The 2018 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2018 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 Kirk Ferentz in his 20th season as head coach.
Iowa began the year with six wins in their first seven games, with their sole loss during that span coming in their conference opener against Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes rose to 18th in the AP Poll, but lost three consecutive games to knock them from the polls. They ended the regular season with two more wins to finish tied for second in the West Division with a conference record of 5–4. They were invited to the 2019 Outback Bowl, where they defeated Mississippi State. Iowa finished with a record of 9–4 and were ranked 25th in the final AP Poll, their first ranked finish and highest win total since 2015.
Quarterback Nate Stanley led the team in passing with 2,852 yards and 26 touchdowns, good for second in the Big Ten Conference in the latter category. The Hawkeyes featured two standout tight ends, with Noah Fant and T. J. Hockenson both earning first-team all-conference honors. Hockenson was awarded the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. Iowa became the first school to have two tight ends chosen in the first round of an NFL Draft when Hockenson and Fant were both selected in the first 20 picks of the 2019 NFL draft. Defensive end A. J. Epenesa led the Big Ten in both sacks and forced fumbles. He was joined on the all-conference first-team by safety Amani Hooker, who was named the Big Ten's Defensive Back of the Year.
Offseason
Recruiting
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
2018 commitments
The Hawkeyes signed a total of 23 recruits.
Preseason
Award watch lists Lott TrophyAnthony NelsonDEJRChuck Bednarik AwardAnthony NelsonDEJRRimington TrophyKeegan RenderCSRMaxwell AwardNate StanleyQBJRJohn Mackey AwardNoah FantTEJRT. J. HockensonTESOBronko Nagurski TrophyAnthony NelsonDEJRWalter Camp AwardNoah FantTEJRTed Hendricks AwardAnthony NelsonDEJRManning AwardNate StanleyQBJR
Schedule
Source
Roster
Rankings
Game summaries
Northern Illinois
Source: Box Score
After a slow start, the Hawkeyes scored touchdowns on three straight possessions en route to a 30-point second half. The win was the 144th for head coach Kirk Ferentz, making him the all-time winningest coach in Iowa football history. After an opening drive 3 and out for the Hawkeyes, NIU blocked the punt and had the ball at the Iowa 20. However, a missed field goal swung momentum back to the home team. The only first half points came on a 33-yard field goal from Hawkeye kicker Miguel Recinos. After a slow 3rd quarter, Heisman hopeful Nate Stanley threw his first touchdown of the year, a 1-yard pitch-and-catch to tight end Noah Fant. On the ensuing drive, running back Ivory Kelly-Martin barreled in on a 3rd and goal play to make it 17–0 going into the 4th quarter. After another short field, Toren Young found pay dirt on a 6-yard effort, and it was 24–0 Iowa. After a great punt by Colton Rastetter, NIU got the ball inside their own 1 yard line. on 2nd down, the Hawkeyes forced a safety, and after getting the ball back off the safety punt, backup quarterback Peyton Mansell got his first career touchdown on a quarterback sneak. After Iowa put their 2nd team defense in, the Huskies marched down the field in an impressive 11 play, 75 yard drive to put some late points on the scoreboard. Iowa shook off the slow 1st half and routed NIU 33–7 inside of Kinnick Stadium during the annual Gold Game.
Statistics NIUIOWA First downs 15 18 Total yards 211 352 Rushing yards 101 209 Passing yards 110 143 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:15 34:45
Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Marcus Childers 14/25, 105 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jordan Nettles 13 carries, 74 yards Receiving D. J. Brown 5 receptions, 38 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 11/23, 108 yards, TD, INT Rushing Toren Young 8 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving T. J. Hockenson 4 receptions, 64 yards
Iowa State
Source: Box Score
Neither offense could get going in this in-state rivalry contest. Iowa was the only team to find the endzone and with only a few minutes left in the fourth quarter. An A. J. Epenesa strip-sack sealed this low-scoring affair to keep the Cy-Hawk trophy in Iowa City for a fourth straight year.
Statistics ISUIOWA First downs 11 14 Total yards 188 271 Rushing yards 19 105 Passing yards 169 166 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:25 31:35
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Kyle Kempt 15/21, 126 yards Rushing David Montgomery 17 carries, 44 yards Receiving Hakeem Butler 3 receptions, 35 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 16/28, 166 yards Rushing Toren Young 21 carries, 68 yards Receiving T. J. Hockenson 6 receptions, 33 yards
Northern Iowa
Source: Box Score
The Panthers were able to play with the Hawkeyes for a while but Iowa's depth proved to be ultimately overwhelming for FCS opponent Northern Iowa. Iowa ended the game with nearly 550 yards of total offense and the final score wasn't indicative of how one-sided this match-up was as the Hawkeyes played their second string for most of the fourth quarter. Iowa's defense had a relentless effort holding Northern Iowa to minus-2 rushing yards in the first half.
