College Football: Iowa Hawkeyes Drive to 325 Ahead of Pace, Hits 85!
My favorite college football story going into the 2023 season is Iowa’s “Drive to 325.”
It has all the elements of a good story. There’s a plot, a conflict, multiple characters, and an absurd theme in Iowa City this fall. This is reality TV at its best, with 12 episodes over 13 weeks, which we follow and keep track of weekly.
Last Week (Week 3) – 41 Points vs. Western MichiganIt didn’t start great for Iowa against Western Michigan. The Hawkeyes were scoreless in the first quarter before they took a 14-7 lead into the locker room on Leshon Williams’s 25-yard TD catch and run, Cade McNamara’s second TD pass of the game.
They exploded for 17 points in the third quarter in the most Iowa way, beginning with a safety on a blocked punt. Freshman Kamari Moulton scored his first two career touchdowns with an Erick All two-point conversion. The Hawkeyes added ten fourth-quarter points, including a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the game when Iowa could have taken a knee to run out the clock. You can’t help but wonder if that final score came with 325 in mind.
Their 41 points were the most by the Hawkeyes since they scored 51 against Maryland on Oct. 1, 2021.
Iowa Points Scored (3 Games)Through two games, the Hawkeyes have scored 85 points, which puts Brian Ferentz ahead of the pace (25 points per game) at 28.3 PPG.
Iowa Points Needed (10 Games Remaining)The Hawkeyes need to score 240 points over their next ten games (including the bowl game) to reach 325, 24.0 points per game.
Up Next: @ Penn State (Iowa Team Total: 12.5)The Hawkeyes play the best on their schedule this week when they travel to Happy Valley.
Led by linebacker Abdul Carter and edge rushers Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, PSU’s defense is elite, ranked fourth by SP+. The Nittany Lions are ranked fifth in defensive success rate and especially dominant on early downs (second in EPA).
Against the run, Penn State is 13th in success rate and 27th in EPA/rush. Just as good, if not better, against the pass, they’re 20th in success rate and tenth in EPA/pass. They have ten sacks and five interceptions, ranked second in the Big Ten in both categories.
Iowa’s offense doesn’t add up, especially without TE1 Luke Lachey, RB1 Kaleb Johnson, and RB2 Jaziun Patterson. Which is Iowa UNDER 12.5 is one of my Big Bets this week. Sorry, Brian.
Iowa Hawkeyes Odds (FanDuel)| Wager | Odds |
| National Championship | +15000 |
| Win Total | n/a |
| Big Ten | +1200 |
| Make the Playoffs | +2600 |
| Week 4 – @ Penn State | +14.5 |
| Date | Opponent | SP+ Defensive Rank | 2023 Record | Points |
| Sept. 2 | vs. Utah State | No. 106 | 1-2 | 24 Points |
| Sept. 9 | @ Iowa State | No. 11 | 1-2 | 20 Points |
| Sept. 16 | vs. Western Michigan | No. 116 | 1-2 | 41 Points |
| Sept. 23 | @ Penn State | No. 4 | 3-0 | 11.7 PPG |
| Sept. 30 | vs. Michigan State | No. 39 | 2-1 | 20.7 PPG |
| Oct. 7 | vs. Purdue | No. 71 | 1-2 | 30.3 PPG |
| Oct. 14 | @ Wisconsin | No. 15 | 2-1 | 20.7 PPG |
| Oct. 21 | vs. Minnesota | No. 10 | 2-1 | 15.7 PPG |
| Nov. 4 | @ Northwestern (Wrigley) | No. 50 | 1-2 | 23 PPG |
| Nov. 11 | vs. Rutgers | No. 44 | 3-0 | 10 PPG |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Illinois | No. 21 | 1-2 | 30.7 PPG |
| Nov. 24 | @ Nebraska | No. 41 | 1-2 | 20 PPG |
After leading arguably the worst offense in college football, Iowa Hawkeyes offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who made $900,000 in 2022, had to take a $50,000 pay cut. The university also added a clause to Ferentz’s contract that the Hawkeyes would have to average at least 25 points per game and win seven games in 2023 for Brian to keep his job.
Do Offensive & Defensive Touchdowns Count?Short answer: yes.
Who is Brian Ferentz?Brian Ferentz is a former Iowa offensive lineman who was an honorable mention All-Big Ten as a senior. After going undrafted, he spent the 2006 season on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.
Ferentz started coaching with the New England Patriots, where he was eventually promoted to tight ends coach in 2011. From there, he returned to Iowa as the offensive line coach in 2012. The title of running game coordinator was added to his duties in 2015 before Ferentz was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2017.
Brian is also the son of Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz.
How Did Iowa Get Here?Over the past few seasons, the younger Ferentz has come under heavier scrutiny. Iowa’s offense, never known for being explosive, had regressed. They hit rock bottom (fingers crossed in Iowa City) last season, which led to the call for Ferentz’s job and increased the volume on the cries of nepotism.
The 2022 Hawkeyes averaged 17.7 points per game, which was 123rd out of 131 FBS teams. That included six touchdowns scored by the defense! The offense managed 19 touchdowns in 13 games and averaged 15.8 PPG.
Their 251.5 yards per game were last in the Big Ten and 130th overall. The Hawkeyes averaged 2.92 yards per carry and 5.8 yards per pass. Iowa quarterbacks threw seven TD passes and seven interceptions, with Ferentz taking on a more significant role with the passers. And they still almost won the Big Ten West.
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