The 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by 24th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes played home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Floundering after a 3–4 start, the Hawkeyes won four straight games to position themselves for a return trip to the Big Ten Championship game and repeat as Big Ten West champions. A disappointing season finale at home against Nebraska spoiled those plans, but Iowa capped the 2022 season with a dominating 21–0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl avenging their bowl loss from the previous season. The Hawkeyes finished with a record of 8–5 (5–4 B1G).
Senior linebacker Jack Campbell was named Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, a Unanimous First-team All-American, and the 2022 Butkus Award winner as the nation's top linebacker. He later became the 13th Iowa player of the Ferentz era taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Third-year defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness was selected five picks prior to Campbell, marking the second time in five years two Hawkeyes were selected in the first 20 picks of the NFL draft (2019).
Preseason On January 14, 2022, Kirk Ferentz's contract was extended through the 2029 season. On March 2, 2022, Iowa announced the hire of Abdul Hodge, previously the linebackers coach at South Dakota, as its tight ends coach. Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz took over as quarterbacks coach, after previous quarterbacks coach Ken O'Keefe stepped down. "Man, I got a lot to learn," Brian Ferentz told media about adjusting to coaching quarterbacks after his appointment in May 2022. Former Wisconsin quarterback and Colorado State offensive coordinator Jon Budmayr joined the Hawkeyes as an offensive analyst that would assist Brian Ferentz with the quarterbacks.
During the offseason, two Hawkeye wide receivers transferred to West division rival Purdue. Starters Tyrone Tracy, second on the team in receiving yards in 2019, and Charlie Jones, the 2021 Big Ten Returner of the Year, would both play 2022 with the Boilermakers. After struggling as a starter in 2020 and 2021, quarterback Spencer Petras won a supposed quarterback competition against Alex Padilla and Joe Labas.
The Hawkeyes were ranked second in the West Division in the preseason Big Ten media poll, behind Wisconsin and ahead of Minnesota. Linebacker Jack Campbell was selected as the media's preseason Defensive Player of the Year, finishing ahead of Wisconsin linebacker Nick Herbig. The Hawkeyes received votes, but were unranked in the preseason AP Poll and Coaches Poll.
Kirk Ferentz named Campbell, cornerback Riley Moss, tight end Sam LaPorta, and safety Kaevon Merriweather as captains before the week 1 game against South Dakota State and would remain team captains through the regular season.
Schedule Iowa announced its 2022 football schedule on January 12, 2022. The 2022 schedule consisted of seven home games and five away games in the regular season. The Hawkeyes hosted Big Ten foes Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Nebraska and traveled to Rutgers, Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue, and Minnesota.
The Hawkeyes hosted all three non-conference opponents, South Dakota State from Division I FCS, Iowa State from the Big 12 and Nevada from the Mountain West. This marked the first season since 2011 that the entire home schedule was sold out. The first game of the season was played against the eventual FCS National Champion.
Roster
Game summaries
No. 2 (FCS) South Dakota State
Source: Box Score
Iowa relied almost entirely on defense and special teams to earn a hard-fought victory over FCS foe South Dakota State. The Jacks were only able to muster 120 total yards, in large part due to poor starting field position the entire day. Two such drives ended with the Iowa defense forcing a safety, proving to be the difference in the game. The teams combined for 21 punts for 936 yards. Iowa's Tory Taylor pinned SDSU inside their own 20 on 7 of his 10 punts, earning him B1G Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Statistics SDSUIOWA First downs 6 10 Total yards 120 166 Rushing yards 33 57 Passing yards 87 109 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:44 30:11
Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Dakota State Passing Mark Gronowski 10/26, 87 yards Rushing Isaiah Davis 18 rushes, 50 yards Receiving Isaiah Davis 5 receptions, 32 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 11/25, 109 yards, INT Rushing Leshon Williams 24 rushes, 72 yards Receiving Arland Bruce IV 5 receptions, 68 yards
Iowa State
Source: Box Score
Iowa State ended a six-game skid in the series. Sophomore Lukas Van Ness blocked two punts and was named B1G Special Teams Player of the Week.
Statistics ISUIOWA First downs 21 11 Total yards 313 150 Rushing yards 129 58 Passing yards 184 92 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 38:15 21:45
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Hunter Dekkers 25/38, 184 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jirehl Brock 27 rushes, 100 yards Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 11 receptions, 98 yards, TDIowa Passing Spencer Petras 12/26, 92 yards, INT Rushing Leshon Williams 14 rushes, 34 yards, TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 8 receptions, 55 yards
Nevada
Source: Box Score
After enduring three separate lightning delays totaling 3 hours and 56 minutes, Iowa closed out their non-conference schedule with a 27-point win in the first meeting between the schools.
Statistics NEVIOWA First downs 10 15 Total yards 151 337 Rushing yards 69 162 Passing yards 82 175 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:03 29:57
Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Shane Illingworth 14/28, 82 yards, INT Rushing Devonte Lee 9 carries, 33 yards Receiving Dalevon Campbell 3 receptions, 21 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 14/26, 175 yards, TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 7 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD Receiving Arland Bruce IV 3 receptions, 50 yards, TD
At Rutgers
Source: Box Score
In their B1G opener, Iowa scored two defensive touchdowns in the first half to pick up a win on the road and moved to 3–0 all-time versus Rutgers.
