The 2024 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes were led by Kirk Ferentz in his 26th year as head coach. Iowa played their home games at Kinnick Stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, and sold out all seven home contests for the third consecutive season.
The Hawkeyes ended the 2024 season with a 27–24 loss to No. 19 Missouri in the Music City Bowl to finish with an 8–5 record (6–3 Big Ten).
Senior linebacker Jay Higgins was named First-team All-Big Ten for the second time, Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, and a Unanimous First-team All-American. Junior running back Kaleb Johnson was named First-team All-Big Ten, Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year, and a Consensus First-team All-American. He was also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, and established single-season program records for rushing touchdowns (21) and total touchdowns (23). Senior return specialist Kaden Wetjen was named First-team All-Big Ten and Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year.
Player movement Transfers in +DatePlayerPositionPrevious TeamNotesRefJanuary 20, 2024Kadyn ProctorOTAlabama Crimson TideSEC All-Freshman Team (2023)May 9, 2024Brendan SullivanQBNorthwestern WildcatsStarted 8 games over two seasonsMay 14, 2024Jacob GillWRNorthwestern Wildcats
Transfers out +DatePlayerPositionDestinationNotesRefNovember 13, 2023Spencer PetrasQBUtah State AggiesDecember 4, 2023Anterio ThompsonDLWestern Michigan BroncosDecember 5, 2023Joey LabasQBCentral Michigan ChippewasApril 16, 2024Kadyn ProctorOLAlabama Crimson TideApril 23, 2024Deacon HillQBUtah Tech Trailblazers
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries No. 19 (FCS) Illinois State
Iowa opened the season against Illinois State, whom they had played only once previously, a 31–14 win to open the 2015 season. The Hawkeyes had just a 6–0 lead at halftime, but the offense came alive in the second half, scoring 34 points behind a balanced attack. The Hawkeye defense forced three turnovers, had four sacks, and pitched a shutout in a game in which the Redbirds never put together a scoring threat. Head coach Kirk Ferentz served a one-game suspension following a recruiting violation, making this the first game since November 25, 1978, that neither Hayden Fry nor Ferentz patrolled the Iowa sideline.
Statistics ILST IOWA First downs 12 23 Total yards 189 492 Rushing yards 56 241 Passing yards 133 251 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–29–1 21–31–0 Time of possession 25:12 34:48 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 10/20, 119 yards, INT Rushing Wenkers Wright 9 carries, 36 yards Receiving Xavier Loyd 4 receptions, 53 yardsIowa Passing Cade McNamara 21/31, 251 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 11 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD Receiving Reece Vander Zee 5 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TD
Iowa State (rivalry)
Iowa had won seven of the last eight in this trophy series. While the Hawkeyes had a double-digit lead at halftime, two first and goal situations inside the 5 yard line (that netted only 6 points) and a failed two-point conversion set the stage for Iowa State's comeback win.
Statistics ISU IOWA First downs 15 16 Total yards 64–361 67–303 Rushing yards 28–89 38–204 Passing yards 272 99 Passing: comp–att–int 23–36–1 13–29–2 Time of possession 30:10 29:50 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa State Passing Rocco Becht 23/35, 272 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Abu Sama 17 carries, 58 yards Receiving Jayden Higgins 8 receptions, 68 yards, TD Iowa Passing Cade McNamara 13/29, 99 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kaleb Johnson 25 carries, 187 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jacob Gill 4 receptions, 47 yards
Troy
(Gold Out Spirit game)
In the last non-conference game for the Hawkeyes, the team struggled in the first half but put up four touchdowns in the second.
