# 2020 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 2020 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2020 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 22nd-year head coach Kirk Ferentz.
On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, on September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24. The Hawkeyes compiled a 6–2 record, all in conference games. The team was set to face Missouri in the Music City Bowl, but the game was canceled after Missouri had to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues.
Junior defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and was a unanimous First-team All-American.

## Schedule

Iowa had games scheduled against Northern Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois, but canceled these games on July 9 due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 24 | 2:30 p.m. | at Purdue | | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | BTN | L 20–24 | 900 |
| October 31 | 2:30 p.m. | Northwestern | | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | ESPN | L 20–21 | 1,432 |
| November 7 | 11:00 a.m. | Michigan State | | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | ESPN | W 49–7 | 1,441 |
| November 13 | 6:00 p.m. | at Minnesota | | TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN (Floyd of Rosedale) | FS1 | W 35–7 | 771 |
| November 21 | 2:30 p.m. | at Penn State | | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | BTN | W 41–21 | 1,500 |
| November 27 | 12:00 p.m. | Nebraska | No. 24 | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA (The Heroes Game) | FOX | W 26–20 | 1,469 |
| December 5 | 2:30 p.m. | at Illinois | No. 19 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | FS1 | W 35–21 | 875 |
| December 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | No. 16 | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA (rivalry) | FS1 | W 28–7 | 1,445 |
| December 19 | 6:00 p.m. | Michigan | No. 16 | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA (Champions Week) | ESPN | No contest | – |
| December 30 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Missouri* | No. 15 | Nissan StadiumNashville, TN (Music City Bowl) | ESPN | No contest | – |
| HomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 24) released prior to gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||
| Michigan and Missouri were canceled due to COVID-19.|

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | 24 | none | —* | —* | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | RV | 24 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Coaches | 23 | none | —* | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | 24 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 24 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | Not released |
(*) Big Ten Conference members were not eligible for the Week 2 of the AP and Coaches Polls and Week 3 of the AP due to not having a scheduled season at the time.

## Game summaries
### At Purdue

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hawkeyes | 0 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| • Boilermakers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| Statistics | IOWA | PUR |
| First downs | 19 | 24 |
| Total yards | 460 | 386 |
| Rushing yards | 195 | 104 |
| Passing yards | 265 | 282 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:49 | 30:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 22–39, 265 yards |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 16 carries, 77 yards |
| Iowa | Receiving | Sam LaPorta | 5 receptions, 71 yards |
| Purdue | Passing | Aidan O'Connell | 31–50, 282 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Purdue | Rushing | Zander Horvath | 21 carries, 129 yards |
| Purdue | Receiving | David Bell | 13 receptions, 121 yards, 3 TD |

### Northwestern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wildcats | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Hawkeyes | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Statistics | NW | IOWA |
| First downs | 18 | 20 |
| Total yards | 273 | 293 |
| Rushing yards | 143 | 77 |
| Passing yards | 130 | 216 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:33 | 26:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern | Passing | Peyton Ramsey | 11–18, 130 yards, INT |
| Northwestern | Rushing | Isaiah Bowser | 25 carries, 85 yards |
| Northwestern | Receiving | Kyric McGowan | 5 receptions, 63 yards |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 26–50, 216 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 13 carries, 43 yards, TD |
| Iowa | Receiving | Ihmir Smith-Marsette | 7 receptions, 84 yards |

### Michigan State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Hawkeyes | 14 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
Iowa's first win over Michigan State since 2012, and the Hawkeyes' largest in the 48-game series, gave Kirk Ferentz his 163rd win as coach, passing Joe Paterno in total wins as a Big Ten head coach. The Hawkeyes dominated in all three phases of the game and gave Spartan quarterback Rocky Lombardi a long day, intercepting him three times.
| Statistics | MSU | IOWA |
| First downs | 10 | 19 |
| Total yards | 286 | 405 |
| Rushing yards | 59 | 226 |
| Passing yards | 227 | 179 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:55 | 32:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Michigan State | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 17–37, 227 yards, 3 INT |
| Michigan State | Rushing | Jordan Simmons | 9 carries, 34 yards |
| Michigan State | Receiving | Jalen Nailor | 4 receptions, 119 yards |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 15–27, 167 yards, TD |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 14 carries, 113 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa | Receiving | Tyrone Tracy | 4 receptions, 38 yards |

### At Minnesota

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hawkeyes | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 35 |
| Golden Gophers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Iowa has won eight of the last nine meetings in this series. The Hawkeyes dominated the Golden Gophers, winning for the third straight time in Minneapolis, to keep Floyd of Rosedale in Iowa City for a sixth straight year.
| Statistics | IOWA | MINN |
| First downs | 20 | 19 |
| Total yards | 346 | 312 |
| Rushing yards | 235 | 145 |
| Passing yards | 111 | 167 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 23:50 | 36:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 9–18, 111 yards, TD, INT |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 20 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa | Receiving | Tyrone Tracy | 3 receptions, 36 yards |
| Minnesota | Passing | Tanner Morgan | 16–33, 167 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Minnesota | Rushing | Mohamed Ibrahim | 33 carries, 144 yards |
| Minnesota | Receiving | Rashod Bateman | 8 receptions, 111 yards, TD |

