The 1996 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

1996 NCAA Division I-A football season The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators being crowned National Champions after defeating rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl, which was the season's designated Bowl Alliance national championship game. Flori ...

. Led by 18th-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 9–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for third place in the Big Ten. Iowa was invited to the

Alamo Bowl The Alamo Bowl is an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played annually since 1993 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Since 2010 it matches the second choice team from the Pac-12 Conference and the second ...

, where the Hawkeyes defeated

Texas Tech Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship institution of the five- ...

. 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

Arizona

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Box score and Game recap
Iowa held on to win this back-and-forth contest, aided by three Wildcat turnovers.

Iowa State

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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, ...

ran for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Hawkeyes defeated the Cyclones for the 14th consecutive time.

Tulsa

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Box score and Game recap

Michigan State

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Indiana

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Penn State

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Box score
Highlighted by an electrifying 83-yard punt return touchdown by Tim Dwight (the first of five career punt return touchdowns), the Hawkeyes earned their first road win over a top ten opponent since the 1990 season.

Ohio State

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Box score
ESPN's College GameDay visited Iowa City for the first time for this matchup between the #2 Buckeyes (6–0) and #20 Hawkeyes (5–1).

Illinois

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Box score and Game recap

Northwestern

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Wisconsin

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Box score
After this shutout at Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes had gone 17–0–1 in an 18-game stretch in the series with the Badgers.

Minnesota

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Box score

Alamo Bowl

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Roster

Postseason awards

* Tim Dwight – First-team All-American (All-purpose / kick returners)

Team players in the 1997 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 Alamo 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 ...