There’s no reason to move on just yet from last Saturday’s Iowa State-Iowa football game because, come on, Troy?
Iowa is favored by 22 points against Troy Saturday. The Hawkeyes haven’t lost as a favorite by that much or more since 1998, when they fell at Kinnick Stadium to … Iowa State.
The Cyclones’ 20-19 win over Iowa Saturday had people with long memories remembering another game in Kinnick 22 years earlier. When you take a look at Iowa State’s 36-31 win over the Hawkeyes in 2002, you see parallel after parallel. For instance …
2002: Iowa led by 17 points at halftime.
2024: Iowa led by 13 points at halftime. (It was the first time the Hawkeyes surrendered a 13-point second-half lead in 10 years.)
2002: Cyclone quarterback Seneca Wallace passed for 190 yards in the second half.
2024: Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht passed for 205 yards in the second half.
2002: Iowa State’s two top receivers, Jack Whitver and Lane Danielsen, had eight and five catches, respectively.
2024: Iowa State’s two top receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, had eight and five catches, respectively.
2002: Iowa running back Fred Russell had 151 rushing yards, a rare game in which the losing team has someone top 150 yards on the ground.
2024: Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson had 187 rushing yards, a rare game in which the losing team has someone top 150 yards on the ground.
2022: Iowa State rushed for 85 yards, Iowa 222.
2024: Iowa State rushed for 89 yards, Iowa 204.
2002: Iowa State walk-on Adam Benike missed a field goal try in the second quarter, but made his next two, both in the fourth quarter.
2024: Iowa State walk-on Kyle Konrardy missed a field goal try in the second quarter, but made his next two, both in the fourth quarter.
2002: Iowa quarterback Brad Banks lost a fumble in the third quarter and the Cyclones had a touchdown drive on their following possession.
2024: Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara threw an interception in the third quarter and the Cyclones had a touchdown drive on their following possession.
2002: Iowa State went from being unranked in the AP Top 25 the week before the game to No. 21 the week after.
2024: Iowa State went from being unranked in the AP Top 25 the week before the game to No. 21 the week after.
2002: Iowa State played Troy the week after it played Iowa.
2024: Iowa plays Troy the week after it played Iowa State.
OK, now what about the future? If things are to be added to this list, it’s very good news for the Hawkeyes and not too great for the Cyclones.
Iowa won its next nine games including all eight in the Big Ten and went to the Orange Bowl. Iowa State lost five of its final six Big 12 games to take a 7-6 record to the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho, where it lost to Boise State.
If the Hawkeyes sweep the Big Ten this year, it means they’ve won at Ohio State. Hey, anything’s possible. By the way, they didn’t play Ohio State in 2002 and the two shared the Big Ten title with 8-0 marks.
A 2002 reprise would be amazingly good for McNamara as well as his team. Because Brad Banks was overshadowed by Wallace in the 2002 game and didn’t have had anyone calling him a Heisman Trophy contender afterward.
Banks went on to finish a very close second to USC’s Carson Palmer in Heisman voting. Banks had 26 touchdown passes to just five interceptions.
“The great thing about Brad’s story and the team’s story is how he did respond,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday.
McNamara is at 3/2 right now, so finishing at 26/5 would tilt him toward the phenomenal side.
Could Iowa State go on to lose six times? It’s pretty hard to fathom. The ‘02 Cyclones allowed 34 or more points in five of those post-Iowa losses. This year’s ISU defense may not give up that many points to anyone.
In 2002, Iowa’s defense was much better after the Iowa State game. It better be better again after playing the Cyclones.
Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com
