2021 Iowa Hawkeyes football team explained

Mode:	football
Year:	2021
Team:	Iowa Hawkeyes
Conference:	Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:	Big Ten
Division:	West Division
Coachrank:	23
Aprank:	23
Record:	10–4
Conf Record:	7–2
Head Coach:	Kirk Ferentz
Hc Year:	23rd
Off Coach:	Brian Ferentz
Oc Year:	5th
Off Scheme:	Multiple
Def Coach:	Phil Parker
Dc Year:	10th
Def Scheme:	4–3
Stadium:	Kinnick Stadium
Champion:	Big Ten West Division champion
Conf Champ:	Big Ten Championship Game
Conf Champ Result:	L 3–42 vs. Michigan
Bowl:	Citrus Bowl
Bowl Result:	L 17–20 vs. Kentucky

The 2021 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by 23rd-year head coach Kirk Ferentz.

With a victory over rival Nebraska 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. Iowa capped the 2021 season with a frustrating 20–17 loss to No. 22 Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl. The Hawkeyes finished with a record of 10–4 (7–2 B1G), the seventh season with 10+ wins in the Ferentz era.

Junior center Tyler Linderbaum was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, unanimous First-team All-American, and was awarded the Rimington Trophy. He later became the 11th Iowa player of the Ferentz era taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Schedule

^[1]

Roster

^[2]

Game summaries

No. 17 Indiana

Source: Box Score

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.

^[3] ^[4]

Statistics	IU	IOWA
First downs	11	18
Total yards	233	303
Rushing yards	77	158
Passing yards	156	145
Turnovers	3	2
Time of possession	32:04	27:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Indiana	Passing		14/31, 156 yards, 3 INT
Rushing	Stephen Carr	19 carries, 57 yards
Receiving		5 receptions, 84 yards
Iowa	Passing		13/27, 145 yards
Rushing		19 carries, 99 yards, TD
Receiving		5 receptions, 83 yards

At No. 9 Iowa State

Source: Box Score

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.

^[5] ^[6]

Statistics	IOWA	IOWA ST
First downs	11	21
Total yards	173	339
Rushing yards	67	87
Passing yards	106	252
Turnovers	0	4
Time of possession	31:38	28:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	11/21, 106 yards, TD
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	21 carries, 55 yards, TD
Receiving	Charle Jones	2 receptions, 36 yards, TD
Iowa State	Passing		13/27, 138 yards, 3 INT
Rushing		16 carries, 69 yards, TD
Receiving		4 receptions, 34 yards

Kent State

Source: Box Score

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.

^[7] ^[8]

Statistics	KENT	IOWA
First downs	17	21
Total yards	264	418
Rushing yards	79	206
Passing yards	185	212
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	23:22	36:38

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing		16/23, 185 yards, TD
Rushing		10 carries, 38 yards
Receiving		6 receptions, 138 yards, TD
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	25/36, 209 yards, TD
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	22 carries, 153 yards, 3 TD
Receiving	Sam LaPorta	7 receptions, 65 yards, TD

Colorado State

Source: Box Score

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.

^[9] ^[10]

Statistics	CSU	IOWA
First downs	12	12
Total yards	250	278
Rushing yards	95	54
Passing yards	155	224
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	31:20	28:40

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Colorado State	Passing		16/30, 155 yards, TD
Rushing	A'Jon Vivens	17 carries, 45 yards
Receiving		6 receptions, 59 yards
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	15/23, 224 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	18 carries, 57 yards
Receiving	Sam LaPorta	4 receptions, 45 yards, TD

At Maryland

Source: Box Score

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.

^[11] ^[12]

Statistics	IOWA	UMD
First downs	24	14
Total yards	428	271
Rushing yards	145	97
Passing yards	283	174
Turnovers	0	7
Time of possession	39:00	21:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	21/30, 259 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	19 carries, 66 yards
Receiving	Arland Bruce IV	6 receptions, 43 yards, TD
Maryland	Passing		16/29, 157 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT
Rushing	Taulia Tagovailoa	4 carries, 24 yards
Receiving		4 receptions, 61 yards

No. 4 Penn State

Source: Box Score

Iowa was seeking its first home win over Penn State since 2010 with Fox's Big Noon Kickoff on hand. 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.

^[13] ^[14]

Statistics	PSU	IOWA
First downs	18	18
Total yards	287	305
Rushing yards	107	110
Passing yards	180	195
Turnovers	4	1
Time of possession	24:07	35:53

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Penn State	Passing		15/25, 146 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Sean Clifford	3 carries, 36 yards, TD
Receiving		8 receptions, 48 yards
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	17/31, 195 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	25 carries, 88 yards
Receiving	Nico Ragaini	4 receptions, 73 yards, TD

Purdue

Source: Box Score

The unranked Boilermakers dominated this matchup with the Hawkeyes, and won for the fourth time in the last five meetings with Iowa.

