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
Roster
Rankings
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.
Statistics IUIOWA 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 StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 14/31, 156 yards, 3 INT Rushing Stephen Carr 19 carries, 57 yards Receiving Ty Fryfogle 5 receptions, 84 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 13/27, 145 yards Rushing Tyler Goodson 19 carries, 99 yards, TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 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.
Statistics IOWAIOWA 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 StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 11/21, 106 yards, TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 21 carries, 55 yards, TD Receiving Charle Jones 2 receptions, 36 yards, TDIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 13/27, 138 yards, 3 INT Rushing Breece Hall 16 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Charlie Kolar 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.
Statistics KENTIOWA 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 StatisticsKent State Passing Dustin Crum 16/23, 185 yards, TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 10 carries, 38 yards Receiving Keshunn Abram 6 receptions, 138 yards, TDIowa 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.
Statistics CSUIOWA 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 StatisticsColorado State Passing Todd Centeio 16/30, 155 yards, TD Rushing A'Jon Vivens 17 carries, 45 yards Receiving Trey McBride 6 receptions, 59 yardsIowa 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.
Statistics IOWAUMD 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 StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 21/30, 259 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 19 carries, 66 yards Receiving Arland Bruce IV 6 receptions, 43 yards, TDMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 16/29, 157 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT Rushing Taulia Tagovailoa 4 carries, 24 yards Receiving Dontay Demus Jr. 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.
Statistics PSUIOWA 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 StatisticsPenn State Passing Sean Clifford 15/25, 146 yards, 2 INT Rushing Sean Clifford 3 carries, 36 yards, TD Receiving Jahan Dotson 8 receptions, 48 yardsIowa 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.
Statistics PURIOWA 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 StatisticsPurdue Passing Aidan O'Connell 30/40, 375 yards, 2 TD Rushing King Doerue 18 carries, 48 yards Receiving David Bell 11 receptions, 240 yards, TDIowa 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.
Statistics IOWAWIS 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 StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 9/19, 93 yards Rushing Tyler Goodson 13 carries, 27 yards Receiving Sam LaPorta 3 receptions, 44 yardsWisconsin Passing Graham Mertz 11/22, 104 yards, TD Rushing Braelon Allen 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.
Statistics IOWANW 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 StatisticsIowa Passing Alex Padilla 18/28, 172 yards Rushing Tyler Goodson 21 carries, 141 yards, TD Receiving Keagan Johnson 5 receptions, 68 yardsNorthwestern Passing Andrew Marty 25/44, 270 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Evan Hull 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.
Statistics MINIOWA 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 StatisticsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 14/30, 183 yards, TD Rushing Ky Thomas 29 carries, 126 yards Receiving Chris Autman-Bell 5 receptions, 109 yards, TDIowa Passing Alex Padilla 11/24, 206 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 18 carries, 59 yards Receiving Charlie Jones 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.
Statistics ILLIOWA 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 StatisticsIllinois Passing Brandon Peters 16/36, 248 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Chase Brown 13 carries, 42 yards Receiving Casey Washington 3 receptions, 61 yardsIowa Passing Alex Padilla 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.
Statistics IOWANEB 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
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 7/13, 102 yards Rushing Tyler Goodson 23 carries, 156 yards Receiving Sam LaPorta 3 receptions, 61 yardsNebraska Passing Logan Smothers 16/22, 198 yards, INT Rushing Logan Smothers 24 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD Receiving Samori Toure 6 receptions, 67 yards
Vs. No. 2 Michigan (Big Ten 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.
Statistics MICHIOWA 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 StatisticsMichigan Passing Cade McNamara 16/24, 169 yards, TD, INT Rushing Blake Corum 5 carries, 74 yards, TD Receiving Roman Wilson 2 receptions, 82 yards, TDIowa 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)
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.
Statistics IOWAUK 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 StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 19/30, 211 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Gavin Williams 16 carries, 98 yards Receiving Sam LaPorta 7 receptions, 122 yards, TDKentucky Passing Will Levis 17/28, 233 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chris Rodriguez Jr. 20 carries, 107 yards, TD Receiving Wan'Dale Robinson 10 receptions, 170 yards
Awards and honors Individual Awards Charlie Jones Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Tyler Linderbaum Rimington TrophyRimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Riley Moss Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year