Game Notes: Iowa vs. USC

    IOWA TO MEET SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT HOLIDAY BOWL
The University of Iowa has accepted an invitation to play USC in the 2019 San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California, on Dec. 27. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) from SDCCU Stadium and the game will be televised on FS1.
The Hawkeyes are making their 33rd bowl game appearance and fourth Holiday Bowl appearance — the first since 1991. Iowa is 2-0-1 all-time in the Holiday Bowl, defeating San Diego State (39-38) in 1986, Wyoming (20-19) in 1987, and tying Brigham Young (13-13), in 1991.
The Hawkeyes are 2-7 all-time against USC, beating the Trojans in 1950 (20-14) and 1961 (35-34) in Los Angeles. USC won the last meeting, 38-17, in the 2003 Orange Bowl.
Iowa is 3-7 all-time against the Pac-12 Conference in bowl games. The Hawkeyes last played a Pac-12 team in the 2016 Rose Bowl — a 45-16 loss to No. 6 Stanford. Iowa’s last win over a Pac-12 opponent came against Washington (38-18) in the 1995 Sun Bowl.
The Hawkeyes closed out the 2019 season with three straight victories to post a nine-win regular season. Iowa finished third in the Big Ten West Division with a 6-3 record. The Hawkeyes’ three losses came against No. 18 Michigan, No. 10 Penn State, and No. 16 Wisconsin by 14 combined points.
The Hawkeyes rank third among Big Ten teams in bowl appearances since 2001 and are bowl eligible for the 18th time under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa is 8-8 in bowl games under Ferentz, including a 27-22 victory over No. 18 Mississippi State in the 2019 Outback Bowl.  Since 2001, only Ohio State and Wisconsin have won more bowl games (including the FBS championship game), than Iowa.

1st and 10

1. Iowa is making its 33rd bowl game appearance and fourth Holiday Bowl appearance — the first since 1991. Iowa is 2-0-1 all-time in the Holiday Bowl, defeating San Diego State (39-38) in 1986, Wyoming (20-19) in 1987, and tying Brigham Young (13-13), in 1991.

2. The Hawkeyes rank third among Big Ten teams in bowl appearances since 2001 and are bowl eligible for the 18th time under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa is 8-8 in bowl games under Ferentz, including a 27-22 victory over No. 18 Mississippi State in the 2019 Outback Bowl.  Since 2001, only Ohio State and Wisconsin have won more bowl games (including the FBS championship game), than Iowa.

3. The Hawkeyes are 3-1 in three trophy games this season, and 11-3 in their last 14 trophy/bowl games, including wins at the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl and 2019 Outback Bowl.

4. Junior OL Tristan Wirfs is a first-team Walter Camp All-American and was named Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. He is the first Hawkeye to earn the offensive lineman award since Brandon Scherff in 2014. The award for offensive line play was first presented in 1984, with Wirfs being the eighth Hawkeye to earn the honor.

5. Junior K Keith Duncan was named the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. He is the first Iowa kicker to earn the conference award since its inception in 2011. Duncan owns Big Ten and Iowa single-season records with 29 made field goals, a total that ranks sixth-best all-time in the NCAA.

6. Junior DE A.J. Epenesa was named first team All-Big Ten for the second straight year. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following wins over Minnesota and Nebraska. He leads the Hawkeyes in tackles for loss (13-69), sacks (9-54), quarterback pressures (nine) and forced fumbles (three). He also has three pass break-ups.

7. Iowa’s defense ranks in the top 12 in scoring, passing, and total defense. Iowa is sixth in the country in scoring defense (13.2 ppg), 12th in total defense (304.3 ypg), and 12th in passing defense (184.2 ypg). Iowa’s scoring defense is second in the Big Ten to Ohio State (11.8). The Hawkeyes have held seven-of-12 opponents to their season-low point total.

8. Senior QB Nate Stanley is starting his third bowl game (2-0). He is one of five quarterbacks in program history to start in three bowl games. Chuck Long started four (2-2), and Matt Sherman (2-1), Drew Tate (1-2), and Ricky Stanzi (3-0) started three. Stanley is making his 39th consecutive start at quarterback (26-12). He is 11-3 all-time in trophy/bowl games.

