Hawk Talk Monthly — January | Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Final Notes PDF
1: Iowa defeated No. 22 Southern California, 49-24, at the 2019 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California, on Dec. 27, 2019. The bowl win was the ninth for Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, tying him for second place in Big Ten Conference history (Barry Alvarez). Joe Paterno of Penn State has 10. Since the 2001 season, only Ohio State (10) has more bowl wins among Big Ten programs (including FCS Playoffs and the BCS championship game), than Iowa (9).
2. The Hawkeyes finished the 2019 season 10-3 overall and on a four-game winning streak. The Hawkeyes won 47 games from 2015-19, the most of any five-year period in program history. Iowa recorded its sixth 10-win season since 1999. Only eight schools have won more games than the Hawkeyes (47) since 2015. They include Clemson (68), Alabama (66), Ohio State (60), Oklahoma (57), Georgia (54), Wisconsin (52), Penn State (51), and LSU (50).
3: The Hawkeyes were 4-1 in trophy games this season, including 3-1 in rivalry games and 1-0 in the postseason. Iowa defended the Cy-Hawk Trophy against Iowa State, the Floyd of Rosedale trophy against #7 Minnesota, and the Heroes Trophy at Nebraska. The Hawkeyes fell to #16 Wisconsin in a battle for the Heartland Trophy.
4: Iowa’s defense ranked in the top 20 in scoring, rushing, passing, and total defense. Iowa was fifth in the country in scoring defense (14.0 ppg), 12th in total defense (308.2 ypg), 14th in rushing defense (112.5), and 19th in passing defense (195.7 ypg). Iowa’s scoring defense ranked second in the Big Ten to Ohio State (13.7). The Hawkeyes held seven-of-13 opponents to their season-low point total.
5: Three Iowa players landed on postseason All-America teams. 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. OL Tristan Wirfs was named to the FWAA and Walter Camp first teams, and the AP and AFCA second teams. DE A.J. Epenesa was an AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp second-team All-American.
6. 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.
7. Junior OL Tristan Wirfs 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.
8. 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 led the Hawkeyes in tackles for loss (14.5-82), sacks (11.5-67), quarterback pressures (nine) and forced fumbles (four). He also had three pass break-ups. Epenesa was named the defensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl.
9: Senior QB Nate Stanley started all 13 games in 2019 and all 39 games the past three seasons. Iowa posted a 27-12 record in Stanley’s three seasons as starting quarterback. Stanley passed for 2,951 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2019. He ranks second in career passing touchdowns (68), career passing yards (8,302), career completions (673), and career pass attempts (1,155), and third in career total offense (8,198).
10: Freshman RB Tyler Goodson started the final four games of the season and became the first true freshman to ever lead the team in single-season rushing yards (638). Goodson led the team with five rushing touchdowns, and had 24 receptions for 166 yards. His 158 combined touches led the team.
IOWA WRAPS 2019 SEASON WITH WIN OVER USC AT HOLIDAY BOWL
Iowa (10-3) defeated No. 22 Southern California (8-5), 49-24, at the 2019 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California, on Dec. 27, 2019. The Hawkeyes improved to 17-15-1 in 32 bowl game appearances. The bowl win was the ninth for Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, tying him for second place in Big Ten Conference history (Barry Alvarez).
The 49 points scored were the second most scored in a bowl game in school history (55 vs. Texas in 1984 Freedom Bowl). WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette scored three touchdowns at the 2019 Holiday Bowl (all in the first half), tying Shonn Greene’s Iowa bowl record. He is the second Hawkeye in program history to score a touchdown via rush, reception, and kickoff return, in a single game (George Rice, vs. Purdue in 1951). He is the first college player since 1998 (Deuce McAllister, Independence Bowl) to score a touchdown via rush, reception, kickoff return in a bowl game.
