Iowa looking to reverse Kinnick forturnes, snap three-game home skid versus Northwestern

In the midst of a current three-game losing streak, Iowa (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) is looking to snap another three-game losing skid as well. The Hawkeyes haven’t beaten Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium since topping the Wildcats in a 48-7 romp back in 2014.

Northwestern’s Austin Carr caught a pair of second-half touchdowns—and three total—in helping the Wildcats erase a halftime deficit and rally for a 38-31 win in 2016.

Then, in 2018, Northwestern’s Isaiah Bowser rushed 31 times for 165 yards with a score and Iowa fumbled on each of its final two possessions and lost 14-10.

Lastly, in 2020, the Hawkeyes built a 17-0 first-quarter lead, but Spencer Petras was picked off three times as Iowa went scoreless in the second half and lost 21-20. Both the 2018 and 2020 Northwestern squads wound up winning the Big Ten West.

Naturally, Iowa would like to reverse that dubious home history versus Northwestern. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said it’s not something the Hawkeyes enter this contest thinking about.

“I don’t think so. I think the bigger picture is what I was alluding to earlier, whether it’s home or away, it’s never easy. It’s when you play Northwestern, when we get together, it just seems to be — I’m thinking about some of the losses up there, I guess they stick with you,” Ferentz said.

He did refer back to the 2005 game, a 28-27 loss at Northwestern where the Hawkeyes squandered a late 27-14 lead, as one that maybe still stings some.

More than anything, because of the series’ history, Ferentz expects another challenge from Northwestern that comes down to the final several possessions either way.

“There was the one in ’05 I think which it’s tough to sleep after those. It has been the history of the programs, at least the last 20 years we’ve just had some crazy games back and forth. And it’s never over. It just doesn’t seem like it’s ever over. That’s what I would expect here Saturday,” Ferentz said.

To Ferentz’s point, 11 of the 21 games the two teams have played during his tenure have finished as one-score games. Unfortunately, Ferentz and Iowa have had a difficult time beating Northwestern consistently. Ferentz owns a 10-11 mark against the Wildcats.

Iowa did top Northwestern last season, though, 17-12. Spencer Petras played the first three series before exiting with an injury. From there, Alex Padilla filled in and led a pair of first-half touchdown drives. The first was a 6-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard Tyler Goodson touchdown run. Padilla added a 9-play, 83-yard drive that was capped off with a 10-yard Arland Bruce IV touchdown run.