^[15] ^[16]

Statistics	PUR	IOWA
First downs	24	17
Total yards	464	271
Rushing yards	86	76
Passing yards	378	195
Turnovers	1	4
Time of possession	34:46	25:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Purdue	Passing		30/40, 375 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	King Doerue	18 carries, 48 yards
Receiving		11 receptions, 240 yards, TD
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	17/32, 195 yards, 4 INT
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	12 carries, 68 yards
Receiving	Sam LaPorta	5 receptions, 61 yards

At Wisconsin

Source: Box Score

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.

^[17] ^[18]

Statistics	IOWA	WIS
First downs	9	16
Total yards	156	270
Rushing yards	24	166
Passing yards	132	104
Turnovers	3	0
Time of possession	24:13	35:47

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	9/19, 93 yards
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	13 carries, 27 yards
Receiving	Sam LaPorta	3 receptions, 44 yards
Wisconsin	Passing		11/22, 104 yards, TD
Rushing		20 carries, 104 yards
Receiving	Danny Davis III	5 receptions, 59 yards, TD

At Northwestern

Source: Box Score

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.

^[19] ^[20]

Statistics	IOWA	NW
First downs	19	20
Total yards	361	363
Rushing yards	185	93
Passing yards	176	270
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	31:05	28:55

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa	Passing		18/28, 172 yards
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	21 carries, 141 yards, TD
Receiving	Keagan Johnson	5 receptions, 68 yards
Northwestern	Passing	Andrew Marty	25/44, 270 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing		11 carries, 41 yards
Receiving	Evan Hull	6 receptions, 89 yards, TD

Minnesota

Source: Box Score

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.

^[21] ^[22]

Statistics	MIN	IOWA
First downs	23	12
Total yards	409	277
Rushing yards	189	71
Passing yards	220	206
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	40:02	19:40

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Minnesota	Passing		14/30, 183 yards, TD
Rushing	Ky Thomas	29 carries, 126 yards
Receiving	Chris Autman-Bell	5 receptions, 109 yards, TD
Iowa	Passing	Alex Padilla	11/24, 206 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	18 carries, 59 yards
Receiving		2 receptions, 106 yards, TD

Illinois

Source: Box Score

Iowa won for the eighth straight time in the series. Illinois hasn't won at Kinnick Stadium since 1999.

^[23] ^[24]

Statistics	ILL	IOWA
First downs	11	18
Total yards	312	255
Rushing yards	64	172
Passing yards	248	83
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	25:42	34:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing		16/36, 248 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing		13 carries, 42 yards
Receiving		3 receptions, 61 yards
Iowa	Passing		6/17, 83 yards, INT
Rushing	Tyler Goodson	27 carries, 132 yards
Receiving	Arland Bruce IV	2 receptions, 45 yards

At Nebraska

Source: Box Score

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.

^[25] ^[26]

Statistics	IOWA	NEB
First downs	19	18
Total yards	364	327
Rushing yards	186	129
Passing yards	178	198
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	31:53	28:07

Vs. No. 2 Michigan (Big Ten Championship game)

See main article: 2021 Big Ten Football Championship Game.

Source: Box Score

This game marked Iowa's second appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game (2015). Ferentz is now 1–2 against Michigan in the Harbaugh era.

^[27] ^[28]

Statistics	MICH	IOWA
First downs	21	15
Total yards	461	279
Rushing yards	211	104
Passing yards	250	175
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	28:21	31:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Michigan	Passing		16/24, 169 yards, TD, INT
Rushing		5 carries, 74 yards, TD
Receiving		2 receptions, 82 yards, TD
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	9/22, 137 yards
Rushing	Gavin Williams	12 carries, 56 yards
Receiving	Sam LaPorta	6 receptions, 62 yards

Vs. No. 22 Kentucky (Citrus Bowl)

See main article: 2022 Citrus Bowl.

Source: Box Score

The Wildcats and Hawkeyes faced off for the first time, and Iowa returned to the Citrus Bowl for the first time since the 2005 Capital One Bowl. The loss kept the Hawkeyes from winning four consecutive bowl games for the first time in program history.

^[29] ^[30]

Statistics	IOWA	UK
First downs	20	24
Total yards	384	354
Rushing yards	173	121
Passing yards	211	233
Turnovers	3	1
Time of possession	22:06	37:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa	Passing	Spencer Petras	19/30, 211 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing	Gavin Williams	16 carries, 98 yards
Receiving	Sam LaPorta	7 receptions, 122 yards, TD
Kentucky	Passing		17/28, 233 yards, TD, INT
Rushing		20 carries, 107 yards, TD
Receiving		10 receptions, 170 yards

Awards and honors

Individual Awards
Charlie Jones	Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year	^[31]
Tyler Linderbaum	Rimington Trophy Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year	^[32] ^[33]
Riley Moss	Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year

