The 2019 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2019 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 Kirk Ferentz in his 21st season as head coach.
Iowa began the year with four straight wins, including an 18–17 road victory over rival Iowa State with College GameDay present. After losing games to three ranked opponents – at No. 19 Michigan (3–10), No. 10 Penn State (12–17), and at No. 13 Wisconsin (22–24) – by a total of 14 points, the Hawkeyes knocked off another rival, unbeaten No. 8 Minnesota, 23–19, to start a four-game win streak to close the season. After long-time athletic director Bump Elliott and head coach Hayden Fry died in December, Iowa capped the 2019 season with a resounding 49–24 win over No. 22 USC in the Holiday Bowl. The Hawkeyes finished with a record of 10–3 (6–3 B1G), the sixth season with 10+ wins in the Ferentz era.
Junior kicker Keith Duncan was named Big Ten Kicker of the Year and was selected as a consensus First-team All-American. Junior offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, and later became the 10th Iowa player of the Ferentz era taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. After leading the Big Ten in sacks his sophomore season, junior defensive end A. J. Epenesa had a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2019, and was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. Michael Ojemudia and Geno Stone became the fourth and fifth Iowa defensive backs drafted between 2017 and 2020. Nate Stanley, a three-year starter at quarterback, was also selected.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Lott TrophyA. J. EpenesaDEJRMaxwell AwardNate StanleyQBSRChuck Bednarik AwardA. J. EpenesaDEJRDavey O'Brien AwardNate StanleyQBSRDoak Walker AwardMekhi SargentRBJRJohn Mackey AwardNate WietingTESRBronko Nagurski TrophyA. J. EpenesaDEJROutland TrophyAlaric JacksonOTJRTristan WirfsOTJRPaul Hornung AwardIhmir Smith-MarsetteWR & RSJRWalter Camp AwardNate StanleyQBSR
Preseason Big Ten poll Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2019 poll, Iowa was projected to finish in second in the West Division behind Nebraska.
Schedule Iowa's 2019 schedule began with a non-conference home game against the Miami RedHawks of the Mid-American Conference. Iowa's Big Ten Conference opener was the second week against Rutgers. They finished off their non-conference slate with a road game against in-state rival Iowa State, a member of the Big 12 Conference, and then a home game against Middle Tennessee of Conference USA.
In Big Ten Conference play, Iowa played all members of the West Division and Rutgers, Michigan, and Penn State from the East Division.
Source:
Roster
Rankings
Game summaries
Miami (OH)
Source: Box Score
Iowa played its first ever season-opening night game. Typical of first games under Ferentz, Iowa started out slow. The offense wasn't clicking for a great deal of the first half, but found a rhythm in the second as Iowa put up four touchdowns. The Hawkeyes had a balanced attack with 252 yards passing and 213 rushing with several running backs.
Statistics M-OHIOWA First downs 11 26 Total yards 245 465 Rushing yards 59 213 Passing yards 186 252 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:03 35:57
Team Category Player StatisticsMiami (OH) Passing Brett Gabbert 17/27, 186 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Davion Johnson 6 carries, 22 yards Receiving Jack Sorenson 5 receptions, 44 yards, TDIowa Passing Nate Stanley 21/30, 252 yards, 3 TD Rushing Mekhi Sargent 14 carries, 91 yards, TD Receiving Mekhi Sargent 4 receptions, 65 yards
Rutgers
Source: Box Score
Iowa went to the air early and often in their Big Ten opener. On his second touchdown pass, Nate Stanley passed Ricky Stanzi for third all-time on Iowa's career passing touchdown list. Ihmir Smith-Marsette had a career-high 113 yards receiving and two touchdowns. The Hawkeyes defense was smothering, shutting out the Scarlet Knights and forced three turnovers.
Statistics RUTIOWA First downs 5 23 Total yards 125 438 Rushing yards 78 194 Passing yards 47 244 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 22:22 37:38
Team Category Player StatisticsRutgers Passing McLane Carter 6/16, 28 yards, INT Rushing Isiah Pacheco 9 carries, 36 yards Receiving Isiah Pacheco 4 receptions, 31 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 16/28, 236 yards, 3 TD Rushing Mekhi SargentToren Young 13 carries, 59 yards9 carries, 59 yards Receiving Ihmir Smith-Marsette 4 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD
At Iowa State
Source: Box Score
ESPN's College GameDay was in Ames for the rivalry game with Lee Corso picking Iowa State to win the match-up. There were two weather delays in the first half which effectively made it a night game. It ended up being a back-and-forth contest with Iowa kicker Keith Duncan hitting four crucial field goals to keep the Hawkeyes in the game. Iowa held the Cyclones on a critical fourth down, however Iowa State still had a chance with over a minute in regulation. An Iowa State player ran into his teammate attempting to field the punt and it resulted in a muffed ball that Iowa pounced on. With the Cyclones having spent all their timeouts already, the Hawkeyes were simply able to run out the clock and the Cy-Hawk trophy remained in Iowa City for a fifth year in a row.
Statistics IOWAIOWA ST First downs 18 20 Total yards 313 418 Rushing yards 112 91 Passing yards 201 327 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:58 25:02
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 22/35, 201 yards Rushing Mekhi Sargent 13 carries, 58 yards Receiving Nico Ragaini 5 receptions, 43 yardsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 24/34, 276 yards, TD Rushing Kene Nwangwu 6 carries, 54 yards Receiving Tarique Milton 8 receptions, 144 yards, TD
Middle Tennessee
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes put up 644 yards of total offense (tops in the Ferentz era) as the Blue Raiders were unable to stop them. Toren Young was the most outstanding of the several Iowa backs that were able to play with 131 yards rushing on the day, and Nate Stanley had 276 yards passing and two touchdown passes to Brandon Smith. Iowa dominated ball possession, with almost 12 more minutes and forced the Blue Raiders into several three-and-outs.