Below are Iowa bowl records that were broken or tied vs. USC:
Iowa Bowl Records – – Individual
Scoring
Touchdowns: 3 by Ihmir Smith-Marsette (ties record set by Shonn Greene vs. South Carolina, ’09 Outback)
Points: 18 by Ihmir Smith-Marsette (ties record set by Shonn Greene vs. South Carolina, ’09 Outback)
Kickoff Return Average
47.3 yards (3 for 142 yards), by Ihmir Smith Marsette (previous, 42.7, Jordan Cotton vs. LSU, ’14 Outback)
PATs
Made: 7, by Keith Duncan (tied record set by Tom Nichol vs. Texas, ’84 Freedom Bowl)
Att.: 7, by Keith Duncan (tied record set by Tom Nichol vs. Texas, ’84 Freedom Bowl)
QB Sacks
2.5 by A.J. Epenesa (ties record set by Jonathan Babineaux vs. LSU, ’05 Capital One Bowl, and Abdul Hodge vs. LSU, ’05 Capital One Bowl)
Iowa Bowl Records – – Team
PATs: 7 (tied record vs. Texas, ’84 Freedom Bowl)
Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed: 22 (previous, 43 vs. South Carolina, ’09 Outback Bowl, and vs. Wyoming, ’87 Holiday Bowl)
Holiday Bowl Records
Longest kickoff return: 98 yards by Ihmir Smith-Marsette (ties Adoree Jackson, USC, 2014)
Highest kickoff return Average: 47.3 yards (3-142), Ihmir Smith-Marsette (previous, Jackson, USC, 2014, and Victor Ike, Texas, 2000)
END OF A HISTORIC FIVE-YEAR STRETCH
The Hawkeyes finished the 2019 season 10-3 overall and on a four-game winning streak. The Hawkeyes won 47 games from 2015-19, the most of any five-year period in program history. Iowa recorded its sixth 10-win season since 1999.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa finished the season ranked No. 15 in both the AP poll and the coaches poll. It is the 25th time in program history that Iowa finished the season ranked in the top 25. Iowa has finished ranked 15th or better in the AP poll six times in 21 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz.
Iowa’s 2019 schedule included four opponents ranked in the final AP top 25 (#9 Penn State, #10 Minnesota, #18 Michigan, #11 Wisconsin,). Those four opponents had a combined 41-11 record.
Iowa was 2-3 against ranked teams this season. Iowa had 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 #22 USC in San Diego at the 2019 Holiday 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: 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: 49-24 over #22 USC, Holiday Bowl, 12/27/19
27-22 over #18 Mississippi State, Outback Bowl, 1/1/19
27-24 over #12 Missouri, Insight Bowl, 12/28/10
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.
OL Tristan Wirfs was named to the FWAA and Walter Camp first teams, and the AP and AFCA second teams. DL A.J. Epenesa was an AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp second-team All-American.
Wirfs started 10 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 33 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 was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.
Epenesa led Iowa in tackles for loss (14-82), sacks (11.5-67), quarterback pressures (nine) and forced fumbles (four). He also had 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. He was the defensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl.
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 was 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 10 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 had 33 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 10 games at left tackle, missing three games because of injury. He has 34 career starts, all at left tackle.
Linderbaum earned his first all-conference recognition and stated all 13 games at center. The 2019 season was his first on the offensive side of the ball. He played on the defensive line as a true freshman before moving to offense during bowl prep in 2018.
Smith-Marsette was recognized for the second straight season, as he earned the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year honor in 2018. He led Iowa with 722 receiving yards on 44 receptions. Smith-Marsette scored five receiving touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and two touchdowns via kickoff return. A 95-yard return at Nebraska and a 98-yard return in the Holiday Bowl against USC. He was named offensive MVP in the Holiday Bowl.
Smith-Marsette ranks 17th in career all-purpose yards (2,834) in three seasons. He has amassed 1,270 receiving yards, 1,344 yards on kickoff returns, and 220 rushing yards, scoring 15 total touchdowns. This season he averaged 16.4 yards on 44 receptions, 29.6 yards on 17 kickoff returns, and 8.3 yards on 11 rushing attempts.
Stanley started all 13 games in 2019 and all 39 games the past three season. Stanley passed for 2,951 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2019. He ranks second in career passing touchdowns (68), career passing yards (8,302), career completions (673), and career pass attempts (1,155), and third in career total offense (8,198).
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 became 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 was 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. He led the team in scoring with 117 (or 119) points, third highest single-season total in program history.
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 led the Hawkeyes in tackles for loss (14.5-82), sacks (11.5-67), quarterback pressures (nine) and forced fumbles (four). He also had three pass break-ups.
Stone earned honorable mention honors for the second straight season after recording 70 total tackles (46 solo). Stone had three tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, one interception, and one recovered fumble.
Ojemudia earned his first all-conference recognition, starting 12 games while missing one contest (Minnesota) due to injury. He led the team with three interceptions. He recorded 41 solo tackles and 11 assists and had a team-best nine pass break-ups.
