ten. He rushed for a career-high 131 yards in Week 4. It was his first career 100-yard rushing game.
     Goodson has 364 yards rushing, and 20 receptions for 143 yards. His 89 combined touches ranks second on the team to Sargent (115).  
Young has 1,231 career yards on 252 attempts, 34th all-time. Sargent has 1,209 yards on 261 attempts, 35th on Iowa’s all-time list.
     Seven different Hawkeyes have combined to rush for 10 touchdowns. Seven of those touchdowns have come from inside the 2-yard line, eight from inside the 4-yard line. Sargent leads the team with four rushing touchdowns (2, 4, 14, 2). Six more Hawkeyes have one rushing touchdown: Young (2), QB Nate Stanley (1), FB Brady Ross (1), WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (14), QB Spencer Petras (1), Goodson (1).
     Young (131) and Goodson (97) rushed for career highs against Middle Tennessee. The Hawkeyes rushed for 351 yards in the game, the fourth highest total in the Ferentz era.
     Juniors Ivory Kelly-Martin, Sargent, and Young shared the workload in 2018. The trio combined for 392 carries, 1,723 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns (nine by Sargent, five by Young, and two by Kelly-Martin). Sargent had 40.6 percent of the carries (159-745), Young had 34.7 percent of the attempts (136-637), and Kelly-Martin has 24.7 percent of the carries (97-341).
 
     GRAND THEFT SECONDARY
     Iowa ranks 10th in the country and fifth in the Big Ten in passing defense (177.6 yards per game).
     DB Michael Ojemudia is tied for sixth in the Big Ten with two interceptions. He intercepted a pass in each of the first two weeks. LB Djimon Colbert recorded the first interception of his career in Week 2. SS Geno Stone had one interception in Week 5. CB Riley Moss had an interception in Week 7. DE Chauncey Golston intercepted a pass in Week 8. DB Matt Hankins recoded his first career interception in Week 9.
     The Hawkeyes have seven interceptions this season. Iowa led the Big Ten and tied for second in the country in 2018 with 20 interceptions. Over the last three seasons, no school has more interceptions than Iowa. The Hawkeyes have 48 interceptions since 2017, two more than Boston College, who has the second most over the same period.  
     Entering this season, Iowa has at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last 11 seasons, and 16 of the last 18 seasons.
 
     DUNCAN GETTING HIS KICKS
     K Keith Duncan is tied for first in the country with 22 field goals made. He is 22-of-25 on field goal attempts and 19-of-19 on PAT attempts. He leads the team and ranks second in the Big Ten, 20th in the country, in scoring with 85 points. Duncan has connected on 11-of-13 kicks of at least 40 yards, and is 10-of-11 on the road. He kicked a career-long 49 yard field goal against Middle Tennessee in Week 4. He kicked four field goals at Iowa State and four field goals against Purdue.
     Duncan kicked three field goals at Wisconsin to set Iowa’s single-season school record. Rob Houghtlin (1987), Nate Kaeding (2002), and Kyle Schlicher (2004) shared the previous record with 21 made field goals. His 86.1 field goal percentage is the best ever among Iowa kickers with at least 30 field goal attempts.
     Duncan is seeing his first action since 2016, when he made 9-11 field goal attempts and 38-39 PAT attempts (one was blocked). That year he kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift Iowa over #2 Michigan, 14-13. 
     Duncan was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week and Lou Groza Award Star of the Week on Sept. 16 following his performance at Iowa State. Duncan connected on a career-best four field goals at Iowa State. His final kick from 39 yards provided the margin of victory with 4:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. He also connected from 25 yards on Iowa’s first drive of the game and from 40 yards on the final play of the first half. He nailed a 42-yarder late in the third quarter. 
     The Big Ten weekly honor was the second of his career. He was previously recognized in 2016, earning the weekly honor following Iowa’s 14-13 win over Michigan. Duncan contributed two field goals in that win, including the game-winner from 33 yards on the final play of the game.  
 
     FERENTZ MOVES UP BIG TEN CHARTS
     Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 94 Big Ten wins as Iowa’s head coach. The 94 conference wins rank sixth among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games. He is one win tying Joe Paterno for fifth place in all-time Big Ten Conference wins.
     Ferentz’s 158 wins in all games coached as a member of the Big Ten Conference rank fifth in league history. He is one of five coaches in Big Ten Conference history to win at least 150 games as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The top five includes Woody Hayes (202), Amos Alonza Stagg (199), Bo Schembechler (194), Joe Paterno (162), and Ferentz (158).
      Ferentz (158-103) became Iowa’s all-time winningest coach on Sept. 1, 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated Northern Illinois, 33-7. It was Ferentz’s 144th win as Iowa’s head coach, one more than his predecessor, Hayden Fry (143-89-6). Fry coached Iowa for 20 years (1979-98). Ferentz is in his 21st season in 2019.
     Both Ferentz (158, 93) and Fry (143, 96) rank in the top six in overall wins and Big Ten wins. Only Iowa and Michigan have two coaches ranked in the top 10 of both win categories (Bo Schembechler 194, 143; and Lloyd Carr 122, 81).
     Iowa is the only school in the country to have just two head football coaches since 1979.

      HAWK TALK WITH KIRK FERENTZ
    Head Coach Kirk Ferentz is featured on “Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz” each week during the regular season. The radio call-in show is hosted by Gary Dolphin, the play-by-play voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  The show airs live each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. from VUE Rooftop at the Hilton Garden Inn in Iowa City.

Iowa football hosts Minnesota in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale on Saturday, Nov. 16.  Fans are encouraged to wear black for the Blackout game, and it is the annual military appreciation celebration. Active duty military and veterans are eligible for a military ticket discount. Click HERE for tickets and pre-paid parking and additional game information.