PASADENA, California – The University of Iowa football team was defeated by UCLA, 20-17, on Friday night at the Rose Bowl.

Iowa started strong building a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, with Kaleb Johnson scoring a 2-yard touchdown run and Drew Stevens adding a 24-yard field goal.

On the day Johnson had 49 yards on 18 attempts with the one touchdown.

UCLA rattled off 17 unanswered points connecting on a 57-yard field goal before scoring two touchdown passes of two yards and 29 yards, respectively. The Bruins took a 17-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Neither team found the endzone in the third quarter. Iowa broke the second-half scoring drought and tied the game in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kamari Moulton, capping a 13-play, 61-yard drive.

With just under five minutes remaining, UCLA kicked a 27-yard field goal to take the lead. Iowa’s final drive stalled, and the Bruins ran out the clock to secure the win.

Iowa had 185 passing yards in the contest, with Brendan Sullivan going 6-for-9 for 157 passing yards and two interceptions before being relieved by Jackson Stratton who went 3-for-6 for 28 yards.

Jacob Gill pulled down 138 receiving yards on six receptions.

The Hawkeyes were led defensively by Nick Jackson with 12 tackles (nine solo). Zach Lutmer and Quinn Schulte each pulled in an interception, and Kyler Fisher forced a fumble.

The Bruins had 415 yards on the day compared to Iowa’s 265.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ

“Obviously not a lot to say, disappointing for us.  Just got done telling the team that one thing about football is you typically get what you deserve. We certainly didn’t play well enough to expect to win tonight. Basically, in every category.

Nothing really clicked for us, and nothing looked great. So, we turn the page, really all we can be worried about right now is the next two games. It works out that we will try to regroup here in the bye week. Disappointing night.”

PHOTOS

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• After a Zach Lutmer interception on UCLA’s first possession the Hawkeyes punched the ball into the end zone with a three-play 41-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard touchdown rush from Kaleb Johnson.
• The Bruins drove down the field to the red zone but another Hawkeye interception this time from Quinn Schulte erased the chance. Iowa responded with a seven play 74-yard drive that included a 59-yard reception from Jacob Gill. A 24-yard field goal capped the drive.
• UCLA got on the board with a 57-yard field goal with 11:41 remaining in the first half.
• The Bruins took advantage of an Iowa turnover and tied the game up with 8:05 remaining in the half. A Titus Mokiao-Atimalala two-yard reception capped a six play 45-yard drive.
• UCLA took the lead with 55 second remaining in the first half on a 29-yard touchdown pass that ended a five play 56-yard drive.
• With 11:27 left in the game Iowa tied things up after scoring on a one-yard touchdown rush from Kamari Moulton. The score capped a 13 play 61-yard drive that took up 7:35 and had two third down completions from Jackson Stratton to Jacob Gill.
• UCLA connected on a 27-yard field goal with 4:49 left in the game which would prove to be the final blow.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• RB Kaleb Johnson has scored at least one touchdown in 10 straight games – the longest stretch in school history.
  • Johnson’s 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gives him 20 for the season, tying Shonn Greene’s single season record.
  • He now 20 rushing touchdowns and a school record 21 total TDs, giving him a program record 126 points.
  • Johnson now has 1,328 yards this season, which is good for seventh place on the single season rushing list.
• RB Kamari Moulton had a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter – his first touchdown of the season and third of his career.
• QB Brendan Sullivan completed 6-of-9 attempts for 157 yards, including a season-long 59-yarder, but he had three turnovers in the game – two interceptions and one fumble.
• QB Jackson Stratton – Iowa’s fourth string QB — made his Iowa debut in the second half.
  • He finished 3-of-6 for 28 yards in the game.
  • He led the team on a 13-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to tie the game in the third/fourth quarter.
• WR Jacob Gill had six receptions for 138 yards in the game with receptions for 32 and 59 yards.
  • The 59-yard catch was Iowa’s longest pass play of the season.
  • He had Iowa’s first 100-yard game since Sam LaPorta in 2022 (122 vs. Kentucky) and is Iowa’s first wide receiver with 100+ yards since Charlie Jones (106 vs. Minnesota) in 2021.
  • Gill had the most receiving yards by a Hawkeye wideout since Ihmir Smith-Marsette (140) in 2020 vs. Wisconsin.
• OL Mason Richman made his 49th career start, moving into a tie with Austin Blythe for the most starts by an OL under Ferentz.
• LB Nick Jackson had a team-high 12 tackles in the game, moving into second place on the FBS list for career tackles (540).
  • It is his third 10+ tackle game this season and the 26th of his career.
  • It is the first time this season someone other than Jay Higgins has led Iowa in tackles.
• DB Zach Lutmer had an interception on UCLA’s opening drive – his first career pick.
• DB Quinn Schulte recorded an interception in the end zone on the Bruins’ second drive. It was his third pick of the season and sixth of his career.
• LB Kyler Fisher forced a fumble at the Iowa 2-yard line and LB Jaden Harrell recovered in the end zone.
  • It was Fisher’s second career forced fumble and Harrell’s first career fumble recovery.
• K Drew Stevens made a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter.
  • It was his 12th make of the season and the 46th of his career – the sixth-most in program history.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• Iowa scored on its opening offensive possession, moving the ball 41 yards over three plays. It was the second game this season the Hawkeyes have scored on their first
• The Hawkeyes recorded their 13th interception and 14th interceptions of the season on UCLA’s first two possessions and had a second quarter fumble recovery
  • Iowa has had at least one interception in every game this season and two interceptions in three straight games (four this season).
  • Iowa has forced 20 turnovers this season (14 interceptions, six fumbles).
• Iowa won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Hawkeyes have played 325 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 236 times (151-85). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 89 times (51-38).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes are idle next week. Iowa returns to action Nov. 23 at Maryland.