The 2020 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2020 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 22nd-year head coach Kirk Ferentz.
On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, on September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24. The Hawkeyes compiled a 6–2 record, all in conference games. The team was set to face Missouri in the Music City Bowl, but the game was canceled after Missouri had to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues.
Junior defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and was a unanimous First-team All-American.
Schedule Iowa had games scheduled against Northern Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois, but canceled these games on July 9 due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Michigan and Missouri were canceled due to COVID-19.|
Roster
Rankings
(*) Big Ten Conference members were not eligible for the Week 2 of the AP and Coaches Polls and Week 3 of the AP due to not having a scheduled season at the time.
Game summaries
At Purdue
Source: Box Score
Statistics IOWAPUR First downs 19 24 Total yards 460 386 Rushing yards 195 104 Passing yards 265 282 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 29:49 30:11
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 22–39, 265 yards Rushing Tyler Goodson 16 carries, 77 yards Receiving Sam LaPorta 5 receptions, 71 yardsPurdue Passing Aidan O'Connell 31–50, 282 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Zander Horvath 21 carries, 129 yards Receiving David Bell 13 receptions, 121 yards, 3 TD
Northwestern
Source: Box Score
Statistics NWIOWA First downs 18 20 Total yards 273 293 Rushing yards 143 77 Passing yards 130 216 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 33:33 26:27
Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Peyton Ramsey 11–18, 130 yards, INT Rushing Isaiah Bowser 25 carries, 85 yards Receiving Kyric McGowan 5 receptions, 63 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 26–50, 216 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Tyler Goodson 13 carries, 43 yards, TD Receiving Ihmir Smith-Marsette 7 receptions, 84 yards
Michigan State
Source: Box Score
Iowa's first win over Michigan State since 2012, and the Hawkeyes' largest in the 48-game series, gave Kirk Ferentz his 163rd win as coach, passing Joe Paterno in total wins as a Big Ten head coach. The Hawkeyes dominated in all three phases of the game and gave Spartan quarterback Rocky Lombardi a long day, intercepting him three times.
Statistics MSUIOWA First downs 10 19 Total yards 286 405 Rushing yards 59 226 Passing yards 227 179 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 27:55 32:05
Team Category Player StatisticsMichigan State Passing Rocky Lombardi 17–37, 227 yards, 3 INT Rushing Jordan Simmons 9 carries, 34 yards Receiving Jalen Nailor 4 receptions, 119 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 15–27, 167 yards, TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 14 carries, 113 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyrone Tracy 4 receptions, 38 yards
At Minnesota
Source: Box Score
Iowa has won eight of the last nine meetings in this series. The Hawkeyes dominated the Golden Gophers, winning for the third straight time in Minneapolis, to keep Floyd of Rosedale in Iowa City for a sixth straight year.
Statistics IOWAMINN First downs 20 19 Total yards 346 312 Rushing yards 235 145 Passing yards 111 167 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 23:50 36:10
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 9–18, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyler Goodson 20 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyrone Tracy 3 receptions, 36 yardsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 16–33, 167 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 33 carries, 144 yards Receiving Rashod Bateman 8 receptions, 111 yards, TD
At Penn State
Source: Box Score
Iowa earned their first win over Penn State since 2010, forcing four turnovers in the process. The victory gave Kirk Ferentz his 100th Big Ten win – just the 4th coach in conference history to achieve the feat – and Penn State their first-ever 0–5 start in the program's 134-year history.
Statistics IOWAPSU First downs 24 19 Total yards 361 342 Rushing yards 175 62 Passing yards 186 280 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 31:50 28:10
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 18/28, 186 yards Rushing Mekhi Sargent 15 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD Receiving Nico Ragaini 4 receptions, 46 yardsPenn State Passing Sean Clifford 13/22, 174 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Will Levis 15 carries, 34 yards Receiving Jahan Dotson 8 receptions, 139 yards, TD
Nebraska
Source: Box Score
Iowa was victorious for the sixth straight time – and seventh in eight meetings – against Nebraska. In this back-and-forth game, turnovers in the fourth quarter hurt the Cornhuskers, as they fumbled twice in the last 10:17. The second of which was forced by Chauncey Golston to keep the Heroes Trophy in Iowa City. Senior Keith Duncan kicked four field goals in a game for the fourth time in his career, joining Nate Kaeding as the only Hawkeye kickers to achieve the feat.
Statistics NEBIOWA First downs 20 22 Total yards 338 322 Rushing yards 143 129 Passing yards 195 193 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:36 34:24
Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 18/20, 174 yards Rushing Wan'Dale RobinsonLuke McCaffrey 6 carries, 42 yards5 carries, 42 yards Receiving Wan'Dale Robinson 9 receptions, 75 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 18/30, 193 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyler Goodson 30 carries, 111 yards Receiving Sam LaPorta 5 receptions, 38 yards
At Illinois
Source: Box Score
Iowa hasn't lost to Illinois since 2008. This was their seventh straight victory in the series and have won 12 of the last 13 overall. Illinois jumped out to a 14–0 lead early but the Hawkeyes put up 35 unanswered points and controlled the line of scrimmage from that point on having the ability to both run and pass the ball effectively.
Statistics IOWAILL First downs 22 20 Total yards 424 348 Rushing yards 204 149 Passing yards 220 199 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 30:26 29:34
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 18/28, 220 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 19 carries, 92 yards Receiving Brandon Smith 5 receptions, 58 yardsIllinois Passing Brandon Peters 10/18, 116 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chase Brown 18 carries, 83 yards Receiving Josh Imatorbhebhe 4 receptions, 48 yards, TD
Wisconsin
Iowa won at home over Wisconsin for the first time since 2008 to recapture the bull. After a slow start on the snow-covered field in the first half, the Hawkeyes put up three touchdowns in the second, and were able to stop the Badgers on several fourth down attempts.
Statistics WISIOWA First downs 11 13 Total yards 225 338 Rushing yards 56 127 Passing yards 169 211 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 34:11 25:49
Team Category Player StatisticsWisconsin Passing Graham Mertz 20/38, 169 yards, INT Rushing Nakia Watson 13 carries, 29 yards, TD Receiving Jack Dunn 5 receptions, 55 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 14/25, 211 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 11 carries, 106 yards, TD Receiving Ihmir Smith-Marsette 7 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TD
Michigan
Iowa was looking to avenge a loss in Ann Arbor from previous season, but it was announced on December 15 the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Wolverines program.
Vs. Missouri (Music City Bowl)
Due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Tigers' football program, the Music City Bowl was canceled, ending the season for both the Hawkeyes and the Tigers.
Had the game been played, it would have been the first meeting between Iowa and Missouri in a decade. If Iowa had won the game, it would have given Kirk Ferentz his 10th bowl win, which would have tied Joe Paterno for first all-time in Big 10 history.
Awards and honors Individual Awards Daviyon Nixon Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the YearSmith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year Tory Taylor Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year
Players drafted into the NFL
3 84 Chauncey Golston DE Dallas Cowboys 5 157 Ihmir Smith-Marsette WR Minnesota Vikings 5 158 Daviyon Nixon DT Carolina Panthers 6 185 Nick Niemann ILB Los Angeles Chargers
References