### At Penn State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hawkeyes | 3 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 41 |
| Nittany Lions | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
Iowa earned their first win over Penn State since 2010, forcing four turnovers in the process. The victory gave Kirk Ferentz his 100th Big Ten win – just the 4th coach in conference history to achieve the feat – and Penn State their first-ever 0–5 start in the program's 134-year history.
| Statistics | IOWA | PSU |
| First downs | 24 | 19 |
| Total yards | 361 | 342 |
| Rushing yards | 175 | 62 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 280 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 31:50 | 28:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 18/28, 186 yards |
| Iowa | Rushing | Mekhi Sargent | 15 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa | Receiving | Nico Ragaini | 4 receptions, 46 yards |
| Penn State | Passing | Sean Clifford | 13/22, 174 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Penn State | Rushing | Will Levis | 15 carries, 34 yards |
| Penn State | Receiving | Jahan Dotson | 8 receptions, 139 yards, TD |

### Nebraska

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cornhuskers | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| • No. 24 Hawkeyes | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 26 |
Iowa was victorious for the sixth straight time – and seventh in eight meetings – against Nebraska. In this back-and-forth game, turnovers in the fourth quarter hurt the Cornhuskers, as they fumbled twice in the last 10:17. The second of which was forced by Chauncey Golston to keep the Heroes Trophy in Iowa City. Senior Keith Duncan kicked four field goals in a game for the fourth time in his career, joining Nate Kaeding as the only Hawkeye kickers to achieve the feat.
| Statistics | NEB | IOWA |
| First downs | 20 | 22 |
| Total yards | 338 | 322 |
| Rushing yards | 143 | 129 |
| Passing yards | 195 | 193 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:36 | 34:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 18/20, 174 yards |
| Nebraska | Rushing | Wan'Dale Robinson Luke McCaffrey | 6 carries, 42 yards 5 carries, 42 yards |
| Nebraska | Receiving | Wan'Dale Robinson | 9 receptions, 75 yards |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 18/30, 193 yards, TD, INT |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 30 carries, 111 yards |
| Iowa | Receiving | Sam LaPorta | 5 receptions, 38 yards |

### At Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 19 Hawkeyes | 0 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 35 |
| Fighting Illini | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
Iowa hasn't lost to Illinois since 2008. This was their seventh straight victory in the series and have won 12 of the last 13 overall. Illinois jumped out to a 14–0 lead early but the Hawkeyes put up 35 unanswered points and controlled the line of scrimmage from that point on having the ability to both run and pass the ball effectively.
| Statistics | IOWA | ILL |
| First downs | 22 | 20 |
| Total yards | 424 | 348 |
| Rushing yards | 204 | 149 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 199 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:26 | 29:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 18/28, 220 yards, 3 TD |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 19 carries, 92 yards |
| Iowa | Receiving | Brandon Smith | 5 receptions, 58 yards |
| Illinois | Passing | Brandon Peters | 10/18, 116 yards, 2 TD |
| Illinois | Rushing | Chase Brown | 18 carries, 83 yards |
| Illinois | Receiving | Josh Imatorbhebhe | 4 receptions, 48 yards, TD |

### Wisconsin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Badgers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • No. 16 Hawkeyes | 3 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 28 |
Iowa won at home over Wisconsin for the first time since 2008 to recapture the bull. After a slow start on the snow-covered field in the first half, the Hawkeyes put up three touchdowns in the second, and were able to stop the Badgers on several fourth down attempts.
| Statistics | WIS | IOWA |
| First downs | 11 | 13 |
| Total yards | 225 | 338 |
| Rushing yards | 56 | 127 |
| Passing yards | 169 | 211 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:11 | 25:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wisconsin | Passing | Graham Mertz | 20/38, 169 yards, INT |
| Wisconsin | Rushing | Nakia Watson | 13 carries, 29 yards, TD |
| Wisconsin | Receiving | Jack Dunn | 5 receptions, 55 yards |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 14/25, 211 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 11 carries, 106 yards, TD |
| Iowa | Receiving | Ihmir Smith-Marsette | 7 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TD |

### Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Wolverines | | | 0 |
| No. 16 Hawkeyes | | | 0 |
Iowa was looking to avenge a loss in Ann Arbor from previous season, but it was announced on December 15 the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Wolverines program. Michigan hasn't won at Kinnick Stadium since 2005.

### Vs. Missouri (Music City Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| No. 15 Hawkeyes | | | 0 |
| Tigers | | | 0 |
Due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Tigers' football program, the Music City Bowl was canceled, ending the season for both the Hawkeyes and the Tigers.
Had the game been played, it would have been the first meeting between Iowa and Missouri in a decade. If Iowa had won the game, it would have given Kirk Ferentz his 10th bowl win, which would have tied Joe Paterno for first all-time in Big 10 history.

## Awards and honors

Individual Awards :
| Player | Award | Ref. |
| Daviyon Nixon | Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year | |
| Tory Taylor | Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year | |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 3 | 84 | Chauncey Golston | DE | Dallas Cowboys |
| 5 | 157 | Ihmir Smith-Marsette | WR | Minnesota Vikings |
| 5 | 158 | Daviyon Nixon | DT | Carolina Panthers |
| 6 | 185 | Nick Niemann | ILB | Los Angeles Chargers |