The 2016 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes, led by 18th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
2016 commitments
Schedule Iowa announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Hawkeyes hosted Big Ten foes Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin, and traveled to Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, and Rutgers.
The team hosted all three of their non–conference games which were against the Iowa State Cyclones from the Big 12 Conference, Miami RedHawks from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), and the North Dakota State Bison from the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Schedule source:
Roster
Rankings
Game summaries
Miami (OH)
Source: Box Score
Fresh off a season that saw Iowa go to the Big Ten Championship as well as the Rose Bowl, the Hawkeyes got off to a fast start against MAC foe Miami-Ohio. The Hawkeyes scored three touchdowns – all on the ground – in the first 10 minutes of the game, and continued to run all over the RedHawks defense for a 28–7 halftime lead. From there, quarterback C. J. Beathard and the offense continued to roll as the Hawkeyes cruised to an easy 45–21 win in the 2016 season opener. LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley combined to run for over 200 yards on 22 carries, scoring two rushing touchdowns apiece. Redshirt freshman DE Anthony Nelson recorded 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
Statistics M-OHIOWA First downs 25 17 Total yards 424 404 Rushing yards 158 212 Passing yards 266 192 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 36:21 23:39
Team Category Player StatisticsMiami (OH) Passing Billy Bahl 19/29, 266 yards, 2 TD Rushing Maurice Thomas 9 carries, 60 yards Receiving R. Williams 6 receptions, 113 yardsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 13/20, 192 yards, TD Rushing Akrum Wadley 12 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg 4 receptions, 99 yards
Iowa State
Source: Box Score
The Hawkeyes scored early and often as they dominated Iowa State in the annual Cy-Hawk game. The Hawkeyes scored two touchdowns in the first, with the first one going to tight end George Kittle and the other one coming on a long pass to running back Akrum Wadley. The Hawkeyes continued to pour it on as Beathard threw his third TD pass of the first half to Matt VandeBerg, and would run in another score to give Iowa a commanding 28–3 lead at halftime. Iowa would score twice more in the third quarter and the defense hounded the Iowa State offense all game long, and the result was a dismantling of the Hawkeyes' in-state rival from Ames. The 39-point margin of victory was the largest in the series since Iowa's 63–20 win in 1997.
Statistics ISUIOWA First downs 16 25 Total yards 291 435 Rushing yards 126 198 Passing yards 165 237 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:52 32:08
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Joel Lanning 8/20, 86 yards, INT Rushing Kene Nwangwu 7 rushes, 31 yards Receiving Allen Lazard 7 receptions, 111 yardsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 19/28, 235 yards, 3 TD Rushing LeShun Daniels 15 rushes, 112 yards, TD Receiving Matt VandeBerg 7 receptions, 129 yards, TD
North Dakota State
Source: Box Score
Fresh off an easy win over Iowa State, the Hawkeyes welcomed in FCS powerhouse North Dakota State into Kinnick Stadium. The Bison struck first as C. J. Beathard threw a pick-6 to M. J. Stumpf late in the first quarter, however Iowa tied the game at 7–7 when Beathard found Riley McCarron for a 30-yard touchdown on a 4th down play. On the next drive, Beathard would connect with Matt VandeBerg for a 14-yard score and Iowa went into halftime leading 14–7. The teams traded touchdowns in the third, with King Frazier tying up the game for the Bison, and Matt VandeBerg putting Iowa ahead 21–14 with his 2nd touchdown reception of the game in traffic. But the Bison grinded out a long drive that took over 8 minutes of clock in the 4th quarter and ended with a touchdown. However, NDSU went for two and was unsuccessful, and the Hawkeyes clung to a 21–20 lead. After forcing a three-and-out, Easton Stick led North Dakota State right down the field and kicker Cam Pedersen nailed a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bison a 23–21 victory. For North Dakota State, it was their sixth consecutive victory over an FBS opponent. It was the first time Iowa lost a game to an FCS opponent, and was the first regular season loss in Iowa quarterback C. J. Beathard's career.
