The 2017 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes, led by 19th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. They finished the season 8–5, 4–5 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for third place in the West Division. They received an invite to the Pinstripe Bowl where they defeated Boston College.
The Iowa football program was awarded Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award for the Kinnick Wave, a new tradition that began during the season, where, at the end of the first quarter of every home game everyone in the stadium turned and waved to the young patients watching from the Stead Family Children's Hospital, which overlooks Kinnick Stadium. This season marked the first time since 1980 that the Tigerhawk logo was displayed at midfield in Kinnick Stadium.
Offseason
Recruiting
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
2017 commitments
The Hawkeyes signed a total of 22 recruits.
Schedule Iowa announced its 2017 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2017 schedule consisted of seven home and five away games in the regular season. The Hawkeyes hosted Big Ten foes Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, and Purdue, and traveled to Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.
The team hosted two non–conference games against the Wyoming Cowboys from the Mountain West Conference and the North Texas Mean Green from Conference USA. Sandwiched between those matchups was a trip to Ames for the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry game against the Iowa State Cyclones from the Big 12 Conference.
Source:
Roster
Rankings
Game summaries Wyoming
Source: Box Score
Iowa opened up the 2017 football season against the Wyoming Cowboys and highly rated Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen. The Hawkeyes got off to a slow start, but after Wyoming punter Tim Zaleski missed the ball on the attempted punt, the Hawkeyes took a 14–3 lead at the half. Iowa built on the momentum with a 45-yard pass from first-year starter Nate Stanley to wide receiver Nick Easley. Iowa wins the season opener 24–3. Iowa's defense impressed many, holding Josh Allen to only 174 yards and 17 incompletions, and a quarterback rating of 24.9. Iowa defense also picked off Allen twice.
This game marked the debut of the "Kinnick Wave", a new Iowa football tradition in which fans turn toward the children's hospital that overlooks the playing field at the end of the first quarter and wave to patients and their families watching the game from the hospital.
Statistics WYOIOWA First downs 15 16 Total yards 233 263 Rushing yards 59 138 Passing yards 174 125 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 31:06 28:54
Team Category Player StatisticsWyoming Passing Josh Allen 23/40, 174 yards, 2 INT Rushing Milo Hall 9 carries, 30 yards Receiving Austin Conway 7 receptions, 47 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 8/15, 125 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Akrum Wadley 24 carries, 116 yards Receiving Nick Easley 4 receptions, 77 yards, TD
At Iowa State
Source: Box Score
Iowa's first rivalry game of the year was the Cy-Hawk series against Big 12 foe Iowa State fresh off a 42–3 beatdown in Iowa City the past year. ISU's 2nd year coach Matt Campbell referred to Iowa as the "team out east" in pregame preparations. This game had a relatively slow beginning and Iowa appeared to be in control well into the third quarter. However, Iowa State's offense exploded and put up 28 points in the second half. The game ultimately went to OT and the "team out east" prevailed with a Nate Stanley touchdown pass.
Statistics IOWAIOWA ST First downs 29 22 Total yards 497 467 Rushing yards 164 120 Passing yards 333 347 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 37:07 22:53
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 27/41, 333 yards, 5 TD Rushing Akrum Wadley 28 carries, 118 yards, TD Receiving Nick Easley 7 receptions, 48 yards, TDIowa State Passing Jacob Park 25/46, 347 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing David Montgomery 20 carries, 112 yards, TD Receiving Allen Lazard 6 receptions, 23 yards, 2 TD
North Texas
Source: Box Score
After an emotional win from a week prior, Iowa got off to a sluggish start though ultimately pulled away to start out 3–0.
Statistics UNTIOWA First downs 17 28 Total yards 305 435 Rushing yards 112 238 Passing yards 193 197 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 19:15 40:45
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Texas Passing Mason Fine 16/26, 167 yards, INT Rushing Jeff Wilson 12 carries, 95 yards, TD Receiving Turner Smiley 4 receptions, 74 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 16/27, 197 yards, 2 TD Rushing Toren Young 19 carries, 78 yards Receiving Nick Easley 5 receptions, 37 yards
No. 4 Penn State
Source: Box Score
Statistics PSUIOWA First downs 29 11 Total yards 579 273 Rushing yards 295 82 Passing yards 284 191 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 39:39 20:21
Team Category Player StatisticsPenn State Passing Trace McSorley 31/44, 284 yards, TD, INT Rushing Saquon Barkley 28 carries, 211 yards, TD Receiving Saquon Barkley 12 receptions, 94 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 13/22, 191 yards, 2 TD Rushing Akrum Wadley 19 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Akrum Wadley 4 receptions, 75 yards, TD
At Michigan State
Source: Box Score
Statistics IOWAMSU First downs 11 19 Total yards 231 300 Rushing yards 19 88 Passing yards 212 212 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 26:26 33:34
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 16/31, 197 yards Rushing Akrum Wadley 17 carries, 30 yards, TD Receiving T. J. Hockenson 3 receptions, 46 yardsMichigan State Passing Brian Lewerke 18/28, 212 yards, 2 TD Rushing Brian Lewerke 12 carries, 42 yards Receiving Felton Davis III 9 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TD
Illinois
Source: Box Score
Illinois played with Iowa well into the third quarter. The Hawkeyes appeared lethargic but a Brandon Snyder interception sparked an Iowa rally and they dominated the rest of the way.