9. Only nine schools have won more games than the Hawkeyes (46) since 2015. They include Clemson (67), Alabama (65), Ohio State (60), Oklahoma (57), Georgia (53), Wisconsin (52), Penn State (50), LSU (48), and Michigan (47). Iowa’s 46 wins matches its best five-year record in school history (1983-87).

10. Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 161 wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference, fifth all-time and one win from tying Joe Paterno (162) for fourth all-time. Ferentz has 97 Big Ten wins as Iowa’s head coach, fourth all-time in conference history.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked No. 16 in the CFP poll, No. 18 in the AP poll, and No. 19 in the coaches poll. Iowa’s regular season schedule included four opponents ranked in the CFP top 25 (#8 Wisconsin, #10 Penn State, #14 Michigan, #18 Minnesota). Those four opponents have a combined 39-9 record.
Iowa is 1-3 against ranked teams this season. Iowa has road losses at #19 Michigan (17-12) and #16 Wisconsin (24-22). The Hawkeyes defeated #7 Minnesota at home (23-19) and lost at home to #10 Penn State (17-12).
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:             23-19 over #7 Minnesota, 11/16/19
55-24 over #3 Ohio State, 11/4/17
40-10 over #15 Nebraska, 11/25/16
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

    DUNCAN, EPENESA, WIRFS EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Three University of Iowa football players landed on postseason All-America teams. Junior K Keith Duncan was a consensus All-American, the 26th in school history and 11th under Kirk Ferentz. Duncan was named to the Football Writers (FWAA), Sporting News, and Associated Press first teams. He was a second teamer on the Walter Camp and AFCA awards list.
Wirfs was named to the FWAA and Walter Camp first teams, and the AP and AFCA second teams. Epenesa was a AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp second-team All-American.
Wirfs started nine games at right tackle and three at left tackle to earn first-team All-Big Ten and Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year honors. He has 32 career starts in three seasons and was one of six semifinalists for the 2019 Outland Trophy. In 2017, he became the first true freshman to start at tackle under head coach Kirk Ferentz.
Duncan set Big Ten and Iowa single-season records with 29 made field goals, a total that ranks sixth-best all-time in the NCAA. He earned the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year in the Big Ten, and is one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.
Epenesa leads Iowa in tackles for loss (13-69), sacks (9-54), quarterback pressures (nine) and forced fumbles (three). He also has three pass break-ups. He earned All-Big Ten first-team honors for the second straight year and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following wins over Minnesota and Nebraska.

WIRFS LEADS LIST OF ALL-BIG TEN OFFENSIVE HONOREES
Junior OL Tristan Wirfs was named Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. Wirfs was named first-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media.
In addition to Wirfs on the first offensive unit, junior OL Alaric Jackson was a third team selection by coaches and media. Junior WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette and freshman C Tyler Linderbaum received honorable mention recognition by coaches and media. Along with earning the Sportsmanship Award, senior QB Nate Stanley was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by conference coaches.
Wirfs is the first Hawkeye to earn the offensive lineman award since Brandon Scherff in 2014. The award for offensive line play was first presented in 1984, with Wirfs being the eighth Hawkeye to earn the honor.
Wirfs started nine games at right tackle and three at left tackle while earning Walter Camp and Football Writer’s Association of America first-team All-America honors. He has 32 career starts in three seasons. He was one of six semifinalists for the 2019 Outland Trophy. He earned honorable mention honors in 2018, and in 2017 was the first true freshman to start at tackle under head coach Kirk Ferentz.
Jackson earned third team honors after being a second team selection a year ago. Jackson started nine games at left tackle, missing three games because of injury. He has 33 career starts, all at left tackle. Jackson was a preseason candidate for the Outland Trophy.
Linderbaum earns his first all-conference recognition after starting all 12 games at center. The Solon, Iowa (Solon High School) native played on the defensive line as a true freshman before moving to offense during bowl prep a year ago.
Smith-Marsette is recognized for the second straight season, as he earned the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year honor in 2018. He led Iowa with 676 receiving yards on 42 receptions. Smith-Marsette scored four receiving touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and one touchdown via a 95-yard kickoff return in Iowa’s win at Nebraska.
Smith-Marsette ranks 20th in career all-purpose yards (2,631) in three seasons. He has amassed 1,224 receiving yards, 1,202 yards on kickoff returns, and 205 rushing yards, scoring 12 total touchdowns. This season he is averaging 16.1 yards on 42 receptions, 25.8 yards on 14 kickoff returns, and 10.3 yards on nine rushing attempts.
Stanley started all 12 games in 2019 and all 38 games over the past three seasons as Iowa has posted a 26-12 record. Stanley passed for more than 2,700 yards with 14 touchdowns this season. He ranks second in career passing touchdowns (66) and pass attempts (1,128), and third in completions (655), passing yards (8,089), and total offense (7,993).

