MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Iowa football team won its fifth straight game against Minnesota in Minneapolis on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes defeated Minnesota, 31-14, at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Iowa tallied 334 yards to Minnesota’s 288 and the Hawkeyes outgained the Gophers by 193 yards on the ground.

Kaleb Johnson rushed for 206 yards on 21 attempts and found the endzone three times. Jaziun Patterson added 66 yards on 18 attempts. Brendan Sullivan had a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak.

Cade McNamara connected on 11 of his 19 passing attempts for 62 yards. Luke Lachey led the team with three receptions and Addison Ostrenga had 20 receiving yards.

Jay Higgins led the way on the defensive end with nine tackles (one solo), Deshaun Lee and Nick Jackson each added eight tackles. Quinn Schulte and Higgins each pulled in an interception and Jackson recorded a sack.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ

“Just really proud of the offense, started with the ball in the second half and got a chance to even the score back up. Continued to do a really good job the rest of the half. The defense looked more like what we are accustomed to. I credit Minnesota at the end of the first half, but it was good to see those guys settle down and play the way you hope we are capable of playing. So, happy about that.

Kaleb had a really great night again, he’s really playing well for us. Anytime a back gets 200 yards that is pretty special. The defense coming up with two interceptions, always a positive, and we got a touchdown off of Jay’s pick in the first half, good team football there.

A lot of good things, played clean, one penalty – it was costly – but just the one penalty, and a good job protecting the ball.

In short, we are going to enjoy this one a little bit more than 24 hours, give the guys a little bit extra time. Heading into a bye week we can. Again, just really proud of the guys, just a great great effort. Certainly have a lot of things to work on now between now and our next next ball game.”

PHOTOS

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Iowa got on the board first with 8:03 remaining in the first half with a one-yard rush from Kaleb Johnson. The touchdown ended a five play 38-yard drive that lasted 2:05.
• A three-yard touchdown pass with 4:20 remaining in the first half for Minnesota evened the score to cap a seven play 64-yard drive that lasted 4:32.
• Minnesota took a lead into the locker room at halftime as an eight play 68-yard drive culminated with an 11-yard touchdown reception with 21 seconds left.
• Iowa tied the game on their opening drive of the second half. A 15-yard touchdown scamper with 12:56 remaining in the third quarter from Kaleb Johnson closed a five play 67-yard drive that lasted 1:59.
• Kaleb Johnson tallied his third touchdown of the day with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter. The scoring drive lasted 2:58 and covered six plays and 73 yards.
• Drew Stevens connected on a 46-yard field goal to push Iowa’s lead to two possessions. The score with 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter ended a nine play 34-yard drive.
• With 11:13 remaining in the game Brendan Sullivan punched in a QB sneak from the one-yard line to end a six play 52-yard drive that eclipsed 3:40.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Junior Kaleb Johnson notched his second career 200-yard game and fourth consecutive 100-yard game, finishing with a career-high 206 yards on 21 attempts with a career-high three touchdowns — a 1-yarder in the first and 15 and 40-yards in the third.
  • He is the first Hawkeye with three TDs in a game since Tyler Goodson in 2021.
  • Johnson had runs of 23, 21, 24, 40 and 33 yards in the game – his eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th rushes of 20+ yards this season. He has four TD runs of 25+ yards this season.
  • He is the first Hawkeye to post four straight 100 yard games since Mark Weisman in 2012.
  • Johnson now has eight career 100-yard games, which are tied for the 12th most in program history.
  • He has two touchdowns in four consecutive games – a first for a Hawkeye since Mark Weisman in 2014 (5 straight games).
    • He is the first Iowa RB with two or more touchdowns in the first four games of the season since Tavian Banks in 1997 (12 touchdowns).
    • His nine touchdowns are the most by an Iowa RB since Mekhi Sargent in 2018.
• Junior QB Brendan Sullivan had a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter – his first rushing touchdown as a Hawkeye (fourth career).
• QB Cade McNamara completed 11-of-19 attempts for 62 yards to improve to 20-5 as a starter.
• Senior LB Jay Higgins had a first quarter interception to set up Iowa’s first touchdown drive. It was his second interception of the season and third of his career.
  • Higgins also had nine tackles – which led the team. (He has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in all four games this season).
• Graduate DB Quinn Schulte had a fourth quarter interception – his first of the season and fourth of his career.
• Sophomore DB Deshaun Lee made his first start of the season, where he finished with eight tackles which was one short of tying his career best.
• Junior K Drew Stevens connected on a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter – a season long.
  • Stevens is 6-for-6 in field goal attempts this season, including 3-for-3 from 40+.
• Freshman Rhys Dakin had five punts for 248 yards (49.6 average), including a career-long 55-yarder in the second quarter.
  • Three of his punts were downed inside the 20 and two traveled 50+ yards.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• Iowa’s rushing attack churned out 272 yards against Minnesota – tying for the most against the Gophers since 2015.
  • The yardage was the most allowed by the Gophers this season; Minnesota entered the game allowing 74.3 rushing yards per game.
  • It is the first time Iowa has rushed for 200+ yards in four straight games since 2013 (five straight to open the season).
• Iowa scored on its first four offensive possessions in the second half – three touchdowns, one field goal.
• The Hawkeyes have come-from-behind in the second half to win its last two games (trailed 14-10 vs. Troy; 14-7 at
• Minnesota).
• Iowa had an interception in the first and fourth quarters — its fourth and fifth of the season — and turned it into seven points.
  • The Hawkeyes have a 7-2 advantage in turnovers this season, where they have turned the miscues into 19 points.
• The Hawkeye defense allowed 79 rushing yards to Minnesota – the fourth straight opponent under 100 yards.
• It is the 32nd consecutive game Iowa’s defense has allowed fewer than 400 yards — the longest active streak nationally.
• Iowa won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Hawkeyes have played 319 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 233 times (149-84). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 86 times (50-36).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes are idle on Sept. 28.  Iowa returns to action Oct. 5, traveling to Columbus for a road game at Ohio State.