A big part of college football is knowing who you are. Iowa ranks among the best teams in the nation to capture that.
He showed during Saturday’s Music City Bowl in Nashville. The Hawkeyes built on their strengths, which helped mask a major weakness, in a 21-0 win over Kentucky.
They relied on an elite defense and sensational special teams. A shaky attack protected the ball and stayed away, for the most part.
That’s how Iowa reached eight wins this season. It took incredible play from defense and special teams to overcome an offense that came into action Saturday ranked 130th among 131 FBS teams. He passed for just 206 yards and was 0 of 11 on third down in that contest.
The odds of only losing five games when throwing seven touchdown passes in 13 games must be too high. It happens because your defense scores seven touchdowns, including two on Saturday.
It was the third time this season that Iowa had won a game with their defense outplaying their offense. That included a 7-3 win in the season opener when he scored two safeties and a field goal.
On Saturday, Iowa natives Xavier Nwankpa and Cooper DeJean delivered Pick-6s in the first half. The Hawkeyes led 21-0 at the break and Kentucky was finished.
It should be noted that Iowa was playing its third-team rookie quarterback Joe Labas. He operated with a conservative game plan with quick plays and some deep passing.
Again, the Hawkeyes know their strengths. No need to put Labas in danger against an offensively challenging Kentucky team that lacks the defense and special teams at Iowa’s level.
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More evidence of Hawkeye’s awareness came when the other phases set up the offense with a drive starting at the Kentucky 42-yard line. From there, Iowa relied on their best players on the ball side, tight ends Sam LaPorta and Luke Lachey.
LaPorta started the practice with a 27-yard catch where he broke numerous tackles. A play later, Lachey found the end zone on a 15-yard catch that showcased his athleticism. The Hawkeyes haven’t scored a goal in their last two practices, although one started on their own 40 and the other on the opponent’s 48.
The offensive touchdown resulted from excellent defense and punter Tory Taylor, who proved invaluable in ’22. The Aussie junior pinned the Wildcats inside their 10 on three of his five kicks in the first half. Kentucky’s other two drives after his punts started at his own 21 and 17.
That proved untenable for Wildcat freshman quarterback Destin Wade, making his first career start. Kentucky ended up pitching 10 times, a Music City Bowl record.
Credit Iowa, especially senior stars LaPorta, Jack Campbell and Riley Moss, for being ready on Saturday and finishing the season on a high and building momentum heading into 23. The focus is now on repair of the offence. It has to happen if the Hawkeyes are to compete with the best in the Big Ten.
Expectations for improvement will be high with Michigan transfer quarterback Cade McNamara and former tight end Wolverine teammate Erick All joining the program. It will take more than these two guys as we saw again on Saturday.
The offensive line looked slippery in pass protection and lacking in the rushing game as it had done all season with 67 yards on 24 carries. Without big-play receivers, the Hawkeyes still couldn’t stretch the field, averaging 4.3 yards per play.
According to what coordinator Brian Ferentz said on Friday, he did his best with the players he had. Well, NIL money helped McNamara and All for him. The excuses used this season about an inexperienced line and holes at the receiver will no longer fly for a fan base tired of watching ineptitude.
Iowa has 18 wins over the past two seasons. It’s fair to wonder how much he could have saved and the heights he could have reached with an average offense.
Saturday was a time to celebrate seniors and a win. It certainly beat the alternative. But he also pointed out that he could have been with one of the best defenses and special teams in school history.
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