IOWA CITY, Iowa – The No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes started their season with a bang, defeating Illinois State 40-0 in a commanding victory under the guidance of assistant coach Seth Wallace, as head coach Kirk Ferentz served a one-game suspension. This marked the first game Ferentz missed in his 26 seasons as the Hawkeyes’ coach.
Quarterback Cade McNamara, who returned from a season-ending knee injury, threw three second-half touchdown passes to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. McNamara connected with freshman Reece Vander Zee twice and Jacob Gill for another score to extend Iowa’s lead after a slow first half.
Running back Kaleb Johnson also shined, rushing for 119 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the win for Iowa.
With McNamara’s stellar performance and a revamped offense led by new coordinator Tim Lester, Iowa’s offensive prowess was on full display as they racked up 492 total yards and 40 points in the game.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes held Illinois State to just 189 yards of total offense and sacked their quarterback four times, showcasing a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball.
Looking ahead, Iowa’s strong performance sets the tone for their upcoming matchup against Iowa State, where they will seek to continue their winning ways in the season.
Next week, Illinois State will face North Alabama in a bid to bounce back from their defeat against the Hawkeyes.
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