2007 Iowa Hawkeyes football team The 2007 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season . Heading into the season , several players left the team while several other players ran into criminal allegations . Following a disappointing 2006 season that included losses to Indiana , Northwestern and Minnesota , the team was coached by Kirk Ferentz and played their six home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City , Iowa . Previous season . Entering 2006 ranked 16th in the AP Poll and 17th in the Coaches Poll , the Hawkeyes had high hopes for the season . Following victories over Montana , Syracuse , Iowa State and Illinois , the Hawkeyes were 4 – 0 heading into their game with top - ranked Ohio State . With tickets for the game going for US $ 500 on eBay , the game was hyped as one of the biggest in Kinnick Stadium history . But quarterback Drew Tate threw 3 interceptions , and the Hawkeyes lost 38 – 17 . In total , Iowa had 4 turnovers while Ohio State had zero . Following the loss to Ohio State , Iowa proceeded to score a season - high 47 points in a victory over Purdue . But the most notable score came during the 4th quarter , when Adam Shada intercepted a Curtis Painter pass and returned it a school record 98 - yards for the touchdown . However , Iowa ' s joy would not last long , as the Hawkeyes were upset by Indiana only a week later . The 31 – 28 win was Indiana ' s biggest win since a victory over 9th - ranked Ohio State in 1987 . From there , the season unraveled , and the Hawkeyes lost four of their remaining five games en route to a 6 – 6 record . The Hawkeyes were not invited to a bowl game following the conclusion of the 2007 season . Before the season . On April 20 , 2007 , it was announced by Ferentz that two players , Ryan Bain and Justin Edwards , were leaving the team . Both are planning on transferring to other schools . Bain , who had 56 career tackles , was later found guilty on charges of disorderly conduct . About two months later , it was announced that Shonn Greene and Amari Spievey were no longer on the team . Greene , a junior running back , had 378 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his career . Another month later , and it was announced that Lucas Cox and Marcus Wilson were leaving the team . Wilson , a sophomore defensive back , played in all 13 games in 2006 and recorded 21 tackles and one interception . Earlier in July , senior defensive back Devan Moylan was given an additional year of eligibility . After suffering a leg injury in the fourth game of 2006 against Illinois , he applied for a medical hardship . Prior to the 2007 season , he had 28 tackles and one interception in his career . Criminal charges . On August 20 , 2007 , two Hawkeye wide receivers were arrested and charged with the unauthorized use of a credit card . Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman , both sophomores , were suspended indefinitely by Ferentz following allegations that they bought more than $ 2 , 000 in merchandise with stolen credit cards . The crime is a felony , and if convicted , the two players can face up to five years in prison along with a $ 7 , 500 fine . Another player , Arvell Nelson , also experienced trouble with the law . Nelson posted a $ 545 bond for failure to appear in court after being charged with driving with a suspended license . He also paid a $ 390 fine for not having insurance . 1 in every 10 Iowa football players during the 2007 season had off - field arrests , the highest among any year in Kirk Ferentz ' s tenure at Iowa . Recruiting class . The Hawkeyes received 22 letters of intent on National Signing Day , February 7 , 2007 . Schedule . Schedule notes . Due to the Big Ten ' s rotating schedule , Iowa will not play either Michigan or Ohio State in 2007 . Instead , Iowa will play Michigan State and Penn State , two teams that the Hawkeyes have not played against since 2004 . Iowa ' s schedule was ranked as the 9th toughest ( or 3rd easiest ) in the Big Ten by SI . com . Players . Depth chart . This is the depth chart released by the University of Iowa on August 24 , 2007 . Defense . Defensively , the Hawkeyes return eight starters from 2006 . Offense . On offense , the Hawkeyes return seven starters , two of which who are not currently listed on the two deeps . Special teams . Note : Returning starters are shown in bold . Game notes . Northern Illinois . Playing in Soldier Field in Chicago , the Hawkeyes defeated the Northern Illinois Huskies 16 – 3 . Albert Young ran for 144 yards and a touchdown as Iowa ' s defense kept the Huskies from scoring a touchdown . Damian Sims also made his mark by running for 110 yards . The Hawkeyes held Northern Illinois to 21 yards rushing , and Charles Godfrey intercepted two Dan Nicholson passes . Sophomore quarterback Jake Christensen opened the season with 133 yards and one touchdown . Syracuse . Behind a strong defensive performance , the Hawkeyes shut out the Syracuse Orange at Kinnick Stadium . Rebounding from a shaky performance against Northern Illinois , Christensen threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns , three of them to tight end Tony Moeaki . On special teams , Kenny Iwebema blocked two field goals to help preserve the worst loss for Syracuse coach Greg Robinson in his tenure with the Orange . After the game , Syracuse running back Curtis Brinkley said : The 35 - point loss was Syracuse ' s most - lopsided since a 51 – 14 loss to Georgia Tech in the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl . Iowa State . Iowa State kicked its way to a 15 – 13 victory in Ames . Wisconsin . Iowa ' s defense forced three Wisconsin turnovers , but could not hold off the Badgers ' 4th quarter rally , losing 17 – 13 . Indiana . Iowa was unable to contain a scoring explosion from Indiana , including three early touchdowns by Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis . Iowa added to its difficulties with penalties and breakdowns in pass protection . Although quarterback Jake Christensen passed for 308 yards and three touchdowns , he was sacked nine times , including four by Jammie Kirlew . The Hawkeyes also missed two field goals and an extra point . Penn State . Quarterback Jake Christensen was sacked twice , and the Hawkeyes were held scoreless until an interception near the Penn State end zone set up Trey Stross ' 4th - quarter touchdown reception in a 27 – 7 blowout loss on the road at Penn State . Iowa was held to eight first downs while Penn State had 26 . Illinois . Entering the game , Iowa had lost eight straight Big Ten games , with their last win a 47 – 17 decision over Purdue on October 7 , 2006 . Illinois , however , entered the game ranked 18th in the country , and was looking to become bowl eligible with a win over the Hawkeyes . From the very beginning , the game was a defensive one . The Hawkeyes held Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall to 67 yards , and slowed the nation ' s fifth - best rushing offense to 137 yards total . But the Illinois defense remained strong against the run , and held the Hawkeyes to a three yards per rush average . Illinois did not trail until late in the third quarter , when Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen found tight end Brandon Myers down the middle for the touchdown . With the score at 10 – 6 in favor of the Hawkeyes , the Illini made a switch to Eddie McGee at quarterback , after starter Isiah Williams had a fumble recovered by Iowa . With McGee in , the Illini appeared to have stunned the Kinnick Stadium crowd with an 83 - yard touchdown pass , but it was called back due to an Illinois penalty . Despite the penalty , Illinois was not done . On Illinois ' final drive , McGee drove the Illini down to the Iowa 12 with passes of 28 and 24 yards to Arrelious Benn . But with 1 : 12 left in the game , a McGee pass was intercepted at the goal line by Iowa ' s Brett Greenwood . The win was Iowa ' s first over a ranked team since 2005 . Michigan State . Western Michigan . Mid - American Conference member Western Michigan surprised the Hawkeyes , 28 – 19 , in Iowa City .