Iowa clinches Big Ten West, notches second trip to title game in three years

It is official; the Iowa Hawkeyes are heading back to the Big Ten championship game. On Saturday night in front of a raucous home crowd, the Hawkeyes came from behind to defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini 15-13, earning an opportunity to play for the Big Ten crown on December 2.

While the Hawkeyes have clinched the West, the East division will be decided when the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines square off the following weekend. Still, you can check out the Iowa players and fans celebrating the West title in the video below.

Iowa picked up win number nine on the season the same way they picked up their first eight — just enough offense complemented by excellent defense and special teams play. And the majority of the Hawkeyes games this year have been defensive barnburners. So much so that Iowa has hit the under nine times this year.

IT’S A PARTY IN KINNICK#Hawkeyes

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— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 19, 2023

Iowa remains consistent under Kirk Ferentz

There have been a few teams more consistent than the Iowa Hawkeyes, with head coach Kirk Ferentz at the helm in recent years. Since taking over the head coaching position at Iowa in 1999, Ferentz has only had four seasons with a losing record and failed to become bowl-eligible.

Since 2015, Iowa has consistently been in the Big Ten title picture.

Staples on Iowa vs. Illinois point spread: ‘I think this is the one’

Ahead of the game, On3’s Andy Staples and recruiting guru Josh Newberg broke down the line for the game while picking their winners in the process.

Matchups involving the Hawkeyes this season are not known for their scoring, to put it gently. But on Saturday, Iowa will take on an Illinois squad fresh from a high-octane 48-45 victory over Indiana. And that victory was courtesy of the stellar play from quarterback John Paddock. Still, Staples is weary of Iowa’s record against the under this season.

“John Paddock was excellent; John Paddock was 24-36 for 507 yards and four touchdowns,” said Staples. “…the under in Iowa games this year is 8-2. And you see, Vegas can’t make it low enough; they went down to 28.5. Their computers can’t handle it. It’s just like their computers can’t handle LSU. They keep setting the number too low for LSU, and they keep setting it too high for Iowa. I think this is the one.”