Iowa Hawkeyes Football Tickets - Games - Buy Iowa Hawkeyes Football Tickets

Kirk Ferentz got off to a slow start here as he was 2-18 in his first 20 games but won 2 of his last 3 in 2000. He is now 47-18 after that rough start. The 2002 team went undefeated vs the Big 10 and played in the Orange Bowl finishing #8 despite being outFD'd 102-66 in their first four Big 10 games. In 2003 they slipped to 5-3 in Big 10 play and in the final 2 games were outFD'd 46-24. They managed to pull both out and got their first January win since 1959 when they upset Florida in the Outback Bowl. In 2004 they had just 9 starters back and the 0-line looked to be a weak spot. They also had a tough Big 10 schedule (no Indiana or NWestrn) and suffered massive injuries at RB. They were destroyed by Ariz St on the road being outgained 511 -100 and lost to Michigan to start 2-2. The Hawks beat Ohio St in Kinnick for the first time since 1983 with a 448-177 yard edge and rallied for a 10-2 year including a bowl win over LSU. That marked their 3rd straight double-digit win season and Top 10 (finished #8 all 3 years), lowadid nottrail at home the entire 2004 season. The 2004 Hawks benefitted from +13 in turnovers. Last year the Hawks had 12 returning starters including QB Tate, a much improved RB corps plus one of the top LB corps in the country. They were picked #10 in the Preseason Coaches poll (#11AP) and were a hot pick by some to play in the National Title game. They got the biggest win in the Ferentz era, 56-0, vs a suspension-ravaged Ball St team but the next week after rising to #8, lost at Iowa St. Ohio St got their revenge 31-6 with a 331 -13 yard edge in the 1H dropping the Hawks to 2-2 for the 2nd year in a row. After an OT loss to Michigan, which snapped their 22 game home win streak, Iowa led NWestrn 24-7 at the half and missed a FG with 5:35 left, up by 13 and somehow lost by one. They spoiled Barry Alvarez's final home game with a 20-10 win and then led Minnesota 35-0 in the 20. Some questionable officiating, including an apparent onside kick recovery, hurt them in the Outback Bowl (did trail 31-7). Iowa outgained Big 10 foes by just 23.1 ypg but did suffer 3 close losses and could have been a 10-2 team as they had their worst turnover ratio (-1) in five years. Iowa is one of only 4 teams to have 4 straight Jan bowl appearances and their 25 Big 10 wins are the best in that stretch. The Hawkeyes have had 17 straight sellouts at home. They return 14 starters which is the most since 2001. Iowa averaged 30 ppg in 2005, their best since 2002. With 7 starters back, including a top-notch 0-line, QB Tate and RB Young, the offense should be even more potent. The Hawkeyes' D has been outstanding the last 5 years and with a vastly improved D-line, should improve upon last year's 20.0 ppg allowed, even with the loss of 2 super LB's and two CB's