Statistics TROY IOWA First downs 10 25 Total yards 47–253 69–462 Rushing yards 21–24 45–284 Passing yards 229 178 Passing: comp–att–int 16–26–1 20–24–0 Time of possession 23:41 36:19 Team Category Player Statistics Troy Passing Matthew Caldwell 14/21, 156 yards, TD, INT Rushing Damien Taylor 7 carries, 20 yards Receiving Devonte Ross 5 receptions, 142 yards, 2 TD Iowa Passing Cade McNamara 19/23, 176 yards Rushing Kaleb Johnson 25 carries, 173 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jacob Gill 5 receptions, 44 yards
at Minnesota (rivalry)
Iowa was out for revenge and to recapture Floyd after the previous year's controversial ending. They were outplayed in the first half but completely dominated the second. The victory was the fifth consecutive for the Hawkeyes at Huntington Bank Stadium and tied Kirk Ferentz with Amos Alonzo Stagg in career wins as a Big Ten coach (199).
Statistics IOWA MINN First downs 19 15 Total yards 64–334 58–288 Rushing yards 45–272 21–79 Passing yards 62 209 Passing: comp–att–int 11–19–0 22–37–2 Time of possession 31:43 28:17 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Cade McNamara 11/19, 62 yard Rushing Kaleb Johnson 21 carries, 206 yards, 3 TD Receiving Addison Ostrenga 2 receptions, 20 yards Minnesota Passing Max Brosmer 22/37, 209 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Darius Taylor 10 carries, 34 yards Receiving Daniel Jackson 9 receptions, 112 yards
at No. 3 Ohio State
The Hawkeyes haven't won in Columbus since 1991 and were humbled during their last visit two years prior. After a competitive first half the Buckeyes ran away with the game in the second.
Statistics IOWA OSU First downs 10 21 Total yards 48–226 65–412 Rushing yards 27–116 40–203 Passing yards 110 209 Passing: comp–att–int 15–21–1 21–25–1 Time of possession 25:14 34:46 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Cade McNamara 14/20, 98 yards, INT Rushing Kaleb Johnson 15 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Luke Lachey 5 receptions, 39 yards Ohio State Passing Will Howard 21/25, 209 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Quinshon Judkins 13 carries, 78 yards Receiving Jeremiah Smith 4 receptions, 89 yards, TD
Washington
(ANF Black and Gold Spirit Game)
These programs hadn't faced each other since the 1995 Sun Bowl. Playing Washington for the first time as a Big Ten opponent, Iowa held a 10-point halftime lead before dominating the second half. The victory gave Kirk Ferentz his 200th win at Iowa.
Statistics WASH IOWA First downs 23 20 Total yards 80–393 51–328 Rushing yards 30–127 37–220 Passing yards 266 108 Passing: comp–att–int 34–50–1 8–14–0 Time of possession 34:59 22:03 Team Category Player Statistics Washington Passing Will Rogers 22/34, 195 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jonah Coleman 9 carries, 80 yards Receiving Giles Jackson 9 receptions, 63 yards Iowa Passing Cade McNamara 8/14, 108 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 21 carries, 166 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dayton Howard 1 reception, 33 yards, TD
at Michigan State
Iowa's offense sputtered for most of the game, and Michigan State sustained drives consistently in earning a homecoming victory in East Lansing.
Statistics IOWA MSU First downs 12 27 Total yards 46–283 70–468 Rushing yards 23–133 40–212 Passing yards 150 256 Passing: comp–att–int 11–23–1 22–30–1 Time of possession 20:16 39:44 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Cade McNamara 11/23, 150 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kaleb Johnson 14 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving Kaleb Johnson 4 receptions, 49 yards Michigan State Passing Aidan Chiles 22/30, 256 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 15 carries, 86 yards Receiving Nick Marsh 8 receptions, 113 yards
Northwestern
(Homecoming)
Iowa has won four of last five in this series. However, the Wildcats have spoiled two previous homecomings in the Ferentz era (2008, 2016). After struggling for most of the first half, the Iowa offense exploded in the third quarter with four touchdowns.