Statistics UNIIOWA First downs 14 27 Total yards 228 545 Rushing yards 6 207 Passing yards 222 338 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 23:26 36:34
Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Eli Dunne 18/28, 200 yards, 2 TD Rushing Trevor Allen 13 carries, 27 yards Receiving Briley Moore 5 receptions, 32 yards, TDIowa Passing Nate Stanley 23/28, 309 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Toren Young 14 carries, 82 yards, TD Receiving Nick Easley 10 receptions, 103 yards, TD
No. 18 Wisconsin
Source: Box Score
Statistics WISIOWA First downs 19 19 Total yards 415 404 Rushing yards 210 148 Passing yards 205 256 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 35:13 24:47
Team Category Player StatisticsWisconsin Passing Alex Hornibrook 17/22, 205 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jonathan Taylor 25 carries, 113 yards Receiving Jake Ferguson 4 receptions, 58 yards, TDIowa Passing Nate Stanley 14/23, 256 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ivory Kelly-Martin 14 carries, 72 yards Receiving T. J. Hockenson 3 receptions, 125 yards
At Minnesota
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes spoiled the Gophers' homecoming in this high-scoring rivalry game. A signature play of the game came on a fake field goal trick play in which T. J. Hockenson took a lateral pass in for a touchdown which helped Iowa secure a lead going into halftime. The play is called "Herky" and was a New Kirk era technique that had yet to be implemented. The Hawks prevailed to keep Floyd of Rosedale in Iowa City for a fourth year in a row.
Statistics IOWAMINN First downs 18 20 Total yards 420 320 Rushing yards 106 86 Passing yards 314 234 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 33:17 26:43
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 23/39, 314 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Ivory Kelly-Martin 20 carries, 47 yards Receiving Nick Easley 6 receptions, 52 yards, TDMinnesota Passing Zack Annexstad 17/33, 218 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 13 carries, 62 yards Receiving Rashod Bateman 7 receptions, 65 yards, 2 TD
At Indiana
Source: Box Score
Nate Stanley became the third Iowa quarterback to throw six touchdown passes in a single game. Tight ends T. J. Hockenson and Noah Fant each had over 100 yards receiving, totaling eight receptions for 208 yards and three TD.
Statistics IOWAIU First downs 26 22 Total yards 479 330 Rushing yards 159 67 Passing yards 320 263 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:10 26:50
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 21/32, 320 yards, 6 TD, INT Rushing Toren Young 19 carries, 96 yards Receiving T. J. Hockenson 4 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TDIndiana Passing Peyton Ramsey 31/42, 263 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Stevie Scott 8 carries, 29 yards Receiving Reese Taylor 6 receptions, 28 yards
Maryland
Source: Box Score
Iowa held visitor Maryland to just 115 yards of total offense in this shutout homecoming victory. Iowa did struggle to find the end zone but three Miguel Recinos field goals kept Iowa in the driver's seat for most of the way.
Statistics UMDIOWA First downs 7 22 Total yards 115 310 Rushing yards 68 224 Passing yards 47 86 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 19:05 40:55
Team Category Player StatisticsMaryland Passing Kasim Hill 6/15, 47 yards, INT Rushing Javon Leake 1 carry, 16 yards Receiving Ty Johnson 2 receptions, 2 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 11/22, 86 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ivory Kelly-Martin 24 carries, 98 yards Receiving T. J. Hockenson 3 receptions, 30 yards
At No. 17 Penn State
Source: Box Score
Iowa went up 12–0 early and scored their first 14 points of the game on special teams plays (two safeties, a TD pass on a fake field goal and point after, and a Miguel Recinos field goal). After trailing 14–7, Penn State scored 20 of the next 23 points to lead 27–17. A pick six from Pennsylvania native Geno Stone brought the Hawks to within 27–24 with 10 minutes remaining, but a bad interception on a first and goal from the 3-yard line with just over 3 minutes remaining doomed Iowa's hopes of a road victory.
Statistics IOWAPSU First downs 23 16 Total yards 350 312 Rushing yards 135 118 Passing yards 215 194 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 35:18 24:42
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 18/49, 205 yards, 2 INT Rushing Mekhi Sargent 16 carries, 91 yards Receiving Noah Fant 5 receptions, 56 yardsPenn State Passing Trace McSorley 11/25, 167 yards, TD, INT Rushing Trace McSorley 12 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving K. J. Hamler 5 receptions, 96 yards
At Purdue
Source: Box Score
Statistics IOWAPUR First downs 22 21 Total yards 393 434 Rushing yards 118 101 Passing yards 275 333 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:57 26:03
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 21/32, 275 yards, TD Rushing Toren Young 9 carries, 45 yards Receiving T. J. Hockenson 4 receptions, 39 yards, TDPurdue Passing David Blough 23/32, 333 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Markell Jones 14 carries, 40 yards, TD Receiving Terry Wright 6 receptions, 146 yards, 3 TD
Northwestern
Source: Box Score
Statistics NWIOWA First downs 19 16 Total yards 306 333 Rushing yards 184 64 Passing yards 122 269 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 31:06 28:54
Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Clayton Thorson 15/30, 122 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Isaiah Bowser 31 carries, 165 yards, TD Receiving Cameron Green 5 receptions, 30 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 27/41, 269 yards, TD Rushing Mekhi Sargent 10 carries, 27 yards Receiving Nick Easley 8 receptions, 53 yards
At Illinois
Source: Box Score
Kirk Ferentz recorded his 150th win at Iowa, the 5th head coach in Big Ten history to reach the mark, in this blowout victory over Illinois. After a sluggish start in the first quarter, Iowa dominated in every phase of the game the rest of the way. Not only scoring on offense but on defense and special teams as well.
Statistics IOWAILL First downs 20 11 Total yards 400 216 Rushing yards 203 134 Passing yards 197 82 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 28:43 31:17
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 13/21, 178 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Mekhi Sargent 17 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD Receiving Noah Fant 3 receptions, 54 yards, TDIllinois Passing AJ Bush 12/28, 82 yards, 2 INT Rushing RaVon Bonner 21 carries, 96 yards Receiving Ricky Smalling 3 receptions, 27 yards
Nebraska
Source: Box Score