The 2023 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes were led by Kirk Ferentz in his 25th year as head coach. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, and sold out all seven home contests for the second consecutive season.
With a victory over Illinois on Senior Day, Iowa secured the Big Ten West title for the third time. A win over rival Nebraska in the regular season finale completed a 10-win regular season. They competed in the Big Ten Championship Game against the East Division champion No. 2 Michigan, where they were shutout by the eventual national champions 26–0. The Hawkeyes ended the 2023 season with a 35–0 shutout loss to No. 21 Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.
Senior punter Tory Taylor was named First-team All-Big Ten for the third time, Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year for the second time, a Unanimous First-team All-American, and the 2023 Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's most outstanding punter. Despite missing the final four games due to a season-ending injury, junior cornerback Cooper DeJean was named First-team All-Big Ten for the second time, Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, and a Unanimous First-team All-American. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in college football.
The team became infamous over the course of the season for their great defense being paired with a historically terrible offense, causing some to call them the "Best Worst Team Ever". The four lowest over-unders in college football history were set in games involving the 2023 Hawkeyes, the lowest being 24.5 against Nebraska. In each of those four games the final combined score was below the line. On October 30, it was announced that offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz would not be retained in 2024, but would be allowed to finish the rest of the 2023 season. At the time of the announcement, the Hawkeyes' offense was averaging 19.5 points per game, ranking 120th out of 133 in the FBS.
In 2026, the NCAA ruled that quarterback Cade McNamara was ineligible to play for Iowa due to tampering violations, as Kirk Ferentz and assistant coah Jon Budmayr had broken NCAA rules by contacting McNamara before he entered the transfer portal. As a result, the NCAA forced Iowa to vacate the four victories in which McNamara played before he suffered a season-ending injury. The four games Iowa vacated were the wins over Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan, and Michigan State.
Preseason Iowa lost several players in the transfer portal, including top two wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Arland Bruce IV, backup quarterback Alex Padilla, and running back Gavin Williams. Two top defensive players, cornerback Terry Roberts and linebacker Jestin Jacobs, transferred to Miami and Oregon, respectively.
Iowa added players in the transfer portal before the 2023 season, including Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara, Michigan tight end Erick All, and Charleston Southern wide receiver Seth Anderson, son of NFL wide receiver Flipper Anderson. Saginaw Valley State offensive tackle Daijon Parker committed to Iowa after originally committing to Virginia.
Iowa was picked second in the West Division by Big Ten media, behind Wisconsin.
Player movement Transfers in +DatePlayerPositionPrevious TeamNotesRefDecember 1, 2022Cade McNamaraQBMichigan WolverinesThird-team All-Big Ten (2021)December 14, 2022Erick AllTEMichigan WolverinesJanuary 1, 2023Seth AndersonWRCharleston Southern Buccaneers2022 Big South Conference offensive freshman of the yearJanuary 4, 2023Deacon HillQBWisconsin BadgersJanuary 7, 2023Daijon ParkerOTSaginaw Valley StatePreviously committed to VirginiaFebruary 8, 2023Nick JacksonLBVirginia2022 All-ACC Second TeamMay 4, 2023Kaleb BrownWROhio StateJune 16, 2023Rusty FethOGMiami (OH)2022 All-MAC Second Team
Transfers out +DatePlayerPositionDestinationNotesRefNovember 29, 2022Alex PadillaQBSMU MustangsNovember 29, 2022Josh VolkOLNorthern Iowa PanthersDecember 1, 2022Keagan JohnsonWRKansas State WildcatsDecember 2, 2022Arland Bruce IVWROklahoma State CowboysDecember 2, 2022Gavin WilliamsRBNorthern Illinois HuskiesDecember 5, 2022Jestin JacobsLBOregon Ducks2-year starter at LB (before injury)January 6, 2023Dallas CraddiethSKent State Golden FlashesJanuary 8, 2023Reggie BracyCBTroy TrojansApril 30, 2023Carter EricksonSNorthwest Missouri State BearcatsMay 4, 2023Carson MayQBWyoming CowboysPreviously committed to CCC Red RavensMay 13, 2023Zach BrandRBNorthern Iowa PanthersJune 8, 2023Terry RobertsCBMichigan State SpartansPreviously committed to Miami
Schedule
Rankings
Roster
Game summaries
Utah State
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes' season opener was the first matchup in the series since a 48–7 win in 2002. It was also the first Iowa career start for Cade McNamara who threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns to start out the year 1–0.
Statistics USUIOWA First downs 19 17 Total yards 329 284 Rushing yards 116 88 Passing yards 213 196 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:48 32:12
Team Category Player StatisticsUtah State Passing Cooper Legas 32/48, 213 yards, TD, INT Rushing Rahsul Faison 7 carries, 59 yards Receiving Terrell Vaughn 12 receptions, 93 yards, TDIowa Passing Cade McNamara 17/30, 191 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 19 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Luke Lachey 7 receptions, 73 yards
at Iowa State
Source: Box Score
The Hawks avenged last season's 10–7 defeat by collecting their sixth straight victory at Jack Trice Stadium, earning Kirk Ferentz his 200th collegiate career win.
Statistics IOWAIOWA ST First downs 9 19 Total yards 235 290 Rushing yards 112 87 Passing yards 123 203 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:30 33:30
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Cade McNamara 12/21, 123 yards, INT Rushing Jaziun Patterson 10 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Luke Lachey 3 receptions, 58 yardsIowa State Passing Rocco Becht 23/44, 203 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cartevious Norton 21 carries, 59 yards Receiving Jayden Higgins 8 receptions, 95 yards, TD
Western Michigan
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes evened the all-time series (2–2), building on the 59–3 victory in 2013. A blocked punt in the third quarter that resulted in a safety proved to be the turning point in cementing Iowa's upper hand. After trailing 10–7 in the second quarter, the Hawks scored the final 34 points of the game.
