Iowa began the year with six wins in their first seven games, with their sole loss during that span coming in their conference opener against Wisconsin.

Quarterback Nate Stanley led the team in passing with 2,852 yards and 26 touchdowns, good for second in the Big Ten Conference in the latter category.

The Hawkeyes featured two standout tight ends, with Noah Fant and T. J. Hockenson both earning first-team all-conference honors.

[2] He was joined on the all-conference first-team by safety Amani Hooker, who was named the Big Ten's Defensive Back of the Year.

After a slow 3rd quarter, Heisman hopeful Nate Stanley threw his first touchdown of the year, a 1-yard pitch-and-catch to tight end Noah Fant.

Iowa shook off the slow 1st half and routed NIU 33–7 inside of Kinnick Stadium during the annual Gold Game.

An A. J. Epenesa strip-sack sealed this low-scoring affair to keep the Cy-Hawk trophy in Iowa City for a fourth straight year.

Iowa ended the game with nearly 550 yards of total offense and the final score wasn't indicative of how one-sided this match-up was as the Hawkeyes played their second string for most of the fourth quarter.

[30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] Kirk Ferentz recorded his 150th win at Iowa, the 5th head coach in Big Ten history to reach the mark, in this blowout victory over Illinois.

Miguel Recinos kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to keep the Heroes Trophy in Iowa City for the fourth year in a row.