LINCOLN, NE – Iowa (10-2, 7-2) defeated Nebraska (3-9, 1-8), 28-21, on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
Iowa clinched a share of the Big Ten West Division title.
Iowa scored the final 22 points of the game and outscored the Huskers 19-0 in the fourth quarter. Iowa erased a 12- point fourth quarter deficit (trailed 21-9), its largest fourth-quarter deficit in a win since trailing by 14 points against Pittsburgh in 2011. The last double-digit fourth quarter deficit erased by Iowa in a win was in 2014 (trailed Ball State 13- 3 entering the fourth).
Iowa has won 19 conference games over the last three seasons, the most successful three-year stretch since Iowa won 20 conference games from 2002-04. Iowa has won at least six conference games in three straight years for the first time under Kirk Ferentz (19 wins). The last time Iowa won at least six conference games in three straight seasons was 1981-83 (19 wins).
Iowa has won 10 games or more for the seventh time under head coach Kirk Ferentz (2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2019, 2021).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
DB Jermari Harris intercepted Nebraska on its 2-yard line on the Huskers’ final offensive play of the game. The interception is the second of the season for Harris and the 22nd of the season for Iowa. Iowa leads the country in interceptions (22). The Hawkeyes have 86 interception since 2017, more than any team in the country. Eleven different Hawkeyes have at least one interception this season. Iowa is plus-19 in turnover margin in its 10 wins and minus-six in its two losses.
RB Tyler Goodson rushed 23 times for a career-high 156 yards, his ninth career 100-yard game. Goodson has been Iowa’s leading rusher for 15 straight games, the longest streak by a Hawkeye since Ladell Betts was Iowa’s top rusher for 37 straight games from 1998-2001. Betts is now Iowa’s running backs coach. Goodson has 2,501 career rushing yards, 10th all-time in program history.
RB Tyler Goodson has 1,101 rushing yards on 238 attempts, both single-season career highs. The last time a Hawkeye rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season was 2017 (Akrum Wadley, 1,109).
K Caleb Shudak was perfect on four field goals attempts today (51, 48, 36, 44), matching a career high set last week. Shudak connected on a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter, matching his career long. It was this third 51-yard field goal of the season.
K Caleb Shudak was good on both PAT attempts and scored 14 points today, raising his season total to 100, the eighth highest single season point total in school history.
LB Jack Campbell had a game-high 16 tackles, raising his season total to 124 (tied 28th in school history). Campbell has four double-digit tackle performances (11, 18, 17, 16) this season.
FB Monte Pottebaum’s 26-yard rush in the third quarter was a career long.
DB Henry Marchese blocked a Nebraska punt in the fourth quarter. DB Kyler Fisher picked up the blocked put and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. The last time Iowa returned a blocked punt for a touchdown was 2014, Ben Niemann vs. Northwestern.
QB Alex Padilla made his third straight start. QB Spencer Petras relieved Padilla to start the second half.
MISCELLANEOUS
Iowa has won seven straight and eight of the last nine meetings with Nebraska.
Iowa has won nine straight games played on a Friday. Iowa defeated Maryland on Oct. 1 in its first of two Friday games in 2021. Iowa defeated Nebraska, 28-21, today. The schools have played on Black Friday every year since Nebraska joined the Big Ten Conference in 2011. Iowa is 8-3 in those 11 Black Friday meetings.
Iowa retained possession of the Heroes Trophy. The Hawkeyes are 3-1 in trophy games this season and 22-5 in their last 27 rivalry trophy games (Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin). The Hawkeyes have won seven straight when competing for the Heroes Trophy.
Iowa won the toss and elected to defer. The Hawkeyes have played 286 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 213 times (136-77). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 73 times (42-31).
INSTANT REPLAY
1) Sam LaPorta touchdown reception (overturned)
2) Nebraska first down reception (overturned)
3) Nebraska incomplete pass (overturned)
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will advance to the Big Ten Championship game if Minnesota defeats Wisconsin on Nov. 27.
Iowa can clinch the West Division title outright and secure a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game with a Minnesota win over Wisconsin on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET (FOX).
The Hawkeyes last claimed a division title in 2015 when they finished the regular season with an unblemished 8-0 record in Big Ten play and went on to play Michigan State in the Big Ten Football Championship Game.