Statistics WMUIOWA First downs 8 19 Total yards 239 387 Rushing yards 117 254 Passing yards 122 133 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:07 33:53
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Michigan Passing Treyson Bourguet 5/16, 124 yards, TD Rushing Treyson Bourguet 8 carries, 32 yards Receiving Kenneth Womack 2 receptions, 11 yardsIowa Passing Cade McNamara 9/19, 103 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Leshon Williams 12 carries, 145 yards Receiving Steven Stilianos 2 receptions, 29 yards
at No. 7 Penn State
Source: Box Score
In a game played under the lights in Happy Valley between two unbeaten top 25 teams, Iowa was humbled by the Nittany Lions. The Hawkeyes, wearing alternate uniforms, were dominated in every phase of the game.
Statistics IOWAPSU First downs 4 28 Total yards 76 397 Rushing yards 20 215 Passing yards 56 182 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 14:33 45:27
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Cade McNamara 5/14, 42 yards Rushing Kamari Moulton 6 carries, 18 yards Receiving Erick All 3 receptions, 35 yardsPenn State Passing Drew Allar 25/37, 166 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 21 carries, 72 yards Receiving KeAndre Lambert-Smith 8 receptions, 66 yards, TD
Michigan State
Source: Box Score
Iowa recorded back-to-back victories in series for first time since 2009–2010. The Spartans were looking to avenge a humbling loss from their last visit 49–7 in 2020 during a week where there head coach Mel Tucker was fired. With Cade McNamara suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter the offense continued to struggle. Cooper DeJean returned a punt 70 yards to give Iowa the lead for good with under four minutes left. This game marked Kirk Ferentz's 200th Big Ten Conference regular season game as Iowa's head coach (116–84).
Statistics MSUIOWA First downs 20 15 Total yards 349 222 Rushing yards 156 61 Passing yards 193 161 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 33:48 26:12
Team Category Player StatisticsMichigan State Passing Noah Kim 25/44, 193 yards, 3 INT Rushing Nate Carter 20 carries, 108 yards Receiving Montorie Foster Jr. 8 receptions, 79 yardsIowa Passing Deacon Hill 11/27, 115 yards, TD, INT Rushing Leshon Williams 12 carries, 38 yards Receiving Erick All 4 receptions, 67 yards, TD
Purdue
Source: Box Score
Purdue had won two of the last three at Kinnick Stadium, the latter of which spoiled the Hawkeyes' homecoming, unbeaten record, and No. 2 AP ranking. They had a chance to win again but were held on a fourth down. This was the first start for QB Deacon Hill in the 1,300th game in Iowa program history. He struggled in the first half but settled down in the second.
Statistics PURIOWA First downs 21 13 Total yards 343 291 Rushing yards 96 181 Passing yards 247 110 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 35:28 24:32
Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue Passing Hudson Card 25/40, 247 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Devin Mockobee 20 carries, 89 yards, TD Receiving TJ Sheffield 6 receptions, 93 yards, TDIowa Passing Deacon Hill 6/21, 110 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kaleb Johnson 17 carries, 134 yards, TD Receiving Erick All 5 receptions, 97 yards, TD
at Wisconsin
Source: Box Score
Iowa won at Wisconsin for the first time since 2015 and recorded back-to-back wins in rivalry series for the first time since 2008–2009. This was a defensive struggle with both teams trading punt after punt. The Hawkeyes never trailed in the game and grabbed a hold of the Big Ten West lead.
Statistics IOWAWIS First downs 9 18 Total yards 237 332 Rushing yards 200 104 Passing yards 37 228 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 30:33 29:27
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Deacon Hill 6/14, 37 yards Rushing Leshon Williams 25 carries, 174 yards, TD Receiving Erick All 2 receptions, 19 yardsWisconsin Passing Braedyn Locke 15/30, 122 yards, INT Rushing Braelon Allen 18 carries, 87 yards Receiving Bryson Green 5 receptions, 86 yards
Minnesota
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes, ranked in the top 25 again after a 3-week absence, had won eight straight and 9 of 10 in the series entering the game. Minnesota won at Kinnick Stadium for the first time since 1999. A controversial penalty upset Iowa fans at the end of the game, negating a potential game-winning touchdown by Cooper DeJean.
Statistics MINIOWA First downs 12 9 Total yards 239 127 Rushing yards 113 11 Passing yards 126 116 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 35:25 24:35
Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Athan Kaliakmanis 10/25, 126 yards Rushing Darius Taylor 16 carries, 59 yards Receiving Daniel Jackson 7 receptions, 101 yardsIowa Passing Deacon Hill 10/28, 116 yards, INT Rushing Kaleb Johnson 6 carries, 18 yards Receiving Nico Ragaini 4 receptions, 28 yards
at Northwestern
Source: Box Score
Iowa has won four of five in this series. The game at Wrigley Field was the first time the Hawkeyes have played on a baseball field since the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl. The game was yet another defensive struggle with neither team even scoring in the first half. Hawkeye kicker Drew Stevens nailed a 52-yard field goal with seconds left to defeat the Wildcats.
Statistics IOWANW First downs 14 12 Total yards 169 170 Rushing yards 104 89 Passing yards 65 81 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:18 29:42