Iowa bounced back in a big way with an impressive 40-16 triumph over Washington.
Junior running back Kaleb Johnson was sensational in the victory, rushing for 166 yards and two scores and reeling in another 18-yard catch-and-run score.
Meanwhile, graduate quarterback Cade McNamara made just enough timely throws, completing 8-of-14 passes for 108 yards with a pair of touchdowns. McNamara’s other touchdown pass was a 33-yard scoring strike to redshirt freshman Dayton Howard.
With the win, Iowa (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) ensured that all of its largest goals remain on the table as a possibility.
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah reflects that in his Week 8 Big Ten title race update.
Iowa isn’t a part of the undefeateds alongside Oregon, Penn State and Indiana, but the Hawkeyes are alongside Ohio State and Illinois among Jeyarajah’s Big Ten “contenders.”
The Hawkeyes dropped a cool 40 points against Washington this week and don’t play a single ranked team for the rest of the year. In fact, Wisconsin and Nebraska are the only opponents even projected to make a bowl game. A losing tiebreaker to Ohio State makes the path more difficult, but the Hawkeyes should be competitive with almost anyone else. – Shehan Jeyarajah, CBS Sports.
The schedule does set up favorably.
Iowa has a chance to be the favorite in every game the rest of the way, including this coming Saturday when the Hawkeyes visit Michigan State at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC.
In order to make the Big Ten championship game, Iowa will need to win out and see the Buckeyes fall again elsewhere. The Hawkeyes would also need some help with two of the three undefeateds in Oregon, Penn State and Indiana.
It’s a long shot, but the Hawkeyes are still in that puncher’s chance category.
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