Statistics NW IOWA First downs 11 14 Total yards 51–163 66–355 Rushing yards 24–43 39–203 Passing yards 120 152 Passing: comp–att–int 15–27–2 16–27–1 Time of possession 25:36 34:24 Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Jack Lausch 10/19, 62 yards, 2 INT Rushing Cam Porter 13 carries, 50 yards Receiving A. J. Henning 2 receptions, 22 yards Iowa Passing Brendan Sullivan 9/14, 79 yards Rushing Kaleb Johnson 14 carries, 109 yards, 3 TD Receiving Seth Anderson 2 receptions, 44 yards
Wisconsin (rivalry)
(Black out/ Military Game)
Wisconsin hasn't won at Kinnick Stadium since 2018. Iowa also hadn't won three in a row in this series in two decades. This was the first career start at Iowa for Brendan Sullivan. The Hawkeyes capitalized on two interceptions to keep the bull in Iowa City for a third year in a row and reach bowl eligibility for a twelfth consecutive year.
Statistics WIS IOWA First downs 16 22 Total yards 57–261 64–422 Rushing yards 28–124 54–329 Passing yards 137 93 Passing: comp–att–int 15–29–2 7–10–0 Time of possession 26:34 33:26 Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Braedyn Locke 15/29, 137 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Darrion Dupree 7 carries, 52 yards Receiving Vinny Anthony II 4 receptions, 61 yards Iowa Passing Brendan Sullivan 7/10, 93 yards, TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 24 carries, 135 yards, 3 TD Receiving Zach Ortwerth 3 receptions, 66 yards
at UCLA
After a strong first quarter, the Hawkeyes remain winless at the Rose Bowl since January 1, 1959. UCLA won their third straight with a strong running game and limiting the running game of the Hawkeyes, who had been the Big Ten's top rushing team. This was the first matchup in the series since the 1986 Rose Bowl, the first regular season matchup since the 1981 season, and Iowa's first visit to Pasadena since the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Statistics IOWA UCLA First downs 12 23 Total yards 46–265 73–414 Rushing yards 31–80 39–211 Passing yards 185 203 Passing: comp–att–int 9–15–2 21–34–2 Time of possession 22:27 37:33 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Brendan Sullivan 6/9, 157 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kaleb Johnson 18 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Gill 6 receptions, 138 yards UCLA Passing Ethan Garbers 21/34, 203 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing T. J. Harden 20 carries, 125 yards Receiving Logan Loya 5 receptions, 94 yards, TD
at Maryland
The Hawkeyes bounced back against Maryland a team they haven't lost to since 2014 to earn the 700th win in program history. This was also the first time Brian Ferentz coached against his father. Five Drew Stevens field goals tying a single-game program record kept Iowa in the lead throughout. Junior running back Kaleb Johnson set the single-season program record for rushing touchdowns (21).
Statistics IOWA MD First downs 21 14 Total yards 72–344 57–227 Rushing yards 58–268 26–98 Passing yards 76 129 Passing: comp–att–int 10–14–0 17–31–2 Time of possession 37:41 22:19 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Jackson Stratton 10/14, 76 yards Rushing Kaleb Johnson 35 carries, 164 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Gill 4 receptions, 29 yards Maryland Passing MJ Morris 12/23, 103 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Nolan Ray 4 carries, 48 yards Receiving Tai Felton 6 receptions, 57 yards, 2 TD
Nebraska (rivalry)
Iowa won for the ninth time in ten tries in this rivalry series. Drew Stevens nailed a 53-yard field goal as time expired to keep the Heroes Trophy in Iowa City.
Statistics NEB IOWA First downs 20 5 Total yards 76–334 41–164 Rushing yards 43–144 26–49 Passing yards 190 115 Passing: comp–att–int 22–33–0 8–15–0 Time of possession 39:01 20:59 Team Category Player Statistics Nebraska Passing Dylan Raiola 22/32, 190 yards Rushing Emmett Johnson 18 carries, 71 yards Receiving Jahmal Banks 4 receptions, 41 yards Iowa Passing Jackson Stratton 8/15, 115 yards, TD Rushing Kaleb Johnson 17 carries, 45 yards Receiving Kaleb Johnson 2 receptions, 73 yards, TD
vs No. 19 Missouri (Music City Bowl)