Iowa Football - Rivals.com

The Big Ten This Week
Minnesota at Michigan State, 11:10 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN+)
Michigan at Illinois, 11:10 a.m. (ABC)
Ohio State at Iowa, 2:35 p.m. (ABC)
Wisconsin at Purdue, 4:35 p.m. (ESPN2)
Idle: Indiana, Northwestern, Penn State
IOWA NOTES
• The Hawkeyes have won 22 of their last 24 games in Kinnick
Stadium, dating back to the end of the 2000 season. Iowa’s two
losses came against Iowa State (36-31 in 2002) and Michigan
(32-26 in 2001).
• Iowa has won 21 of its last 26 regular season games.
• Iowa is 32-4 when leading at the half and 34-2 when leading
after three quarters under Coach Ferentz. Furthermore, Iowa
is 21-1 when leading at the half and 23-0 when leading after
three quarters the last three years.
• Iowa rushed 28 times for -15 yards at Michigan. The last
time an Iowa team rushed for negative yardage was in a 45-34
loss at Indiana (10/29/88); the Hawkeyes rushed 22 times for
-1 yard.
• Iowa was held to 100 yards total offense in its loss at Arizona
State. The last time a team held Iowa under 200 yards total
offense was Penn State (176 yards, 10/25/03). Iowa won that
game, 26-14.
• Iowa has 15 players who have recorded one or more receptions
this season, while 12 different Hawkeyes have recorded
one or more rushing attempts.
• OL Pete McMahon is the only Hawkeye to be named captain
in each of the first five games.
• Iowa has had two interceptions returned for touchdowns
(99 yards by Kent State and 25 yards by Michigan).
• Iowa ranks second nationally in punt return yardage
(19.5). Ed Hinkel ranks 13 th nationally in punt return yardage
(15.33).
• TE Tony Jackson had no receptions in the first three games
of the season. In fact, the native of Ypsilanti, MI, had only
seven receptions his first three years combined. The senior put
up career numbers against the Wolverines in his home state,
collecting four receptions for 61 yards, including a 24-yard
reception on the first play from scrimmage.
• Iowa’s game vs. Michigan State was its eighth straight home
sellout dating back to last year. The eight consecutive sellouts
at the current Kinnick Stadium capacity (70,397) is a school
record. The previous record was five set in during the 1992
season.
• Iowa has scored points on four of its first five opening possessions.
The Hawkeyes kicked a field goal vs. Kent State
and scored touchdowns vs. Iowa State, at Michigan and vs.
Michigan State. Iowa punted on its first possession at Arizona
State.
• RB Albert Young and LB Chad Greenway scored their first
collegiate points vs. Kent State. DB Walner Belleus scored his
first points on an 83-yard punt return at Arizona State. FB Tom
Busch and RM Marques Simmons tallied their first points on
short touchdown runs vs. Michigan State.
• Iowa began the season ranked No. 12 in the ESPN/USA
Today poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press poll. The ranking
was its highest preseason ranking since 1985 when the
Hawkeyes were ranked No. 3 by USA Today/CNN and No. 4
by the AP.
TATE DIRECTS HAWKEYE OFFENSE
QB Drew Tate has come on strong in his last two starts,
posting career numbers in consecutive games. In his last start
vs. Michigan State, the sophomore completed 25-36 passes
for 340 yards – all career highs. He also completed a 15-yard
touchdown pass to Ed Hinkel in the first quarter. The last time
an Iowa quarterback threw for over 300 yards was Jon Beutjer
(30-47, 380 yards) at Indiana on 9/30/00. In addition, Tate
completed 10 straight passes in the third quarter, marking the
third time this season that he has completed 10 or more consecutive
passes in a game.
At Michigan, he completed 24-32 passes for 270 yards and
two touchdowns. He completed 11 consecutive passes to start
the game vs. the Wolverines.
Tate played only one half in the season opener vs. Kent State,
completing 13-22 passes for 136 yards, including 10 straight
completions in the second quarter. Tate played his first complete
collegiate game vs. Iowa State and helped the Hawkeyes
to their second straight win over the Cyclones. Tate completed
16-22 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown.
For the season, Tate has completed 86-131 passes for 1,010
yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. The sophomore
has thrown at least one interception in each of Iowa’s five
games. The native of Baytown, TX, ranks fourth in the conference
and 28 th nationally in pass efficiency (136.37) and fourth
in the league in passing yardage (202.0).
ROTH BREAKS OUT
Senior DE Matt Roth is a pre-season candidate for the Rotary
Lombardi Award, the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the
Year and Bronko Nagurski Awards. Other pre-season honors
for Roth include the Playboy magazine all-America team,
second team all-America by Lindy’s and first team all-Big Ten
by Athlon Sports.
Roth has busted out the last two games after posting eight
tackles, including one for loss, the first three contests of the
season. The defensive end exploded for seven tackles (all solo),
including two for loss and one sack and also forced a fumble
at Michigan. Against Michigan State, he tallied a season-high
eight tackles (4 solo), including one for loss. The senior is sixth
on the squad in tackles (23), tied for second in sacks (2), ranks
first in QB hurries (2) and fourth in TFL (4).