Statistics NDSUIOWA First downs 21 12 Total yards 363 231 Rushing yards 239 34 Passing yards 124 197 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:40 23:20
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota State Passing Easton Stick 11/19, 124 yards, TD, INT Rushing King Frazier 16 rushes, 99 yards, TD Receiving D. Shepherd 3 receptions, 23 yardsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 11/22, 152 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing LeShun Daniels 14 rushes, 29 yards Receiving George Kittle 5 receptions, 110 yards
At Rutgers
Source: Box Score
Coming off a disappointing home loss to North Dakota State, Iowa hit the road for the first time in the 2016 season to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The first half was a major defensive struggle as neither team scored until George Kittle hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass from C. J. Beathard, capping a 99-yard touchdown drive and putting Iowa up 7–0 at the break. The defense finally cracked early in the 4th when Chris Laviano found Andre Patton for a 14-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7–7. However, the Hawkeyes answered right back with a 26-yard Akrum Wadley touchdown run that put Iowa up 14–7 with 8:35 left. The defense stopped Rutgers once more and Iowa was able to get a couple first downs, something they were not able to do the week before, and held on for a 14–7 victory in its Big Ten opener. The Iowa defense had 4 sacks, and 8 tackles for loss in the win. Punter Ron Coluzzi earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Statistics IOWARUT First downs 19 21 Total yards 355 383 Rushing yards 193 193 Passing yards 162 190 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:19 30:41
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 12/23, 162 yards, TD Rushing Akrum Wadley 12 rushes, 84 yards, TD Receiving George Kittle 2 receptions, 56 yards, TDRutgers Passing Chris Laviano 13/24, 190 yards, TD Rushing Robert Martin 21 rushes, 106 yards Receiving Janarion Grant 5 receptions, 98 yards
Northwestern
Source: Box Score
Iowa returned home to take on Northwestern in its fifth game of the year. Northwestern had been off to a slow start on the season, especially offensively, but the team seemed to wake up for the Iowa game. Clayton Thorson got the scoring started with a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Wildcats up 7–0. Akrum Wadley would answer that with a touchdown run of his own. The first half featured a lot of offense as Northwestern took a 17–7 lead, only to see it disappear quickly as Wadley scored again, and the Hawkeyes capitalized on a fumble by Justin Jackson as C. J. Beathard found Riley McCarron in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown and Iowa went into halftime up 21–17. However, the Iowa defense could not stop the Wildcat offense, and they scored on three consecutive series. Austin Carr hauled in a 16-yard touchdown catch with a terrific catch in the corner of the end zone to tie the game at 24–24, and then on the next drive Justin Jackson broke free and scored from 58 yards out to give Northwestern the lead back. Carr then hauled in his third touchdown of the game and Northwestern went up 38–24. LeShun Daniels cut the lead to 38–31 with a 1-yard touchdown run, but a last ditch effort by the Hawkeyes to come back was thwarted when Beathard was intercepted with 58 seconds left. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium, while the loss dropped Iowa to 3–2, 1–1 in Big Ten play.
Statistics NUIOWA First downs 20 15 Total yards 362 283 Rushing yards 198 79 Passing yards 164 204 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:21 31:39
Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Clayton Thorson 18–30, 164 yards, 3 TD Rushing Justin Jackson 26 carries, 171 yards, TD Receiving Austin Carr 6 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TDIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 19–27, 204 yards, TD, INT Rushing LeShun Daniels 17 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Riley McCarron 8 receptions, 78 yards, TD
At Minnesota
Source: Box Score
Iowa went back to the road as they looked to defeat their rival Minnesota Golden Gophers for the second consecutive season. Iowa had a good drive early, but were unable to get points as long distance kicker Miguel Recinos missed a 50-yard field goal badly. However, Iowa would get on the board first as Keith Duncan hit a short field goal for a 3–0 halftime lead. Iowa once again moved the ball, but have a drive stall and it settled for another short field goal by Duncan for a 6–0 lead. However, Minnesota answered with its best drive of the game, and the Gophers took the lead on a 9-yard touchdown run by Shannon Brooks. This was a game of missed opportunities as Iowa repeatedly moved the ball, but could not come up with points. Riley McCarron lost a fumble inside the Minnesota 35 yard-line after a long reception and C. J. Beathard threw an ill-advised interception with Iowa at the Minnesota 27. Iowa was finally able to break through as Akrum Wadley broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run, and an ensuing two-point conversion gave the Hawkeyes a 14–7 lead. The Iowa defense was able to stop an attempt by Minnesota to tie the game late, and the Hawkeyes held on for a 14–7 win and kept possession of the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy.
Statistics IOWAMINN First downs 17 13 Total yards 321 268 Rushing yards 179 102 Passing yards 142 166 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 34:55 25:05
Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing C. J. Beathard 17/31, 142 yards, 2 INT Rushing Akrum Wadley 14 rushes, 107 yards, TD Receiving Riley McCarron 6 receptions, 62 yardsMinnesota Passing Mitch Leidner 13/33, 166 yards, 2 INT Rushing Shannon Brooks 10 rushes, 55 yards, TD Receiving Drew Wolitarsky 5 receptions, 58 yards
At Purdue
Source: Box Score
Iowa defeated the Boilermakers in a high scoring affair, 49–35. Iowa opened up the scoring with a 1-yard run by LeShun Daniels. Iowa increased their lead with a 3rd down scramble for a 15-yard touchdown run by C. J. Beathard. After a quick 3-and-out by Purdue, Iowa scored again on a 42-yard Beathard pass to Riley McCarron, closing out the first quarter scoring. After several exchanges of punts, Iowa scored again on a 4-yard run by Daniels. Purdue scored their first points of the game with a 25-yard pass from David Blough to Brycen Hopkins. After the kickoff after the Hopkins touchdown, Iowa scored on its first play with a 75-yard Akrum Wadley touchdown run to bring the halftime score to 35–7 in favor of Iowa. Purdue opened up the second half scoring with a 53-yard Blough pass to Cole Herdman. Iowa responded with a 5-yard Noah Fant touchdown reception from Beathard. Purdue scored again on a 7-yard pass from Blough to Bilal Marshall. After a 3-and-out by Iowa, who had put in their reserves, Purdue scored again on a 54-yard Blough pass to DeAngelo Yancey. After yet another 3-and-out, Iowa put in their starting defensive unit. Blough was intercepted by Desmond King, who returned the interception 41-yards for an Iowa score, increasing their lead to 21 again. Purdue scored once more with another Hopkins touchdown reception from Blough for 37-yards.
Statistics IOWAPUR First downs 24 24 Total yards 520 505 Rushing yards 365 47 Passing yards 155 458 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 36:06 23:54