Statistics MTSUIOWA First downs 12 30 Total yards 216 644 Rushing yards 80 351 Passing yards 136 293 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:03 35:57
Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Asher O'Hara 15/22, 110 yards Rushing Asher O'Hara 10 carries, 43 yards Receiving Jarrin Pierce 6 receptions, 31 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 17/25, 276 yards, 2 TD Rushing Toren Young 11 carries, 131 yards Receiving Brandon Smith 6 receptions, 71 yards, 2 TD
At No. 19 Michigan
Source: Box Score
Statistics IOWAMICH First downs 18 13 Total yards 261 267 Rushing yards 1 120 Passing yards 260 147 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 33:57 26:03
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 23/42, 260 yards, 3 INT Rushing Toren Young 8 carries, 40 yards Receiving Nico Ragaini 6 receptions, 46 yardsMichigan Passing Shea Patterson 14/26, 147 yards, INT Rushing Zach Charbonnet 13 carries, 42 yards, TD Receiving Donovan Peoples-Jones 4 receptions, 26 yards
No. 10 Penn State
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes wore alternate gold jerseys. Iowa entered the game not having defeated Penn State since 2010.
Statistics PSUIOWA First downs 20 21 Total yards 294 356 Rushing yards 177 70 Passing yards 117 286 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 32:52 27:08
Team Category Player StatisticsPenn State Passing Sean Clifford 12/24, 117 yards, TD Rushing Noah Cain 22 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving K. J. Hamler 7 receptions, 61 yards, TDIowa Passing Nate Stanley 25/43, 286 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyler Goodson 8 carries, 35 yards Receiving Brandon Smith 7 receptions, 86 yards, TD
Purdue
Source: Box Score
Purdue refused to go away in a wild second half. Iowa had to recover two onside kick attempts in order to seal this homecoming victory. The Hawkeyes made the Boilermakers one-dimensional as almost all of their offense came through the air. This marked the 300th combined win of the Fry-Ferentz era.
Statistics PURIOWA First downs 17 19 Total yards 360 362 Rushing yards 33 102 Passing yards 327 260 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 24:22 35:38
Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue Passing Jack Plummer 30/40, 327 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing King Doerue 10 carries, 26 yards Receiving David Bell 13 receptions, 197 yards, TDIowa Passing Nate Stanley 23/33, 260 yards, INT Rushing Mekhi Sargent 13 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Brandon Smith 9 receptions, 106 yards
At Northwestern
Source: Box Score
Iowa entered the game having lost three of the last four games at Ryan Field. The Hawkeyes were able to shut out the Wildcats for the first time since 1981 and spoil their homecoming. Iowa stopped Northwestern on several fourth down attempts to keep them off the board and did not turn the ball over. Nate Stanley also passed Drew Tate to move up to second on Iowa's career passing touchdown list with his 62nd touchdown.
Statistics IOWANW First downs 12 13 Total yards 302 202 Rushing yards 123 64 Passing yards 179 138 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 33:31 26:29
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 12/26, 179 yards, TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 11 carries, 58 yards Receiving Tyrone Tracy Jr. 2 receptions, 88 yards, TDNorthwestern Passing Aidan Smith 18/32, 138 yards, INT Rushing Isaiah Bowser 14 carries, 36 yards Receiving Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman 4 receptions, 41 yards
At No. 13 Wisconsin
Source: Box Score
Once down 21–6, Iowa battled back and, after a 75-yard pass from Nate Stanley to Tyrone Tracy, had a chance to tie the game on a two-point conversation with 3:12 remaining. It was not to be and Wisconsin won their seventh of eight in this series. This was the first top 20 match-up between the universities since 2010.
Statistics IOWAWIS First downs 15 24 Total yards 295 473 Rushing yards 87 300 Passing yards 208 173 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 22:36 37:24
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 17/28, 208 yards, 2 TD Rushing Toren Young 9 carries, 44 yards Receiving Tyrone Tracy 5 receptions, 130 yards, TDWisconsin Passing Jack Coan 16/25, 173 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jonathan Tayler 31 carries, 250 yards Receiving Quintez Cephus 5 receptions, 94 yards, TD
No. 8 Minnesota
Source: Box Score
The unbeaten Golden Gophers entered the game ranked No. 8 and with CFP aspirations. Iowa was aggressive in the first half and put up three touchdowns. Minnesota was able to drive the ball but failed to score enough and left Iowa City having not defeated the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium since Kirk Ferentz's first year in 1999. The Hawkeye fans stormed the field, fairly reminiscent of a game three years prior when Iowa knocked off a 9–0 Michigan squad that was ranked No. 2.
Statistics MINNIOWA First downs 23 17 Total yards 431 290 Rushing yards 63 117 Passing yards 368 173 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 32:20 27:40
Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 25/36, 368 yards, TD Rushing Rodney Smith 14 carries, 46 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Johnson 9 receptions, 170 yards, TDIowa Passing Nate Stanley 14/23, 173 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 13 carries, 94 yards, TD Receiving Tyrone Tracy Jr. 6 receptions, 77 yards
Illinois
Source: Box Score