2018 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

2018 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Outback Bowl champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Ranking
APNo. 25
Record9–4 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrian Ferentz (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorPhil Parker (7th season)
Base defense4–3
CaptainJake Gervase
Parker Hesse
Keegan Render
Nate Stanley
Home stadiumKinnick Stadium
Seasons
← 2017
2019 →
2018 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 3 Ohio State xy$   8 1     13 1  
No. 14 Michigan x   8 1     10 3  
No. 17 Penn State   6 3     9 4  
Michigan State   5 4     7 6  
Maryland   3 6     5 7  
Indiana   2 7     5 7  
Rutgers   0 9     1 11  
West Division
No. 21 Northwestern xy   8 1     9 5  
Wisconsin   5 4     8 5  
No. 25 Iowa   5 4     9 4  
Purdue   5 4     6 7  
Minnesota   3 6     7 6  
Nebraska   3 6     4 8  
Illinois   2 7     4 8  
Championship: Ohio State 45, Northwestern 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by Kirk Ferentz in his 20th season as head coach.

Iowa began the year with six wins in their first seven games, with their sole loss during that span coming in their conference opener against Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes rose to 18th in the AP Poll, but lost three consecutive games to knock them from the polls. They ended the regular season with two more wins to finish tied for second in the West Division with a conference record of 5–4. They were invited to the 2019 Outback Bowl, where they defeated Mississippi State. Iowa finished with a record of 9–4 and were ranked 25th in the final AP Poll, their first ranked finish and highest win total since 2015.

Quarterback Nate Stanley led the team in passing with 2,852 yards and 26 touchdowns, good for second in the Big Ten Conference in the latter category. The Hawkeyes featured two standout tight ends, with Noah Fant and T. J. Hockenson both earning first-team all-conference honors. Hockenson was awarded the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. Iowa became the first school to have two tight ends chosen in the first round of an NFL Draft when Hockenson and Fant were both selected in the first 20 picks of the 2019 NFL draft.[1] Defensive end A. J. Epenesa led the Big Ten in both sacks and forced fumbles.[2] He was joined on the all-conference first-team by safety Amani Hooker, who was named the Big Ten's Defensive Back of the Year.

  1. ^ Wilner, Barry (April 24, 2019). "2 Iowa tight ends likely to go in 1st round of NFL draft". Associated Press.
  2. ^ "2018 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.