CHICAGO — Iowa is unlikely to win in a blowout anytime soon but at least the end of the game is entertaining, right?
With a 53-yard field goal capping a 10-7 win against Northwestern, Iowa (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) remained in first place of the Big Ten West. In six Big Ten games, the Hawkeyes have scored six offensive touchdowns. Yet, they control their path to a second Big Ten title game appearance in three seasons.
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Here’s what you need to know:
- The opening over-under for the matchup posted a modern-day low of 29.5 points, per Circa Sports. At one point during the game, the total had dipped to 15.5 points.
- Iowa and Northwestern were scoreless at halftime and combined for 110 total yards of offense in the first half.
- Quarterback Deacon Hill connected with Addison Ostrenga for a 2-yard touchdown pass to break the scoring drought in the third quarter. A 37-yard drive in the fourth quarter to set up Drew Stevens’ 52-yard game-winning field goal was the longest scoring drive of the game.
One would think to take the over on a college football game against a baseball game, right?
Wrong.
The opening over-under for Iowa and Northwestern at Wrigley Field Saturday posted a modern-day low of 29.5 points.
The Reds and Cubs scored 29 points earlier this year 😬 pic.twitter.com/ZqFW4M7LNI
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 4, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Walkoff at Wrigley
Somewhat in the shadow of punter Tory Taylor, Iowa sophomore kicker Stevens quietly has put together an impressive career thus far. But he came up with the biggest kick of his career to keep the Hawkeyes in first place atop the Big Ten West.
Stevens entered the day 13 of 16 in field-goal attempts this year but perfect in his career from beyond 50 yards. In the first half, his 53-yard attempt bounced off the right upright to end that streak. Then with 14 seconds left, Stevens powered a 52-yard attempt straight through the uprights for the victory.
Iowa has been blessed with a significant run of outstanding kickers with consensus All-American Keith Duncan and second-team All-American Caleb Shudak. Stevens is the next in that line and came up with a big-time kick in a critical moment.
Celebrate the defense
Yes, everyone knows about this team’s offensive challenges. Nothing is going to change there. But this defense is worth celebrating. In the first half, the Hawkeyes allowed just 29 total yards and two first downs. When they were challenged the most, they rose to the occasion.
Over the last minute of the third quarter and for more than eight minutes of the fourth, the Wildcats drove from their 46 to the Iowa 1, where they had three cracks at the end zone. The Hawkeyes lined up at the goal line with six linemen, four linebackers and one safety. Twice Northwestern tried quarterback sneaks, wrapped around a running back dive. On all three runs, Iowa held firm at the 1-yard line to take over on downs with 6:39 left in the game.
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It was too much to ask for the defense to hold the line again after a short punt gave Northwestern the ball at the 22-yard line. The Hawkeyes gave up a touchdown but it was a game effort once again. In fact, Iowa’s defense has allowed just three touchdowns in the last five Big Ten games.
Bon Voyage, Northwestern-Iowa
Iowa has three rivalries protected in the new-look Big Ten with 18 teams starting next season. Obviously, there are plenty of others that are treasured along with the Hawkeyes’ annual tussles with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. If there’s one series that wasn’t protected that leaves a mark for the Iowa faithful, it’s not facing Northwestern.
GO DEEPER
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The Hawkeyes and Wildcats have played 85 times since 1897, having squared off every year since 2005 and all but twice since 1971. Iowa had won 21 in a row from 1974 through 1994 before the Wildcats ended that streak in their magical 1995 season. Beginning that year, the teams have played one of the most even series of the Big Ten with the Wildcats holding a 14-13 advantage. Some of their games were among the most impactful on the Big Ten standings, especially in 2001, 2009 and 2020. In addition, as much as Iowa recruits in Illinois, the Chicagoland trip was impactful for many reasons.
Northwestern plays at Iowa next year and the Hawkeyes return to Evanston in 2026. But those are the only dates scheduled between the two over the next five seasons.
Required reading
(Photo: David Banks / USA Today)
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