DUNCAN, EPENESA HIGHLIGHT ALL-BIG TEN DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior K Keith Duncan was named the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. Duncan and junior DE A.J. Epenesa were named first-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media.
In addition to Epenesa on the first defensive unit, junior DB Geno Stone (coaches) and senior DB Michael Ojemudia (media) earned second-team honors. Ojemudia was a third-team selection by the coaches and Stone earned media honorable mention.
Earning honorable mention recognition from both coaches and media were junior DE Chauncey Golston and senior linebacker Kristian Welch. Senior DT Cedrick Lattimore earned honorable mention from the coaches, while the media extended honorable mention honors to senior P Michael Sleep-Dalton.
Duncan is the first Iowa kicker to earn the conference award since its inception in 2011. The award is named after former Wisconsin kicker Jim Bakken and former Michigan State kicker Morten Andersen. Duncan is one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award as the top kicker in the nation.
Duncan set Big Ten and Iowa single-season records with 29 field goals made, a total that ranks sixth-best all-time in the NCAA. Duncan also set a school record with six field goal attempts in Iowa’s win over Purdue. His 34 attempts on the season are also a school record.
Epenesa earned first-team honors for the second straight year. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following wins over Minnesota and Nebraska. He leads the Hawkeyes in tackles for loss (13-69), sacks (9-54), quarterback pressures (nine) and forced fumbles (three). He also has three pass break-ups.
Stone earned honorable mention honors for the second straight season after recording 65 total tackles (43 solo). Stone has three tackles for loss, three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, one interception, and one recovered fumble.
Ojemudia earned his first all-conference recognition, starting 11 games while missing one contest due to injury. He leads the team with three interceptions. He recorded 36 solo tackles and 11 assists and has a team-best seven pass break-ups.
Welch started nine games at middle linebacker and led the team in tackles (80), despite missing three games due to injury. Welch recorded double figure tackles in Iowa’s final three games following his injury, helping the Hawkeyes to three straight wins. Welch totaled 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass break-ups, and one forced fumble.
Golston was also recognized by both coaches and media while earning his first all-conference honor. He ranked second to Epenesa in tackles for loss (8.5-23). He also had 2.5 sacks, four pass break-ups, one interception, and seven quarterback pressures while starting all 12 games.
Lattimore started all 12 games, recording 23 solo tackles and 17 assists. Lattimore also had three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a recovered fumble.
Sleep-Dalton averaged 42.1 yards on 54 punts, with a long of 63 yards. He placed 21 punts inside the opponent 20, with just four touchbacks, and had 10 punts of 50 yards or more.

STANLEY CLIMBS SCHOOL AND CONFERENCE CHARTS
Senior QB Nate Stanley is starting his third bowl game (2-0). He is one of five quarterbacks in program history to start in three bowl games. Chuck Long started four (2-2), and Matt Sherman (2-1), Drew Tate (1-2), and Ricky Stanzi (3-0) started three.
Stanley has started the last 38 games at quarterback (26-12), and the Hawkeyes have averaged 27.8 points per game in those starts. His streak of 38 consecutive starts at quarterback ranks second in school history to Long (47). He has 14 touchdown passes this season and 66 in his career, second all-time in program history. He trails Chuck Long (74) on the all-time list.
Stanley is one of three players in program history to throw for 8,000 or more career yards (8,089). He ranks third in career passing yards, trailing Drew Tate (8,292) and Chuck Long (10,461) on the all-time list. He also ranks third in career total offense (7,994).
Stanley was 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 was the only Big Ten quarterback on the list.
Stanley has 19 career multi-touchdown games, including five 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, two against #16 Wisconsin in Week 9, and two against #8 Minnesota in Week 10. 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 was named to six preseason watch lists and listed on the preseason Big Ten third team by Phil Steele.

