The 1995 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

as a member of the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Fa ...

during the

1995 NCAA Division I-A football season The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance. Tom Osborne led 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over 1995 Florida Gators football team, Fl ...

. Led by 17th-year head coach

Hayden Fry John Hayden Fry (February 28, 1929 – December 17, 2019) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Southern Methodist University (SMU) from 1962 to 1972, North Texas State University—now known ...

, the Hawkeyes compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing sixth in the Big Ten. Iowa was invited to the

Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl is a college football bowl game that has been played since 1935 in the southwestern United States at El Paso, Texas. Along with the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl, it is the second-oldest bowl game in the country, behind the Rose Bowl. ...

, where the Hawkeyes defeated

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

. The team played home games at

Kinnick Stadium Kinnick Stadium is a stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the home stadium of the University of Iowa Iowa Hawkeyes football, Hawkeyes football team. Opened in 1929 as Iowa Stadium to replace Iowa Field, it currently holds u ...

Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City is the largest city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. At the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the population was 74,828, making it the state's List of cities in Iowa, fifth-most populous c ...

Schedule

Rankings

Game summaries

Northern Iowa

Iowa State

New Mexico State

Michigan State

Led by tailback Sedrick Shaw (42 carries, 250 yards, TD), the Hawkeyes rolled up 524 yards of total offense (311 rushing) to earn a road victory over the Spartans in the 1995 Big Ten opener.

Indiana

Penn State

The Hawkeyes led 27-24 after a 19-yard touchdown run from Sedrick Shaw early in the 4th quarter, but Penn State rallied to score the final 17 points of the game.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes, led by future NFL

Pro Bowl The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players. The format has changed ...

selections

Eddie George Edward Nathan George Jr. (born September 24, 1973) is an American college American football, football coach and former running back who is the head football coach at Bowling Green Falcons football, Bowling Green State University. He previously ...

, Terry Glenn, and Shawn Springs, rolled to a 56-0 lead in the first half before cruising to the 21-point victory.

Illinois

*Sources:

Northwestern

ESPN's College GameDay was in Evanston for this matchup between the Hawkeyes and the #5 Wildcats. After leading 20-17 at halftime, Iowa couldn't muster a second half score. Northwestern had a magical season, capped by the school's first trip to the Rose Bowl in 46 years.

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Sun Bowl

The young Hawkeyes bullied the Pac-10 co-Champion and 20th-ranked Huskies, leading 21–0 at half and 38–6 early in the 4th quarter before cruising to a 20-point victory. Sedrick Shaw and

Tavian Banks Tavian Remond Banks (born February 17, 1974) is an American former professional football player who played as a running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, ...

each ran for over 100 yards, as Iowa outgained Washington 229–90 on the ground. Iowa kickers combined for 5 field goals to stretch the lead in the first half. Iowa ended the season on a 3-game winning streak, earning a #25 ranking in the final AP poll and a #22 ranking in the final Coaches' poll. This was the Hawkeyes' first win over a ranked opponent since the 1991 season, and Iowa's first bowl victory since the 1987 Holiday Bowl. Coaching in his final game, longtime Defensive Coordinator Bill Brashier referred to this Sun Bowl victory as his most memorable.

Roster

Awards and honors

Team players in the 1996 NFL draft

References

{{Iowa Hawkeyes football navbox

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

Iowa Hawkeyes football seasons Sun Bowl champion seasons

Iowa Hawkeyes football The Iowa Hawkeyes football program represents the University of Iowa in college football. The Hawkeyes compete in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa joined the Conference (then known as the Western Conference or Big Nine) in 1899 and played their first ...