College Football Rankings: B/R's Top 25 After Week 13
B.Wilson3 months ago
Steven Branscombe/ The Iowa Hawkeyes have been brilliant at overcoming their own offensive ineptitude this year, to the point where it's historic. During coach Kirk Ferentz's team's epic-ish 13-10 victory over Nebraska on Friday—won in the most 2023 Iowa way ever, but more on that in a moment—CBS showed a shocking (mocking?) statistic. The highest win total of any team that averaged fewer than 250 total yards per game was the UCF Knights in 2008. They had four that year, going 4-8, 3-5 in Conference USA, and missing a bowl game. This year's Hawkeyes have 10 after somehow finding a way to win in Lincoln on Friday. They are averaging 246.3 total offensive yards, dead-last (No. 133) among FBS teams. The Iowa offensive struggles have been farcical for years, a portrait of why nepotism is toxic, especially for a revered coach like Ferentz who has stability and control. His son, Brian, has led the charade of an offense as coordinator for years, but Iowa finally announced a few weeks back he won't return in '24. It's about time. Still, though, Iowa's 10-2 record and 7-2 in the Big Ten is a testament to how great Iowa's defense is, how bad the Big Ten West is and how Kirk Ferentz finds a way to pull out wins despite his offense displaying the complete opposite of firepower. Against the unlucky Cornhuskers, which somehow found a way to lose four consecutive one-possession games while trying to become bowl-eligible in Matt Rhule's first year, it was remarkable how Iowa grabbed a chance for the win. After Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill was intercepted by Tommi Hill with 31 seconds left giving Nebraska the ball at its own 45-yard line, the Huskers tried to march down for a winning field goal. Instead, Chubba Purdy threw a pass right to Hawkeyes linebacker Ethan Hurkett, who picked it off and returned it to the Nebraska 37-yard line. One 22-yard Leshon Williams run set up Marshall Meeder's 38-yard field goal, and the backup kicker who hadn't kicked in a game since November 25 of last year, won the game and hoisted the Heroes Trophy. Iowa continued its march to the Big Ten Championship Game, despite 257 yards of total offense, seven punts and two missed field goals.