Welch started 10 games at middle linebacker and led the team in tackles (87), despite missing three games due to injury. Welch totaled nine 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 (9.5-28). He also had three sacks, five pass break-ups, one interception, and seven quarterback pressures while starting all 13 games.
Lattimore started all 13 games, recording 24 solo tackles and 20 assists. Lattimore also had 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a recovered fumble.
Sleep-Dalton averaged 41.7 yards on 58 punts, with a long of 63 yards. He placed 23 punts inside the opponent 20, with just four touchbacks, and had 10 punts of 50 yards or more.
TROPHY COLLECTION
The Hawkeyes were 4-1 in trophy games in 2019, including 3-1 in rivalry games and 1-0 in the postseason. Iowa defended the Cy-Hawk Trophy at Iowa State, the Floyd of Rosedale trophy against #7 Minnesota, and the Heroes Trophy at Nebraska. The Hawkeyes fell at #16 Wisconsin in a battle for the Heartland Trophy.
The Hawkeyes are 16-4 in their last 20 rivalry trophy games (Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin), with all four losses coming to Wisconsin, and have won three straight bowl games.
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 W, 23-19
Heroes at Nebraska 11/29 W, 27-24
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,259 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 660-560-39 (.540). That includes a 411-222-16 (.646) record in home games, a 248-338-23 (.426) record in games away from Iowa City, a 335-381-25 (.469) mark in Big Ten games and a 295-187-15 (.609) record in Kinnick Stadium. Oct. 5, 2019 marked the 90th anniversary of the first game in Kinnick Stadium, a 46-0 win over Monmouth. Nov. 16 marked the 130th anniversary of Iowa football, a 23-19 win over Minnesota. The Hawkeyes played their first football game on Nov. 16, 1889, against Grinnell.
STANLEY CLIMBS SCHOOL CHARTS
Senior QB Nate Stanley started all 13 games in 2019 and all 39 games the past three seasons. Iowa posted a 27-12 record in Stanley’s three seasons as starting quarterback.
Stanley passed for 2,951 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2019. He ranks second in career passing touchdowns (68), career passing yards (8,302), career completions (673), and career pass attempts (1,155), and third in career total offense (8,198).
Stanley started three bowl games in his career. He is one of five quarterbacks in program history to start three bowl games, and the second to win all three. Chuck Long started four (2-2), and Matt Sherman (2-1), Drew Tate (1-2), and Ricky Stanzi (3-0) started three.
The Hawkeyes averaged 28.4 points per game in Stanley’s 39 career starts. His streak of 39 consecutive starts at quarterback ranks second in school history to Long (47). He had 16 touchdown passes this season and 68 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 (8,302). He ranks second in career passing yards, trailing Long (10,461) on the all-time list. He ranks third in career total offense (8,198).
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 had 20 career multi-touchdown games, including six in 2019. 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, two against #8 Minnesota in Week 10, and two against #22 USC in the Holiday Bowl. 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).
DEFENSE RANKS AMONG NATION’S BEST
First-team All-Big Ten honoree DE A.J. Epenesa led a defense that ranked in the top 20 in scoring, rushing, passing, and total defense. Iowa was fifth in the country in scoring defense (14.0 ppg), 12th in total defense (308.2 ypg), 14th in rushing defense (112.5), and 19th in passing defense (195.7 ypg). Iowa’s scoring defense is second in the Big Ten to Ohio State (13.7). The Hawkeyes held seven-of-13 opponents to their season-low point total.
Epenesa earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition for the second straight year. He was named AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp second-team All-American. He led Iowa in tackles-for-loss (14.5-82), sacks (11.5-67), quarterback pressures (9), and forced fumbles (4). He also had three pass break-ups.
Iowa’s scoring defense (14.0) is the second lowest total of the Ferentz era (13.0 in 2008). The Hawkeyes allowed just 16.6 first downs per game, 12th fewest in the country and third in the Big Ten. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker was a nominee for the Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coach.
Iowa allowed 21 touchdowns, third fewest in the country (San Diego State 19, Georgia 20). Iowa is one of three schools in the country to allow just six rushing touchdowns or fewer (Georgia 2, Oregon 5, Iowa 6).
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 became the first player in school history to return two kickoffs for a touchdown in the same season. He did it in consecutive games to end the season. He had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Nebraska, tying for the 10th longest in school history, and a 98-yard return against USC at the Holiday Bowl, the seventh longest in school history, an Iowa bowl record, and tying a Holiday Bowl record.