Statistics ILLIOWA First downs 20 20 Total yards 446 441 Rushing yards 200 191 Passing yards 246 250 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 31:40 28:20
Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois Passing Jeff George Jr. 22–45, 246 yards, 3 INT Rushing Mike Epstein 7 carries, 83 yards Receiving Carmoni Green 4 receptions, 28 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 17–32, 247 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Akrum Wadley 23 carries, 115 yards, TD Receiving Nick Easley 7 receptions, 59 yards, TD
At Northwestern
Source: Box Score
Statistics IOWANW First downs 14 21 Total yards 312 339 Rushing yards 89 147 Passing yards 223 192 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:44 29:16
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 19/33, 223 yards, TD, INT Rushing Akrum Wadley 26 carries, 90 yards Receiving Matt VandeBerg 3 receptions, 90 yardsNorthwestern Passing Clayton Thorson 21/36, 192 yards Rushing Justin Jackson 25 carries, 93 yards Receiving Macan Wilson 5 receptions, 47 yards
Minnesota
Source: Box Score
Iowa won their third in a row in this rivalry contest.
Statistics MINNIOWA First downs 15 15 Total yards 281 315 Rushing yards 142 125 Passing yards 139 190 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 31:13 28:47
Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Demry Croft 9–29, 139 yards, INT Rushing Rodney Smith 15 carries, 82 yards Receiving Tyler Johnson 4 receptions, 92 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 15–27, 190 yards, TD, INT Rushing Akrum Wadley 16 carries, 70 yards, TD Receiving Noah Fant 3 receptions, 67 yards, TD
No. 6 Ohio State
Source: Box Score
Iowa was able to defeat Ohio State for the first time since 2004 in this blowout victory. The Buckeyes played with the Hawkeyes for most of the first half but from there the game belonged to Iowa. It was one of the most impressive wins of the Ferentz era and Nate Stanley's most distinguished to that point as well. Tight ends Noah Fant and T. J. Hockenson combined for 9 receptions, 125 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Defensive back and future NFL player Josh Jackson also had an outstanding game, tying an Iowa school record with three interceptions.
Statistics OSUIOWA First downs 20 24 Total yards 371 487 Rushing yards 163 243 Passing yards 208 244 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 25:09 34:51
Team Category Player StatisticsOhio State Passing J. T. Barrett 18/34, 208 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT Rushing J. T. Barrett 14 carries, 63 yards Receiving J. K. Dobbins 5 receptions, 25 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 20/31, 226 yards, 5 TD Rushing Akrum Wadley 20 carries, 118 yards Receiving T. J. Hockenson 5 receptions, 71 yards, 2 TD
At No. 8 Wisconsin
Source: Box Score
One week after the unexpected domination of Ohio State, the Hawkeye offense struggled terribly in Madison with 66 yards of total offense coming on 50 plays. Josh Jackson continued his torrid run with two interceptions both returned for touchdowns.
Statistics IOWAWIS First downs 5 18 Total yards 66 382 Rushing yards 25 247 Passing yards 41 135 Turnovers 3 4 Time of possession 21:33 38:27
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 8/24, 41 yards, INT Rushing James Butler 8 carries, 30 yards Receiving Nick Easley 2 receptions, 19 yardsWisconsin Passing Alex Hornibrook 11/18, 135 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Jonathan Taylor 29 carries, 157 yards Receiving Danny Davis 4 receptions, 74 yards
Purdue
Source: Box Score
The Boilermakers spoiled Senior Day in Iowa City by employing an effective tactic from the Jeff Brohm-era against Iowa find a mismatch in the passing game and continue to exploit it. Purdue's Anthony Mahoungou had 7 receptions for 135 yards and 2 TD.
Statistics PURIOWA First downs 20 17 Total yards 294 258 Rushing yards 65 82 Passing yards 229 176 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 26:17 33:43
Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue Passing Elijah Sindelar 22/37, 229 yards, 3 TD Rushing Markell Jones 14 carries, 74 yards Receiving Anthony Mahoungou 7 receptions, 135 yards, 2 TDIowa Passing Nate Stanley 16/33, 176 yards, TD, INT Rushing Akrum Wadley 22 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Nick Easley 5 receptions, 60 yards
At Nebraska
Source: Box Score
Nebraska got out to a fast start and was up 14–7 in the second quarter with Iowa struggling to move the ball. The script completely flipped from that point though as the Hawkeyes scored 49 unanswered points and shut out the Cornhuskers in the second half.
Statistics IOWANEB First downs 23 12 Total yards 505 267 Rushing yards 313 67 Passing yards 192 200 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 33:09 26:51
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 13/20, 192 yards, 2 TD Rushing Akrum Wadley 19 carries, 159 yards, 3 TD Receiving Noah Fant 3 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TDNebraska Passing Tanner Lee 22/41, 205 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Mikale Wilbon 7 carries, 39 yards Receiving Stanley Morgan Jr. 7 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TD
vs. Boston College (Pinstripe Bowl)
Source: Box Score
Iowa was able to end their bowl drought in this contest with Boston College. The Hawkeyes had trouble containing the Eagles' offense but with second half adjustments held them to just a field goal which came with only a few minutes left in the fourth quarter. The victory was bowl win number seven for Kirk Ferentz and tied legendary coach Hayden Fry in career wins with 143.
Statistics IOWABC First downs 13 16 Total yards 200 383 Rushing yards 101 175 Passing yards 99 208 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 27:25 32:35