As of December 4, 2021; Rankings from CFP Rankings
The 2021 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represents the University of Iowa during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes play their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, and compete in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They are led by 23rd-year head coach Kirk Ferentz.
With a victory over rivalNebraska on November 26 coupled with a Wisconsin loss to Minnesota the following day, Iowa won its first Big Ten West title since 2015. They competed in the Big Ten Championship Game against East Division co-champion Michigan, where they lost by a 39 point margin.
After scheduled games against Northern Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois were canceled due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule,[1] the 2020 Hawkeyes team finished with a 6–2 record to finish in second place in the West Division. They received an invitation to the Music City Bowl with a matchup with Missouri, but the game was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Tigers' football program.[2]
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Iowa jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The Hawkeyes defense came out in full force, getting three interceptions – including two pick sixes by senior Riley Moss – and kept Indiana out of the end zone. Equally impressive for an opening game, Iowa limited itself to a mere two penalties.
This season’s Cy-Hawk matchup was a showdown of top 10 teams in the AP poll, making this the first time the schools have faced off as ranked opponents. ESPN's College GameDay was on hand for the second straight time in the series as the annual contest was cancelled the previous year due to COVID-19. Iowa extended its win streak in the series to six games, and has now won five consecutive games against ranked opponents – its longest such streak since 1960.
Keshunn Abram 23-yard pass from D. Crum (A. Glass kick)
Iowa 9–7
2
0:19
Iowa
Sam LaPorta 5-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 16–7
3
0:32
Iowa
Tyler Goodson 35-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick) (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 23–7
4
4:07
Iowa
Tyler Goodson 2-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick) (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 30–7
The Hawkeyes, playing as an AP top 5 team at home for the first time since 1985, won for the 300th time at Kinnick Stadium since its opening in 1929. Tyler Goodson had his best game to date, rushing for 153 yards. This was the first meeting of the programs since 2004.
Keagan Johnson 43-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 7–0
3:55
CSU
T. Centeio 10-yard run (C. Camper kick)
Tied 7–7
0:24
CSU
G. Williams 3-yard pass from T. Centeio (C. Camper kick)
CSU 14–7
3
8:17
Iowa
Tyrone Tracy Jr. 6-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick)
Tied 14–14
6:01
Iowa
Sam LaPorta 27-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 21–14
4
12:32
Iowa
Caleb Shudak 45-yard field goal
Iowa 24–14
This was the first meeting between the two schools. After a sluggish start, the Hawkeyes shut out Colorado State in the second half to extend its streak of holding opponents under 25 points.
Chigoziem Okonkwo 9-yard pass from Taulia Tagovailoa (J. Petrino kick)
Maryland 7–3
2
14:57
Iowa
Spencer Petras 1-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 10–7
14:04
Iowa
Arland Bruce IV 8-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 17–7
10:53
Iowa
Spencer Petras 1-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 24–7
5:46
Iowa
Monte Pottebaum 2-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 31–7
0:29
Iowa
Caleb Shudak 38-yard field goal
Iowa 34–7
3
12:49
Iowa
Tyler Goodson 67-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 41–7
8:35
Iowa
Caleb Shudak 32-yard field goal
Iowa 44–7
6:01
Maryland
R. Jarrett 7-yard pass from Taulia Tagovailoa (J. Petrino kick)
Iowa 44–14
4
14:18
Iowa
Tyrone Tracy Jr. 7-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 51–14
In the first match-up of the teams since 2018, Iowa tied the school record with six interceptions in this lopsided road win. It is the first 5–0 start for the program since 2015. The Hawkeyes also scored the most points in a quarter since 2002.
Charlie Jones 9-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Penn State 17–10
3
12:31
Penn State
Jordan Stout 32-yard field goal
Penn State 20–10
1:36
Iowa
Caleb Shudak 48-yard field goal
Penn State 20–13
4
8:08
Iowa
Caleb Shudak 36-yard field goal
Penn State 20–16
6:26
Iowa
Nico Ragaini 44-yard pass from Spencer Petras (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 23–20
Iowa was seeking its first home win over Penn State since 2010. This match-up of top five teams in the AP poll was the first such game at Kinnick Stadium since No. 2 Michigan visited the No. 1 Hawkeyes in 1985. Iowa fell behind 17–3 to PSU, but after an injury to Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford, the Hawkeyes slowly clawed back, outscoring Penn State 20–3 the rest of the way to earn the 23–20 win. With this victory, Iowa improved to 6–0, became bowl eligible, extended their overall win streak to 12 games, and ascended to No. 2 in both major polls the following day.
Jake Ferguson 4-yard pass from Graham Mertz (Collin Larsh kick)
Wisconsin 7–0
2
12:18
Wisc
Collin Larsh 29-yard field goal
Wisconsin 10–0
7:40
Wisc
Graham Mertz 1-yard run (Collin Larsh kick)
Wisconsin 17–0
2:51
Wisc
Collin Larsh 32-yard field goal
Wisconsin 20–0
3
8:21
Iowa
Spencer Petras 1-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick)
Wisconsin 20–7
4
12:54
Wisc
Graham Mertz 1-yard run (Collin Larsh kick)
Wisconsin 27–7
The unranked Badgers dominated this matchup with the Hawkeyes, and became the first Iowa opponent to score more than 24 points since the 2018 regular season finale.
Backup quarterback Alex Padilla led two first-half touchdown drives, and the Iowa defense forced three interceptions as the Hawkeyes snapped a two-game skid.
Ko Kieft 37-yard pass from Cole Kramer (Matthew Trickett kick)
Tied 10–10
0:00
Minnesota
Matthew Trickett 31-yard field goal
Minnesota 13–10
3
11:51
Iowa
Charlie Jones 72-yard pass from Alex Padilla (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 17–13
6:14
Minnesota
Matthew Trickett 29-yard field goal
Iowa 17–16
4
12:49
Iowa
Keagan Johnson 27-yard pass from Alex Padilla (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 24–16
5:28
Minnesota
Chris Autman-Bell 68-yard pass from Tanner Morgan (pass failed)
Iowa 24–22
0:41
Iowa
Caleb Shudak 29-yard field goal
Iowa 27–22
In Alex Padilla’s first start at quarterback, Iowa won for the seventh straight time in this trophy series. Padilla threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the victory. The Golden Gophers haven't won at Kinnick Stadium since 1999.
Kyler Fisher 14-yard blocked punt return (Caleb Shudak kick)
Neb 21–16
9:56
Iowa
Safety
Neb 21–18
7:21
Iowa
Caleb Shudak 44-yard field goal
Tied 21–21
2:58
Iowa
Spencer Petras 2-yard run (Caleb Shudak kick)
Iowa 28–21
After facing a 21–6 third quarter deficit, the Hawkeyes rallied to earn a win over the Cornhuskers as they outscored the home team 22–0 to end the game. It was Iowa’s fifth straight victory in Lincoln and seventh straight victory overall in this trophy series.
The Wildcats and Hawkeyes will face off for the first time. Iowa will be returning to the Citrus Bowl for the first time since the 2005 Capital One Bowl. Additionally, Iowa will be attempting to win four bowl games in a row for the first time in program history.