The 2015 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes, led by 17th year head coach Kirk Ferentz, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium. Despite modest expectations entering the season, the team finished 12–2 overall and 8–0 in Big Ten play to win the West Division. After losing a classic to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Hawkeyes were invited to the 2016 Rose Bowl where they were beaten by Stanford. The team established a new single-season school record for wins.
2015 commitments
Schedule
Roster
Rankings
Game summaries
#2 (FCS) Illinois State
Sources: Box score
Iowa was in control of this opening day game but wasn't able to pull away until well into the third quarter. The Hawkeyes had a balanced offensive attack with nearly 450 yards of total offense with Daniels getting over 100 yards on the ground.
Statistics ILL STIOWA First downs 14 22 Total yards 231 431 Rushing yards 35 210 Passing yards 196 221 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 27:32 32:28
Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Jake Kolbe 11/15, 147 yards, 2 TD Rushing M. Coprich 13 carries, 32 yards Receiving Anthony Warrum 3 receptions, 58 yards, TDIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 15/24, 211 yards, TD Rushing LeShun Daniels 26 carries, 123 yards Receiving Matt VandeBerg 6 receptions, 59 yards, TD
at Iowa State
Source: Box Score
It was an emotional week leading up to the game because former All-Big Ten Safety Tyler Sash and basketball legend Roy Marble died. The Hawkeyes honored Sash by wearing the number 9 (Sash's jersey number at Iowa) in place of the Tigerhawk on one side of their helmets.
C. J. Beathard threw three touchdown passes to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. He also added two long runs and was named co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Statistics IOWAISU First downs 22 18 Total yards 475 310 Rushing yards 260 63 Passing yards 215 247 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:22 26:38
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 15/25, 215 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jordan Cazeri 24 carries, 124 yards, TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg 9 receptions, 114 yards, TDIowa State Passing Sam B. Richardson 19/35, 247 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Trever Ryen 4 carries, 23 yards Receiving Allen Lazard 7 receptions, 71 yards
Pittsburgh
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes never trailed in this physical matchup, and Marshall Koehn booted a 57-yard field goal as time expired to give Iowa the win. His effort was good enough to earn Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Statistics PITTIOWA First downs 15 22 Total yards 282 363 Rushing yards 55 105 Passing yards 227 258 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:18 32:42
Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Nathan Peterman 20–29, 219 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing D. Hall 14 carries, 38 yards Receiving Tyler Boyd 10 receptions, 131 yards, TDIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 27–40, 258 yards, INT Rushing Jordan Canzeri 12 carries, 49 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tevaun Smith 3 receptions, 73 yards
North Texas
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes dominated from start to finish in this lopsided victory. The final result isn't even indicative of how much Iowa rolled over the Mean Green as Iowa called off the dogs in the second half but still continued to score. Jordan Canzeri rushed for 4 touchdowns to tie the Iowa single-game record.
Statistics UNTIOWA First downs 22 23 Total yards 356 488 Rushing yards 183 210 Passing yards 173 278 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 28:15 31:45
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Texas Passing Andrew McNulty 14–36, 137 yards, INT Rushing Jeff Wilson 14 carries, 74 yards Receiving Carlos Harris 5 receptions, 43 yardsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 18–21, 278 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jordan Canzeri 22 carries, 115 yards, 4 TD Receiving Tevaun Smith 4 receptions, 115 yards, TD
at No. 19 Wisconsin
Source: Box Score
Following a season opening loss to #3 Alabama, the Badgers entered this game ranked #19 after three straight convincing wins (outscoring those opponents 114–3). Wisconsin kicked a field goal on the game's opening possession to take an early 3–0 lead. The Hawkeyes capitalized on two second quarter miscues to take a 10–3 advantage into the locker room. Wisconsin tacked on a field goal in the 3rd quarter, making it 10–6. Midway through the 4th quarter, the Hawkeyes recovered a costly Wisconsin fumble on a 2nd and goal play from the Iowa 1-yard line. The Badgers reached the Iowa 16 on their final possession, but a 4th down pass fell incomplete with 36 seconds remaining and the Hawkeyes ran out the clock, ending a classic defensive battle. Cornerback Desmond King collected his second two-interception game of the season and was named co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and Jim Thorpe Defensive Player of the Week.
Wisconsin was 71–9 in 80 games at Camp Randall Stadium dating back to the final game of the 2003 regular season and ending with this game. Incredibly, Iowa was 4–1 in those games with Wisconsin going 70–5 against all other opponents.
After this game, Wisconsin held a 44–43–2 edge in the rivalry.
Statistics IOWAWIS First downs 14 21 Total yards 221 320 Rushing yards 144 86 Passing yards 77 234 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 29:14 30:46
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 9/21, 77 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jordan Canzeri 26 carries, 125 yards Receiving Matt VandeBerg 6 receptions, 61 yardsWisconsin Passing Joel Stave 21/38, 234 yards, 2 INT Rushing Taiwan Deal 15 carries, 59 yards Receiving Dare Ogunbowale 4 receptions, 43 yards
Illinois
Source: Box Score
Senior running back Jordan Canzeri carried the ball 43 times (school record) for 256 yards (third-best in school history) and a touchdown. He also had a receiving touchdown, and earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Statistics ILLIOWA First downs 20 23 Total yards 363 478 Rushing yards 46 278 Passing yards 317 200 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 24:09 35:51
Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois Passing Wes Lunt 25–42, 317 yards, TD Rushing Ke'Shawn Vaughn 19 carries, 67 yards, TD Receiving Geronimo Allison 8 receptions, 148 yards, TDIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 15–31, 200 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jordan Canzeri 43 carries, 256 yards, TD Receiving Jerminic Smith 4 receptions, 118 yards
at No. 20 Northwestern
Sources: Box score
Despite entering the game very banged up, and losing RB Jordan Canzeri early in this one, Iowa dominated the Wildcats. Sophomore Akrum Wadley became the second Iowa running back to go over 200 yards in Big Ten play (in 2015). He finished with 204 yards and a school record-tying 4 rushing touchdowns, and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
The 30-point Hawkeye victory spoiled Northwestern's Homecoming and the 20-year Reunion of the 1995 Big Ten Championship team.
