Iowa Football: The Hawkeyes’ Journey to the Big 12 Championship

 


Iowa football is the name of the college football team that represents the University of Iowa in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Iowa football is one of the most successful and respected programs in the nation, with 25 conference titles, 33 bowl appearances, and 11 consensus All-Americans. Iowa football is also known for its tradition, fan base, and rivalry with other Big Ten teams, especially Nebraska and Minnesota.

Iowa football is one of the most storied and consistent programs in college football history, with a rich legacy of excellence, integrity, and loyalty. The Hawkeyes have been coached by Kirk Ferentz since 1999, who is the longest-tenured and winningest coach in the program’s history. Ferentz has led the Hawkeyes to 17 bowl games, four Big Ten titles, and two Orange Bowl victories. Ferentz has also developed many players who have gone on to play in the NFL, such as Dallas Clark, Chad Greenway, Marshal Yanda, George Kittle, and Tristan Wirfs.

The 2023 season was a remarkable and memorable one for Iowa football, as the Hawkeyes won their first Big 12 championship, and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. The Hawkeyes finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, with their only loss coming against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, where they blew a 21-point lead and lost 55-52 in a thrilling shootout. The Hawkeyes avenged their loss in the Big 12 Championship Game, where they faced the Sooners again at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Hawkeyes dominated the game from start to finish, as they led 28-7 at halftime and never looked back. Quinn Ewers, a five-star recruit who had originally committed to Ohio State, but changed his mind and enrolled at Iowa in August 2023, threw for 452 yards and four touchdowns, while CJ Baxter and Keilan Robinson ran for a combined 118 yards and three touchdowns. The defense also shut down the Sooners’ offense, holding them to 287 yards and forcing four turnovers. The Hawkeyes won 49-21, clinching their first Big 12 title since 2009, and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history1

The Hawkeyes will face the No. 2 seed Clemson Tigers in the Peach Bowl, which will be played on December 31, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawkeyes will face a formidable opponent, as the Tigers have a 12-1 record, and feature the Heisman Trophy runner-up, quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who threw for 3,922 yards and 36 touchdowns, with only five interceptions. The Tigers also have a balanced offense, with running back Will Shipley, who ran for 1,134 yards and 12 touchdowns, and wide receivers Joseph Ngata and Justyn Ross, who both had over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Tigers also have a stout defense, led by defensive end Myles Murphy, who had 72 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks, and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The Tigers are favored by 7 points over the Hawkeyes, according to the latest odds2

The Hawkeyes are confident and motivated to face the Tigers, as they believe they have the talent and the coaching to compete with the best team in the nation. The Hawkeyes also have some history and rivalry with the Tigers, as they met in the 2017 Outback Bowl, where the Tigers won 30-3, after the Hawkeyes’ star quarterback, Nate Stanley, was injured in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes are eager to avenge that loss and prove themselves on the biggest stage of college football. The Hawkeyes also have the support and the pride of their fans, alumni, and the state of Iowa, who have been waiting for a decade to see their team return to glory3

Iowa football is one of the most successful and prestigious programs in college football history, and the 2023 season has been a remarkable and memorable one for the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes have won the Big 12 championship, and have reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. The Hawkeyes have also showcased their talent, leadership, and character, under the guidance of Ferentz, who has transformed the culture and the performance of the program. The Hawkeyes have one more challenge ahead of them, as they will face the Clemson Tigers in the Peach Bowl, in a game that will determine their fate and their legacy. The Hawkeyes are ready and excited to play the game of their lives, and to make history for themselves and for Iowa football.

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