Statistics IOWARUTG First downs 14 20 Total yards 277 361 Rushing yards 129 61 Passing yards 148 300 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 29:22 30:38
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 11/17, 148 yards Rushing Leshon Williams 11 carries, 64 yards, TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 4 receptions, 77 yardsRutgers Passing Evan Simon 28/49, 300 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Samuel Brown V 6 carries, 34 yards Receiving Shameen Jones 5 receptions, 71 yards
No. 4 Michigan
Source: Box Score
Fox's Big Noon Kickoff was on hand for this contest. Michigan won at Kinnick Stadium for the first time since 2005.
Statistics MICHIOWA First downs 24 16 Total yards 327 281 Rushing yards 172 35 Passing yards 155 246 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 33:44 26:16
Team Category Player StatisticsMichigan Passing J. J. McCarthy 18/24, 155 yards, TD Rushing Blake Corum 29 carries, 133 yards, TD Receiving Luke Schoonmaker 4 receptions, 45 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 21/31, 246 yards, TD Rushing Leshon Williams 8 carries, 34 yards Receiving Luke Lachey 4 receptions, 84 yards, TD
At Illinois
Source: Box Score
Illinois won for the first time in nine tries in the series. It was also former Iowa player and coach Bret Bielema's first game at Illinois against Iowa, as he missed the 2021 meeting due to issues relating to COVID-19.
Statistics IOWAILL First downs 13 18 Total yards 221 316 Rushing yards 52 200 Passing yards 169 116 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 28:55 31:05
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 18–36, 169 yards, INT Rushing Leshon Williams 7 carries, 32 yards Receiving Sam LaPorta 9 receptions, 100 yardsIllinois Passing Artur Sitkowski 13–19, 74 yards, INT Rushing Chase Brown 31 carries, 146 yards Receiving Brian Hightower 5 receptions, 68 yards
At No. 2 Ohio State
Source:
FOX's Big Noon Kickoff was on hand for this matchup in Columbus. The score was competitive for most of the first half, but a pick six by Ohio State gave the Buckeyes a cushion heading into the break. After settling for three first half field goals, the Ohio State offense put up four second half touchdowns – TD passes from C. J. Stroud to four different receivers – to make this game a blowout. The Iowa offense turned the ball over six times and mustered just 158 yards and a field goal in what was the team's worst defeat since Kirk Ferentz's Big Ten debut in 1999.
Statistics IowaNo. 2 Ohio State First downs 8 16 Total yards 158 360 Rushing yards 77 66 Passing yards 81 294 Turnovers 6 2 Time of possession 29:14 30:46
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 6–14, 49 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT Rushing Leshon Williams 9 carries, 31 yards, 0 TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 6 receptions, 55 yards, 0 TDNo. 2 Ohio State Passing C. J. Stroud 20–30, 286 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 11 carries, 38 yards, 0 TD Receiving Julian Fleming 2 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
Northwestern
Source: Box Score
Northwestern had won three in a row at Kinnick Stadium, but the Hawkeyes responded with a 20-point win after a criticism-filled week leading up to the game. Freshman kicker Drew Stevens had a banner day by kicking four field goals, including a 54-yarder – the 5th-longest (by distance) in school history. These are the first back-to-back wins against the Wildcats since the 2014-2015 seasons.
Statistics NUIOWA First downs 16 24 Total yards 177 393 Rushing yards 18 173 Passing yards 159 220 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:16 31:44
Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brendan Sullivan 23–30, 159 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Evan Hull 11 carries, 32 yards Receiving Bryce Kirtz 5 receptions, 35 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 21–30, 220 yards, TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 13 carries, 93 yards Receiving Nico Ragaini 4 receptions, 66 yards
At Purdue
Source: Box Score
Purdue had won four of the previous five in this series, but the Hawkeye defense held the Boilermaker offense 190 yards and 30 points below their averages. Entering the game, Purdue hadn't scored fewer than 20 points in a game this season, and it was the first time Purdue didn't score an offensive touchdown at home since 2013. Freshman running back Kaleb Johnson had 22 carries for 200 yards that included a 75-yard TD run, earning him B1G Offensive Player of the Week and B1G Freshman of the Week honors.
Statistics IOWAPUR First downs 15 17 Total yards 376 255 Rushing yards 184 87 Passing yards 192 168 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 28:02 31:58
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 13–23, 192 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 22 carries, 200 yards, TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 3 receptions, 71 yards, TDPurdue Passing Aidan O'Connell 20–43, 168 yards, 2 INT Rushing Devin Mockobee 14 carries, 65 yards Receiving Charlie Jones 11 receptions, 104 yards
Wisconsin
Source: Box Score
Iowa recaptured the Heartland Trophy in a game where Wisconsin rarely threatened.
Statistics WISCIOWA First downs 11 11 Total yards 227 146 Rushing yards 51 52 Passing yards 176 94 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 26:23 33:37
Team Category Player StatisticsWisconsin Passing Graham Mertz 16–35, 176 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Braelon Allen 17 carries, 40 yards Receiving Keontez Lewis 3 receptions, 71 yards, TDIowa Passing Spencer Petras 14–23, 93 yards Rushing Kaleb Johnson 22 carries, 57 yards, TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 5 receptions, 48 yards
At Minnesota
Source: Box Score