Statistics IOWANW First downs 24 13 Total yards 492 198 Rushing yards 294 51 Passing yards 198 147 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 37:22 22:38
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 15/25, 176 yards, INT Rushing Akrum Wadley 26 carries, 204 yards, 4 TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg 8 receptions, 78 yardsNorthwestern Passing Clayton Thorson 17/35, 125 yards, TD, INT Rushing Justin Jackson 10 carries, 30 yards Receiving Justin Jackson 5 receptions, 17 yards
Maryland
Sources: Box score
The Hawkeyes never trailed in this game with the Terrapins. However, the game's result was still in doubt well into the fourth quarter until a pick six by eventual Jim Thorpe awardee and future NFL player Desmond King all but assured the victory for Iowa.
Statistics MDIOWA First downs 15 18 Total yards 241 293 Rushing yards 167 110 Passing yards 74 183 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 27:08 32:52
Team Category Player StatisticsMaryland Passing Perry Hills 11–22, 74 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Perry Hills 19 carries, 104 yards Receiving T. Jacobs 3 receptions, 18 yards, TDIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 12–23, 183 yards Rushing Akrum Wadley 19 carries, 67 yards, TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg 3 receptions, 54 yards
at Indiana
Sources: Box score
Every time it looked like Iowa might pull away, Indiana came back to keep it close in this back-and-forth game. One of the most critical plays of the contest came on a C. J. Beathard diving touchdown with only 17 seconds remaining before halftime. The play was reviewed as it looked like he might have lost possession before crossing the goal line but it was ultimately ruled a touchdown.
Statistics IOWAIU First downs 26 26 Total yards 467 407 Rushing yards 234 227 Passing yards 233 180 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 34:30 25:30
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 19/31, 233 yards, TD Rushing Akrum Wadley 12 carries, 120 yards, TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg 5 receptions, 68 yardsIndiana Passing Nate Sudfeld 16/37, 180 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jordan Howard 22 carries, 174 yards, 2 TD Receiving Rickey Jones 4 receptions, 39 yards
Minnesota
Sources: Box score
Minnesota returned to Kinnick Stadium for the annual Floyd of Rosedale game with a lot of momentum from last year, when they routed Iowa 51–14 in the Twin Cities. Minnesota, despite losing David Cobb to the NFL last year and going through a mid-season coaching transition, had a lot to prove as they entered the undefeated #5 Iowa's home stadium in an attempt to deliver the upset. Mitch Leidner, who had not lived up to expectations early in the season, was coming off a good run of games, and had two weeks earlier come within a 4th-down pass at the 1 to beating a hot Michigan team.
Minnesota hung on well to the Hawkeyes but were unable to stop the Iowa halfbacks. LeShun Daniels Jr. ran for nearly 200 yards, and CJ Beathard scored on a play action bootleg in the red zone, reminiscent of Iowa great Chuck Long's game-winning bootleg against Michigan State in 1985.
Iowa kept building on its lead all night, and LeShun Daniels Jr. broke through the box to run it in 51 yards in the final 3 minutes. With Minnesota down two scores, Shannon Brooks took the offense on a high-energy no-huddle drive through the air that took less than 1 minute to score. Minnesota's onside kick failed, and Iowa took the win, 40–35.
Statistics MINNIOWA First downs 24 27 Total yards 434 506 Rushing yards 133 272 Passing yards 301 234 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:28 35:32
Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Mitch Leidner 19–27, 259 yards, TD Rushing Shannon Brooks 14 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving K. J. Maye 7 receptions, 106 yardsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 18–26, 213 yards Rushing LeShun Daniels 26 carries, 195 yards, 3 TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg 6 receptions, 74 yards
Purdue
Sources: Box score
The Hawkeyes jumped ahead 20–0 early in the second quarter and, after Purdue closed to within 20–13, scored 20 of the game's final 27 points for the 40–20 triumph. The win on Senior Day secured Iowa's first unbeaten record at Kinnick Stadium since the 2004 season (6–0), and matched the 7–0 mark at home from the 2003 season.
Senior Jordan Lomax led the Hawkeyes with 13 tackles, broke up a pass and forced a fumble in earning Lott IMPACT Player of the Week honors.
Statistics PURIOWA First downs 21 21 Total yards 405 387 Rushing yards 137 174 Passing yards 268 213 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 32:54 27:06
Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue Passing Austin Appleby 23–40, 259 yards, TD Rushing Markell Jones 24 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving DeAngelo Yancey 9 receptions, 117 yardsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 12–20, 213 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jordan Canzeri 13 carries, 95 yards, TD Receiving Henry Krieger-Coble 4 receptions, 76 yards, TD
at Nebraska
Sources: Box score