1st and 10
1: Iowa won its last six games, outscoring its opponents 214-83. Iowa averaged 35.7 points per game and allowed 13.8 ppg during the winning streak. Iowa won six straight Big Ten games for the fifth time in the last 30 seasons (2020, 2015, 2008, 2004, 1991). Iowa scored at least 25 points in each of its six wins.
2: Iowa was 3-0 in trophy games in 2020 and is 22-4 in its last 26 trophy games. the Hawkeyes defended Floyd of Rosedale at Minnesota on Nov. 13 (W, 35-7), the Heroes Trophy with a 26-20 win on Nov. 27 against Nebraska and reclaimed the Heartland Trophy on Dec. 12 with a 28-7 win vs. Wisconsin.
3: DT Daviyon Nixon earned first-team All-America recognition on all five All-America teams to become the ninth unanimous consensus All-America selection in school history. Nixon is Iowa’s sixth consensus All-American in the last seven years. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year.
4: DT Daviyon Nixon led a defensive front that included first-team All-Big Ten DE Chauncey Golston and second-team All-Big Ten DE Zach VanValkenburg. The trio led an Iowa defense that ranked second in the Big Ten in sacks (22.0) and fifth in tackles for loss (52.0). Nixon and Golston tied for second in the Big Ten lead with 5.5 sacks. Nixon leads the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss. Golston and VanValkenburg tied for eighth in the conference with 8.5 tackles for loss.
5: QB Spencer Petras, an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, was 92-156 (59.0) with 1,088 passing yards (181.3 ypg) during Iowa’s six-game winning streak to end the season. He threw eight touchdowns and two interceptions over the last six games.
6: Iowa has played 22 straight games without surrendering 25 points, the longest streak in the nation among Power 5 teams. The Hawkeyes ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2020 in defensive yards per play (4.3). Iowa ranked No. 2 in the conference in total defense (313.8) and scoring defense (16.0), No. 3 in rush defense (107.6) and No. 5 in pass defense (206.1).
7: Iowa had two of the country’s top returners. Junior Charlie Jones led the Big Ten and ranked 11th in the country averaging 10.5 yards per punt return. He had one punt return for a touchdown (54 yards vs. Michigan State). Senior WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette averaged 22.0 yards per kickoff return in 2020 and finished his career ranked No. 2 in Big Ten history in kickoff return average. He averaged 28.7 yards on 53 career kickoff returns.
8: RB Tyler Goodson led the Hawkeyes and ranked third in the Big Ten with 762 rushing yards. Goodson had seven rushing touchdowns, tied for fourth in the Big Ten with teammate Mekhi Sargent. He was named first-team All-Big Ten by coaches, media and Associated Press.
9: The Hawkeyes ranked third in the Big Ten with 11 interceptions (Indiana 17; Northwestern 14). Iowa has 64 interceptions since 2017, tied for the most by any team in the country. DE Zach VanValkenburg had four fumble recoveries this season, tied for the most in the country. Iowa scored 76 points off turnovers in 2020 (30 percent of total points).
10: K Keith Duncan led the Big Ten with 14 made field goals. Duncan is Iowa’s all-time career leader in field goal percentage (82.5). He made 52-of-63 career field goal attempts, including a school-record 20 field goals made of 40 or more yards. He was 14-of-18 on field goal attempts this season.