Smith-Marsette averages 29.9 yards on 45 career kickoff returns, the best in school history and the best in Big Ten history. Smith-Marsette has 1,344 kickoff return yards, fifth all-time in program history.
Smith-Marsette led the team in receiving yards (722) and all-purpose yards (1,333), and ranked second on the team in receptions (44). He had a team-high 10 touchdowns; five receiving, three rushing, and two kickoff returns. He set a career high with 121 receiving yards in Week 11, his second career 100-yard receiving game (Rutgers, 113).
Smith-Marsette has 1,270 career receiving yards, 30th all-time in program history. He has 2,834 all-purpose yards, 17th all-time.
Smith-Marsette scored three touchdowns at the 2019 Holiday Bowl (all in the first half), tying Shonn Greene’s Iowa bowl record. He is the second Hawkeye in program history to score a touchdown via rush, reception, and kickoff return, in a single game (George Rice, vs. Purdue in 1951). He is the first college player since 1998 (Deuce McAllister, Independence Bowl) to score a touchdown via rush, reception, kickoff return in a bowl game.
GOODSON LEADS RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
Iowa running backs Tyler Goodson (638), Mekhi Sargent (563), and Toren Young (432) combined for 1,633 rushing yards. All three running backs started at least one game.
Goodson started the final four games of the season and became the first true freshman to ever lead the team in single-season rushing yards. The last redshirt freshman to lead Iowa in single-season rushing yards was Ladell Betts in 1998 (679 yards). Goodson led the team with five rushing touchdowns, and had 24 receptions for 166 yards. His 158 combined touches led 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, the longest rushing touchdown by Iowa in 2019, 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. Sargent started Weeks 1-8, and Young was Iowa’s Week 9 starter.
Eight different Hawkeyes combined to rush for 17 touchdowns. Nine of those touchdowns came from inside the 2-yard line, 10 from inside the 4-yard line. Goodson (2, 10, 2, 55, 1) led the team with five rushing scores. Sargent (2, 4, 14, 2) ranked second, and WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (14, 45, 6) ranked third. Five more Hawkeyes had at least one rushing touchdown: WR Tyron Tracy (23), Young (2), QB Nate Stanley (1), FB Brady Ross (1), and QB Spencer Petras (1).
YOUNG, SARGENT SURPASS 1,000 CAREER RUSHING YARDS
Junior running backs Toren Young and Mekhi Sargent each surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards in Iowa’s win over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 28.
Sargent entered the game with 953 rushing yards and moved past 1,000 for his career on a 12-yard run late in the first period. He ended the contest with 91 rushing yards. His career totals include 1,308 yards on 278 attempts. He was the 48th Iowa running back to surpass 1,000 career yards and currently ranks 31st on the all-time list.
Young entered Week 4 with 950 career yards and surpassed 1,000 on a 15-yard run early in the second quarter, becoming the 49th Iowa running back to surpass the century total. He led the Hawkeyes with a career-high 131 rushing yards against Middle Tennessee. Young now has 1,262 career yards on 262 attempts to rank 33rd on the career list.
Sargent moved over 1,000 career yards on career attempt 207, while Young went past 1,000 yards on career attempt 209.
GRAND THEFT SECONDARY
The Hawkeyes intercepted at least one pass in the final seven games of the season, including a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by LB Ben Niemann at the 2019 Holiday Bowl. Niemann’s interception was the first of his career, Iowa’s final score of the season, and extended the Hawkeyes’ streak with a pick-six to 12 consecutive seasons. Iowa has had at least one interception returned for a touchdown in 17 of the last 19 seasons.
DB Michael Ojemudia led the team and tied for second in the Big Ten with three interceptions. The Hawkeyes had 12 interceptions this season, and have 53 interceptions since 2017, more than any other team over the last three years.
DUNCAN GETTING HIS KICKS
Junior K Keith Duncan was 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 led 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 was 29-of-34 on field goal attempts and 32-of-32 on PAT attempts. He led the team and is ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring with 119 points. The 119 points rank third all-time in single season history, trailing Shonn Greene (2008) and Nate Kaeding (2002), who share the record with 120 points.
Duncan connected on 14-of-18 kicks of at least 40 yards, and was 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 saw 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 in 2019 Duncan 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 162 wins in all games coached as a member of the Big Ten Conference tie Joe Paterno for fifth all-time 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 (162).
Ferentz (162-103) 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 (162, 97) 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.
