Game Notes: Iowa vs. Missouri

OPPONENT IOWA vs. MISSOURI (Nissan Stadium)
DATE Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020
KICKOFF 3 p.m. (CT)
TELEVISION ESPN
RADIO HAWKEYE RADIO NETWORK

1st and 10

1: Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is one bowl win shy of tying Joe Paterno (10) for most bowl wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Ferentz has a 9-8 bowl record and has led Iowa to three straight bowl wins, tying its longest such streak in program history. Ferentz’s nine bowl wins tie Barry Alvarez for second in Big Ten history.

2: The Hawkeyes are 22-4 in their last 26 trophy games, including a 19-4 mark in their last 23 rivalry trophy games (Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin) and a 3-0 mark in their last three bowl appearances. Iowa defeated Boston College, 27-20, at the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl; Mississippi State, 27-22, at the 2019 Outback Bowl; and USC, 49-24, at the 2019 Holiday Bowl.

3: Iowa has won its last six games, outscoring its opponents 214-83. Iowa is averaging 35.7 points per game and allowing 13.8 ppg during the winning streak. Iowa has won six straight Big Ten games for the fifth time in the last 30 seasons (2020, 2015, 2008, 2004, 1991). Iowa has scored at least 25 points in each of its six wins.

4: Big Ten Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year DT Daviyon Nixon leads a defensive front that includes first-team All-Big Ten DE Chauncey Golston and second-team All-Big Ten DE Zach VanValkenburg. The trio leads an Iowa defense that ranks second in the Big Ten in sacks (22.0) and fourth in tackles for loss (52.0). Nixon and Golston are tied for the Big Ten lead with 5.5 sacks. Nixon leads the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss. Golston and VanValkenburg are tied for seventh in the conference with 8.5 tackles for loss.

5: QB Spencer Petras is 92-156 (59.0) with 1,088 passing yards (181.3 ypg) during Iowa’s six-game winning streak. He has thrown eighth touchdowns and two interceptions over the last six games. Petras has 245 pass attempts and 1,569 passing yards to rank third in the conference in both categories.

6: Iowa has played 22 straight games without surrendering 25 points, the longest streak in the nation among Power 5 teams. Iowa ranks No. 2 in the conference in total defense (313.8), No. 3 in scoring defense (16.0) and rush defense (107.6), and No. 5 in pass defense (206.1)

7: Iowa has two of the country’s top returners. Junior Charlie Jones leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th in the country averaging 10.5 yards per punt return. He has one punt return for a touchdown (54 yards vs. Michigan State). Senior WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette averages 22.0 yards per kickoff return in 2020, No. 3 in the Big Ten.

8: RB Tyler Goodson leads the Hawkeyes and ranks second in the Big Ten with 762 rushing yards. Goodson has four 100-yard rushing games this season. His 80-yard touchdown rush in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin is the longest run by a Big Ten player this season. Goodson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media.

9: The Hawkeyes rank third in the Big Ten with 11 interceptions (Indiana 17; Northwestern 14). Iowa has 64 interceptions since 2017, the most by any team in the country. DE Zach VanValkenburg has four fumble recoveries this season, tied for the most in the country. Iowa has scored 76 points off turnovers this year (30 percent of total points).

10. K Keith Duncan leads the Big Ten with 14 made field goals. Duncan is Iowa’s all-time career leader in field goal percentage (82.5). He has made 52-of-63 career field goal attempts, including a school-record 20 field goals made of 40 or more yards. He is 14-of-18 on field goal attempts this season, and has made 62 consecutive PATs.