Players drafted into the NFL

Notes and References

Web site: 2021-22 Football Schedule . . February 7, 2021 .
Web site: 2021-22 FOOTBALL ROSTER . . July 18, 2021.
Web site: No. 17 Indiana, No. 18 Iowa meet in key cross-division game . . September 1, 2021 . September 2, 2021 .
Web site: No. 18 Iowa's Defense Silences No. 17 Indiana, 34-6 . . September 4, 2021 . September 4, 2021 .
Web site: No. 10 Iowa Vs. No. 9 Iowa State In 1st Top-10 Cy-Hawk Game . . September 10, 2021 . September 10, 2021 .
Web site: No. 9 Iowa Beats No. 10 Iowa St 27-17 To Keep Cy-Hawk Trophy . . September 11, 2021 . September 11, 2021 .
Web site: No. 5 Iowa Hosts Kent State Following Wins Over Ranked Foes . . September 16, 2021 . September 18, 2021 .
Web site: Goodson runs for 153 yards, 3 TDs in No. 5 Iowa’s victory . . September 18, 2021 . September 19, 2021 .
Web site: No. 5 Hawkeyes Play Colorado St Seeking 10th Consecutive Win . . September 23, 2021 . September 23, 2021 .
Web site: No. 5 Iowa Rallies To Defeat Colorado State 24-14 . . September 25, 2021 . September 26, 2021 .
Web site: No. 5 Iowa Faces Tough Challenge Against Maryland Offense . . October 1, 2021 . October 1, 2021 .
Web site: No. 5 Iowa Forces 7 Turnovers In 51-14 Rout Of Maryland . . October 2, 2021 . October 2, 2021 .
Web site: Penn St, Hawks Play 1st Top-5 Matchup In Iowa City Since '85 . . October 7, 2021 . October 7, 2021 .
Web site: No. 3 Iowa Beats No. 4 Penn State 23-20, Fans Storm Field . . October 9, 2021 . October 9, 2021 .
Web site: No. 2 Hawkeyes Out To Extend Win Streak When Purdue Visits . . October 14, 2021 . October 14, 2021 .
Web site: Aidan O'Connell, David Bell Lead Purdue Past No. 2 Iowa 24-7 . . October 16, 2021 . October 17, 2021 .
Web site: No. 9 Iowa, Wisconsin Continue Pursuit Of Big Ten West Title . . October 28, 2021 . October 28, 2021 .
Web site: Defense Carries Wisconsin To 27-7 Triumph Over No. 9 Iowa . . October 30, 2021 . October 31, 2021 .
Web site: No. 19 Iowa Looks To Stop Slide When It Meets Northwestern . . November 4, 2021 . November 4, 2021 .
Web site: No. 19 Iowa changes quarterbacks, beats Northwestern 17-12 . . November 6, 2021 . November 6, 2021 .
Web site: No. 19 Iowa Goes For 7 In Row In 'Floyd Of Rosedale' Game . . November 11, 2021 . November 11, 2021 .
Web site: Late Stops Let No. 19 Iowa Beat Minnesota 27-22, Keep Floyd . . November 13, 2021 . November 14, 2021 .
Web site: No. 18 Iowa Clings To West Hopes Entering Game With Illini . . November 19, 2021 . November 19, 2021 .
Web site: Jones' Kick Return Lifts No. 18 Iowa Past Illinois 33-23 . . November 20, 2021 . November 20, 2021 .
Web site: No. 17 Hawkeyes will try for 7th straight win over Nebraska . . November 24, 2021 . November 24, 2021 .
Web site: No. 17 Iowa's Rally Deals Huskers Another Heartbreaking Loss . . November 26, 2021 . November 26, 2021 .
Web site: No. 2 Wolverines, No. 15 Hawkeyes Play For Big Ten Title . . December 2, 2021 . December 2, 2021 .
Web site: No. 2 Michigan Takes Big Ten In Rout, Makes Playoff Pitch . . December 4, 2021 . December 5, 2021 .
Web site: Iowa, Kentucky Will Meet For The First Time In Citrus Bowl . . December 5, 2021 . December 5, 2021 .
Web site: No. 17 Iowa, No. 25 Kentucky Clash In Citrus Bowl Showdown . . December 31, 2021 . January 1, 2022 .
Web site: Big Ten Unveils Football All-Conference Teams for Defense, Special Teams and Select Individual Honors . https://web.archive.org/web/20211130182147/https://bigten.org/news/2021/11/30/big-ten-unveils-football-all-conference-teams-for-defense-special-teams-and-select-individual-honors.aspx . dead . November 30, 2021 . November 30, 2021 . . November 30, 2021.
Web site: Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum wins Rimington Trophy . December 9, 2021 . . December 11, 2021.
Web site: Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams for Offense and Select Individual Honors . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201183105/https://bigten.org/news/2021/12/1/big-ten-announces-football-all-conference-teams-for-offense-and-select-individual-honors.aspx . dead . December 1, 2021 . December 1, 2021 . . December 2, 2021.

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