The 2005 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 ...

during the

2005 NCAA Division I-A football season The 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The regular season began on September 1, 2005 and ended on De ...

. The Hawkeyes played their 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 ...

and were coached by

Kirk Ferentz Kirk James Ferentz (born August 1, 1955) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since the 1999 season. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the Universi ...

. Iowa finished the season 7–5, including a record of 5–3 in 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 ...

. Despite an up-and-down season, the Hawkeyes were invited to a January

bowl game In North America, a bowl game, or simply bowl, is one of a number of postseason college football games primarily played by NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. For most of its history, the FBS did not use a playoff tourname ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

for the fourth consecutive year.

Preseason

After three consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins and co-Big Ten championships in 2002 and 2004, expectations were high. A thrilling last second victory over

LSU Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...

in the Capital One Bowl capped a 10-2 campaign with eight consecutive victories. With the return of first-team All-Big Ten quarterback Drew Tate, and first-team All-Big Ten linebackers Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway (a preseason All-American) anchoring the defense, the Hawkeyes were considered national title contenders by some publications. Indeed, the presence of a running game (the Hawkeyes ranked 115th nationally in rushing in 2004 due to injuries) was thought to make Iowa even stronger. The Hawkeyes entered the season ranked 11th in the AP Poll (10th in the Coaches' Poll), their highest preseason ranking in two decades.

Schedule

Roster

Coaching staff

Rankings

Game summaries

Ball State

*Source: Box Score
/small> The Hawkeyes opened the much-anticipated 2005 season against a Cardinals team that had 13 players suspended for the game. This one was over early as the Hawks raced to a 28-0 lead after one quarter. Iowa extended the advantage to 49-0 by halftime and cruised from there. Dating back to last season, this was the 9th consecutive win for the Hawkeyes.

At Iowa State

*Source: Box Score
/small>

Northern Iowa

*Source:
/small> The Panthers drove the ball effectively but it wasn't enough to overcome an early deficit.

At Ohio State

*Source: Box Score
/small>

Illinois

*Source:
/small> Illinois was able to drive the ball but Iowa limited them to just one touchdown in this homecoming game. Albert Young was a force on the ground rushing for over 100 yards with nearly eight yards a carry. One of the most memorable plays of the contest came on the Hawkeyes second touchdown as Ed Hinkel took a reverse 20 yards in for a score, jumping over an Illinois defender in the process. Kenny Iwebema also blocked two Illini field goals in the first half.

At Purdue

*Source: Box Score
/small> Both Drew Tate and Clinton Solomon had career games in this blowout on the road. Tate had over 350 yards passing with Solomon compiling 166 of them as Purdue had no answer for him.

Indiana

*Source: Box Score
/small>

Michigan

*Source:
/small> An overtime loss to the Wolverines snapped the Hawkeyes school-record 22-game winning streak at

At Northwestern

*Source: Box Score
/small> Albert Young rushed for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns, but it wasn't enough for the Hawkeyes. After leading 24-7 at half and 27-14 after a Kyle Schlicher field goal with 10:58 remaining in the game, Iowa surrendered the lead and the game when the Wildcats scored a touchdown with 42 seconds left.

At Wisconsin

*Source:
/small> In the final match-up of two former

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 ...

assistant coaches,

prevailed to foil

Barry Alvarez Barry Lee Alvarez (born December 30, 1946) is an American former college football coach and athletic director at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He served as the head football coach at Wisconsin for 16 seasons, from 1990 to 2005, compili ...

's home finale. Iowa's defense was smothering in this contest, holding the Badgers to their end of the field for the majority of the game.

Minnesota

*Source: Box Score
/small> The Hawkeyes rolled to 613 yards of total offense in a blowout win on Senior Day. Iowa raced to a 35-0 lead and never looked back in retaining Floyd of Rosedale. Running backs Damian Sims and Albert Young both rushed for more than 100 yards. Wide receiver Ed Hinkel capped his home career in grand style with four touchdown receptions, tying a school record and setting the Kinnick Stadium record. He finished the game with 151 yards on seven receptions.

Vs. Florida (Outback Bowl)

*Source: Box Score
/small> Despite allowing a blocked punt for a touchdown, an interception return for a touchdown, and an acrobatic catch for a touchdown with 0:01 before halftime, the Hawkeyes gave themselves a chance late in the game – one that ended in controversy. Iowa kicked a field goal with 1:24 left in the 4th quarter, which brought the game to a one possession lead by Florida. Iowa attempted an onside kick, and recovered the ball. However, flags were down, with the call being offsides against Iowa, giving the ball back to Florida. However, replays clearly showed no one offsides, even being pointed out by commentators. " Challenges" were not allowed in college football at this time, so Iowa had no way of arguing the questionable call.

Postseason awards

* Chad Greenway - First-team All-American

Team players in the 2006 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

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 ...