DEFENSE RANKS AMONG NATION’S BEST
First-team All-Big Ten honoree DE A.J. Epenesa leads a defense that ranks in the top 12 in scoring, passing, and total defense. Iowa is sixth in the country in scoring defense (13.2 ppg), 12th in total defense (304.3 ypg), and 12th in passing defense (184.2 ypg). Iowa’s scoring defense is second in the Big Ten to Ohio State (11.8). The Hawkeyes held seven-of-12 opponents to their season-low point total.
Epenesa earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition for the second straight year. He was named a AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp second-team All-American, and he leads Iowa in tackles-for-loss (13-69), sacks (9-54), quarterback pressures (9), and forced fumbles (3). He also has three pass break-ups.
Twice this season Epenesa was recognized as Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He first earned the honor following Iowa’s 23-19 win over seventh-ranked Minnesota on Nov. 16.  Epenesa recorded 2.5 of Iowa’s six sacks, three solo tackles and one assisted tackle, forced one fumble and had one quarterback pressure. He later earned the honor following Iowa’s 27-24 win at Nebraska on Nov. 29. He recorded career highs in tackles (14) and tackles-for-loss (4.5-22) against the Huskers.
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.
Iowa’s scoring defense (13.2) is the second lowest total of the Ferentz era (13.0 in 2008), and the lowest by any Hawkeye team since 1981 (13.1). Iowa is performing at that level one year after losing seven defensive starters from 2018. Five of those players are currently with NFL teams, including DB Jake Gervase, DE Parker Hesse, DB Amani Hooker, DE Anthony Nelson, and DT Matt Nelson. Anthony Nelson and Hooker left Iowa following their junior seasons. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker was a nominee for the Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coach.
The Hawkeyes allow just 16.3 first downs per game, 10th fewest in the country and third in the Big Ten.
Iowa has allowed 18 touchdowns, tied for second fewest in the country (Clemson 16, Georgia 18, San Diego State 18). Iowa is one of three schools in the country to allow just five rushing touchdowns or fewer (Georgia 1, Oregon 4).
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.
In Iowa’s Week 10 win against No. 10 Minnesota, the Hawkeyes recorded six sacks, matching their highest single-game total since 2013 vs. Northwestern.

RETURN TO SENDER
Junior WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette was named on the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list, an honor bestowed to the most versatile player in college football.
Smith-Marsette averages 28.6 yards on 42 career kickoff returns, the best in school history and the second best in Big Ten history. The Big Ten record of average kickoff return yardage is 28.8, set by Stan Brown of Purdue (1968-70). Smith-Marsette has 1,202 kickoff return yards, sixth all-time in program history. He had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Nebraska, tying for the ninth longest in school history. It was the first kickoff returned for a touchdown by the Hawkeyes since Jordan Cotton returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown against Penn  State in 2012.
Smith-Marsette leads the team in receiving yards (676) and all-purpose yards (1,130), and ranks second on the team in receptions (42). He has a team-high seven touchdowns; four receiving, two rushing, and one kickoff return. He set a career high with 121 receiving yards in Week 11, his second career 100-yard receiving game (Rutgers, 113).
Smith-Marsette has 1,224 career receiving yards, 32nd all-time in program history. He has 2,631 all-purpose yards. Only 20 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).

RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
Iowa running backs Tyler Goodson (590), Mekhi Sargent (543), and Toren Young (414) have combined for 1,547 rushing yards. All three running backs have started at least one game.
Goodson started the final three games of the regular season and leads the team in rushing yards. He could become the first true freshman in program history to lead the team in single-season rushing yards. The last redshirt freshman to lead the team in rushing yards was Ladell Betts in 1998 (679). Goodson also has 21 receptions for 146 yards. His 137 combined touches lead the team.
In Week 12 against Nebraska, Goodson rushed 13 times for a career-high 116 yards and a touchdown. It was his first career 100-yard game. His 55-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter was the longest of his career and the longest rushing touchdown by Iowa this season, and the longest by a Hawkeye since Akrum Wadley in 2016 (75 yards vs. Nebraska).
Goodson became the first true freshman to start at running back under Ferentz since 2012 (Greg Garmon) in Iowa’s 23-19 win against #8 Minnesota in Week 10. Goodson rushed for 94 yards against the Gophers, raising his season total to 436, second on the team. He made his second straight start Week 11 against Illinois.
RB Mekhi Sargent started Weeks 1-8 and leads the team in carries (117) and ranks second in rushing yards (543). He was named on the Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List.
RB Toren Young, Iowa’s Week 9 starter, ranks third on the team in carries (77) and rushing yards (414). He averages a team-best 5.4 yards per attempt.
Young has 1,244 career yards on 258 attempts, 33rd all-time. Sargent has 1,288 yards on 276 attempts, 32nd on Iowa’s all-time list.
Seven different Hawkeyes have combined to rush for 14 touchdowns. Eight of those touchdowns have come from inside the 2-yard line, nine from inside the 4-yard line. Goodson (2, 10, 2, 55) and Sargent (2, 4, 14, 2) lead the team with four rushing touchdowns. Five more Hawkeyes have at least one rushing touchdown:, Young (2), QB Nate Stanley (1), FB Brady Ross (1), WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (14, 45), QB Spencer Petras (1).
Young (131) rushed for a career high against Middle Tennessee. The Hawkeyes rushed for 351 yards in the game, the fourth highest total in the Ferentz era.

GRAND THEFT SECONDARY
The Hawkeyes have intercepted a pass in six straight games. DB Michael Ojemudia leads the team and is tied for second in the Big Ten with three interceptions. The Hawkeyes have 11 interceptions this season, and 52 interceptions since 2017, more than any other team over the last three years.
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
Junior K Keith Duncan is a consensus first-team All-American and was named the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. He was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award. Duncan leads the country with 29 field goals made. The 29 made field goals are a school and Big Ten Conference single-season record, and tie for sixth all-time in the NCAA. The NCAA record for single-season field goals made is 31. His 34 attempts on the season and his six field goal attempts at Purdue are both school records. He was named to the FWAA, Sporting, News, and AP first-team All-America teams.
Duncan is 29-of-34 on field goal attempts and 25-of-25 on PAT attempts. He leads the team and is ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring with 112 points. Duncan has connected on 14-of-18 kicks of at least 40 yards, and is 12-of-13 on the road. He kicked four field goals at Iowa State, against Purdue, and against Illinois.
Duncan connected on a 48-yard field goal with one second remaining at Nebraska to break a 24-24 tie and give Iowa a 27-24 win. It was Duncan’s second of two field goals made in the game (49, 48).
Duncan kicked three field goals at Wisconsin to break Iowa’s then-single-season school record. Rob Houghtlin (1987), Nate Kaeding (2002), and Kyle Schlicher (2004) shared the previous school record with 21 made field goals. His 84.4 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.
Three times this year was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. He earned the honor after kicking the game-winning field goal at Nebraska. He was recognized following a four field goal performance against Illinois on Nov. 23. His first weekly honor of the season came 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 has four career Big Ten weekly honors. 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 97 Big Ten wins as Iowa’s head coach, the fourth most of any coach in Big Ten Conference history.
Ferentz’s 161 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 (161).
Ferentz (160-103) 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 (160, 96) and Fry (143, 96) rank in the top five 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.

FERENTZ TOPS IN LONGEVITY
Kirk Ferentz is in his 21st season as Iowa’s head football coach. He is the longest tenured active head coach in college football. Ferentz was named Iowa head coach on Dec. 2, 1998. Gary Patterson of TCU is No. 2 in coaching tenure. Patterson’s first year with the Horned Frogs was 2001. Among Big Ten coaches, only Pat Fitzgerald (2006) and Mark Dantonio (2007) have been at their current schools for 10 seasons or more. Iowa is the only school to have just two head football coaches since 1979.
Defensive coordinator Phil Parker and strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle are also in their 21st seasons on Iowa’s staff. Quarterbacks coach Ken O’Keefe was on Ferentz’s original coaching staff before he left for the NFL following the 2011 season. He returned to Iowa in 2017 to coach Iowa’s quarterbacks.
Ferentz is the only Division I coach to coach three sons. Brian Ferentz, a former Hawkeye letterman and captain (2003-05), enters his eighth season on Iowa’s coaching staff. James Ferentz was a three-year starter on the Hawkeye offensive line and a team captain before graduating in 2013. Steven was an offensive lineman and letterwinner in 2015 and 2016.