| OPPONENT | #24/22 Iowa at #7/7 Penn State |
| DATE | Saturday, Sept. 23 |
| LOCATION | University Park, Pa. | Beaver Stadium (106,572) |
| KICKOFF | 6:40 p.m. (CT) |
| TELEVISION | CBS |
| RADIO | Hawkeye Radio Network |
First and 10
- The Hawkeyes open Big Ten Conference play on Saturday at Penn State. Iowa is 8-3 in its last 11 league openers and 13-11 all-time under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened Big Ten play six previous times (three in Happy Valley) against Penn State in the Ferentz era, winning four of the six meetings.
- Iowa will be playing in its second White Out in Happy Valley. The unranked Hawkeyes won in the White Out in 2009 courtesy of Adrian Clayborn’s blocked punt and return for a touchdown in Iowa’s 21-10 win over the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions.
- Iowa is 3-0 for the 11th time under Ferentz (2023, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2003, 2001). The Hawkeyes have started 4-0 six times under Ferentz (2021, 2019, 2015, 2009, 2006, 2003).
- Ferentz — the dean of coaches in college football – won his 200th career game on Sept. 9 when the Hawkeyes won a 20-13 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup at Iowa State. Ferentz, who has 201 career victories, is the 27th head coach to reach the milestone at an FBS institution and just the 99th college coach across all divisions since 1890.
- Iowa remains in the national polls for a second straight week, coming in at No. 22 in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll and No. 24 in the AP Poll – up one spot from Week 3. The Hawkeyes are receiving votes in the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll.
- Hello CBS! Iowa will be making its first television appearance on CBS in 26 years on Saturday in Happy Valley. The Hawkeyes’ last appearance on the network came in the 1997 Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State – a 17-7 loss (Iowa’s last regular season game on CBS came in 1986 against Michigan). Saturday is Iowa’s 17th game on CBS; the program is 11-4-1 all-time on the network.
- Iowa will be playing on a grass playing surface for the second time this season Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Hawkeyes have won their last six games on grass, including a 20-13 win at Iowa State in Week 2.
By the Numbers
254
Iowa rushed for 254 yards against Western Michigan on Sept. 16 -- the most for the program since 2019 against Middle Tennessee State (351 yards).
41
The Hawkeyes put up a season-high 41 points -- the highest point total in a 25-game stretch. Iowa scored 51 points in the road win at Maryland in 2021.
1
Iowa’s defense has allowed one touchdown to each of its first three opponents. The unit, which ranks 18th in scoring defense at 12.3 points per game, has allowed one touchdown or less in 12 of its last 16 games, dating back to the start of the 2022 season.
400
Iowa’s defense hasn’t allowed 400 or more yards in 16 consecutive games (since the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan in 2021). The Hawkeyes have allowed 350 yards or fewer in 13 of the 16 games.
14
Iowa has allowed 14 or fewer points in 11 of its last 16 games, dating back to the start of the 2022 season.
26
Iowa will be making its first television appearance on CBS in 26 years on Saturday in Happy Valley.
A ROAD TOP 10
- Head coach Kirk Ferentz has three career road wins against top 10 opponents with the most recent victory coming at No. 9 Iowa State, 27-17, during the 2021 season. Iowa has two road top 10 wins in their last six such games, including a 21-10 victory at No. 4 Penn State in 2009.
- Ferentz has 11 career top 10 wins (home or away) as Iowa’s head coach. His overall record against top 10 foes is 11-25.
Nittany Lions vs. Hawkeyes
SERIES HISTORY
- Saturday will be the 32nd meeting in the all-time series. The Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings, including a 23-20 victory over the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions in 2021 on Nico Ragaini’s 44-yard fourth-quarter touchdown reception from Spencer Petras with 6:26 to play.
- Iowa is 8-7 all-time in Happy Valley, including a 41-21 victory in the last meeting in 2020. It was the Hawkeyes’ largest margin of victory in the series. Prior to the win, Penn State had won six straight games.
- Penn State holds a 17-14 advantage overall in the series. Since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993, the series is tied, 11-11.
- Head coach Kirk Ferentz is 10-8 against the Nittany Lions, including 4-4 in University Park.
- Four of the last five games in the series have been decided by six points or less.
SERIES RESULTS
- 11/15/1930 W 19-0 (H)
- 9/25/1971 L 14-44 (#12) (H)
- 9/30/1972 L 10-14 (#13) (A)
- 9/29/1973 L 8-27 (#6) (A)
- 9/28/1974 L 0-27 (#19) (H)
- 9/27/1975 L 10-30 (#12) (H)
- 9/25/1976 W 7-6 (#11) (A)
- 9/17/1983 W 42-34 (A)
- 9/15/1984 L 17-20 (#12) (H)
- 9/18/1993 L 0-31 (#14) (H)
- 9/17/1994 L 21-61 (#6) (A)
- 10/21/1995 L 27-41 (#19) (H)
- 10/19/1996 W 21-20 (#10) (A)
- 10/9/1999 L 7-31 (#2) (H)
- 11/4/2000 W 26-23 (2OT) (A)
- 9/29/2001 W 24-18 (H)
- 9/28/2002 W 42-35, OT (#12) (A)
- 10/25/2003 W 26-14 (H)
- 10/23/2004 W 6-4 (A)
- 10/6/2007 L 7-27 (A)
- 11/8/2008 W 24-23 (#3) (H)
- 9/26/2009 W 21-10 (#5) (A)
- 10/2/2010 W 24-3 (#22) (H)
- 10/8/2011 L 3-13 (A)
- 10/20/2012 L 14-38 (H)
- 11/5/2016 L 14-41 (#12) (A)
- 9/23/2017 L 19-21 (#4) (H)
- 10/27/2018 L 24-30 (#17) (A)
- 10/12/2019 L 12-17 (#8) (H)
- 11/21/2020 W 41-21 (A)
- 10/9/2021 W 23-20 (#4) (H)
A CLEAN NOTE PAD
- The Hawkeyes didn’t commit a penalty in their Week 2 road win at Iowa State and the team committed a single penalty (for five yards) in Week 3 against Western Michigan. Iowa has played penalty free football twice in its last six games (at Minnesota, 2022).
- Since 1970, Iowa has eight games where it hasn’t committed a penalty.
- Iowa leads the nation in fewest penalty yards (55) and fewest penalty yards per game (18.33). The Hawkeyes are third nationally in fewest penalties (8) and fewest penalties per game (2.67).
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