Iowa Football Still Finding Ways to Win

Hawkeyes Among Top Big Ten Programs Since '21 Despite Dreadful Offense

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Someone watching Iowa Football for the first time Saturday might call its method of victory unsustainable. We know better. 

Teams can win with standout defenses and special teams even if the offense is lagging well behind them. We're now two and a half seasons into watching it unfold. 

The Hawkeyes systematically disposed of Purdue, 20-13, Saturday in front of a sold out Kinnick Stadium. They improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten halfway through the regular season. 

More remarkably, Iowa has compiled a 23-10 mark since the start of the 2021 campaign. The Hawkeyes have won 14 of 21 Big Ten contests and a Big Ten West title two seasons ago. 

The scoring offense ranked 104 out of 130 FBS programs after this weekend's action, averaging 21.8 points. The Hawkeyes checked in at 130 in total offense (249.2 yards per game), 106 in rushing (119.3), 128 in passing (129.8) and 129 on third-down conversions (.269 percent). 

Last season, Iowa finished 122 in scoring (17.7 PPG) and 129 in total offense (251.5 YPG). In winning the West in '21, the Hawkeyes ranked 99th in scoring and 121 in total offense. 

To win almost 70 percent of your games without an offense on this scoring-happy college football landscape is fascinating. It's also fair wondering what might have be accomplished with an average offense. Better yet, imagine the possibilities having a high-powered offense. 

In fairness, we've witnessed average offense, at best, through Kirk Ferentz's 25 seasons as head coach. The defense has dominated more often than not. The special teams have hit a few valleys here and there but mostly contributed plenty. 

If you're blaming Ferentz and his son, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, for putting you to sleep on Saturdays, give the old man credit for understanding his team's strengths and weaknesses. It's one of the keys to his success. 

The Hawkeyes have ranked 13th and second in scoring defense the last two seasons. They ended this week's games in the 16th spot (16.3 PPG). Tory Taylor has been one of the country's top punt returners, kickers Caleb Shudak and Drew Stevens have been weapons, and Cooper DeJean and Charlie Jones have electrified the return game during this stretch. 

Whether it makes you throw up in your mouth or not, we've reached the complementary football stage of the discussion. For the uninitiated, we've learned that means evaluating each phase of your team and figuring out what is needed from each one to win against a given opponent. 

I admit to smiling Saturday when the student section revived its "Fire Brian" chant early in the game. My reaction was not a result of wanting a new offensive coordinator. The predictability of Iowa's play calling deep in its own end of the field and equally expected reaction was humorous. 

With first-time college starter Deacon Hill behind center, Ferentz and his assistants played the odds. They felt their defensive and special teams could take down the Boilermakers if their offense didn't mess it up. It didn't. 

In fact, the Hawkeye running game provided hope. Kaleb Johnson returned from a three-game injury absence with an early 67-yard touchdown sprint. A 7-0 lead after two offensive possessions was a perfect start in implementing the conservative complementary football plan against Purdue. 

Johnson and Leshon Williams teamed up for 214 ground yards (7.1 YPC). This position group has played well overall and is poised to improve when Jaziun Patterson returns from an injury. 

A reliable rushing attack would do wonders for this particular Iowa outfit. The passing game with Hill and without injured tight end Luke Lachey is a work in progress. A dependable running game allows it to take some shots down the field in play action. 

We saw that work on Saturday. Hill faked a handoff to Williams and hit dynamic tight end Erick All Jr. for a 22-yard touchdown pass to put the Hawkeyes ahead, 20-7, early in the fourth quarter. 

Iowa began that drive on the Purdue 45-yard line. The Boilermakers were willing to take part in puntapalooza, trying to beat the Hawkeyes at their own game of fighting for field position. Spoiler: It didn't work.

Being more aggressive on offense with advantageous field position fits snuggly into the complementary football plan. Iowa is counter punching, staying close on the scorecards, before setting up the knockout blow. 

It's a wild brand of football to watch, an anomaly in this sport. Consuming it causes stress but you also bear witness to some funky developments. Consider that Iowa won a game with two field goals and a safety last year, and Saturday it triumphed without completing a pass to a receiver. 

It remains to be seen if the Hawkeyes can reach their goal of winning the Big Ten West and playing for a conference championship again with this brand of football. They'll need to avoid a bad loss like the one at home to Nebraska last November that cost them the division. 

Saturday brings a trip to Wisconsin, the Badgers opening up as a 7.5-point favorite. That matchup will challenge the Iowa staff's complementary football plan. It feels like the offense will need to contribute more than it did against Purdue, but game flow will dictate approach. 

Lastly, if this style of football is not for you, I feel you. You're not alone. It can be hard to watch, especially the losses. 

If you're in the camp that Iowa needs a change on offense, which would require Kirk Ferentz to retire, I'm not going to say you're wrong. We don't know if another head coach could take a program with great resources to greater heights. When it happens, we'll find out if the be-careful-what-you-wish-for crowd is right or wrong. 

Iowa has the fourth best overall record among Big Ten teams during the last two and a half seasons, trailing only Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. The Hawkeyes' 14-7 Big Ten mark is tied with the Nittany Lions for third best in the Big Ten. A lot of other programs in the league and out would sign up for that. 

The Hawkeyes are 0-5 against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State since '21 kicked off, however, losing by an average score of 35.4-9.4. If they win the West, one of the Big 3 likely awaits in the conference title game. 

Skepticism about Iowa winning in that spot is warranted. Falling off the tight rope like it did in a 42-3 loss against Michigan in championship game two years ago is in play. 

Winning without much offense, against heavy odds would be the ultimate accomplishment for this style of football. Heads would explode. They may already being doing so.