Iowa Hawkeyes stun Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field

th.bing.com

Game recap

The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats faced off in a rare college football game at the iconic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The game was broadcasted exclusively on Peacock, NBC's streaming service². The Hawkeyes came into the game with a 7-2 record and ranked No. 12 in the nation, while the Wildcats were 5-4 and looking to spoil Iowa's hopes of winning the Big Ten West division³. The game was a close and exciting affair, with both teams trading leads and big plays throughout the four quarters.

Key moments

The first quarter was scoreless, as both defenses held their ground and forced punts. The Hawkeyes finally broke the deadlock in the second quarter, when quarterback Spencer Petras connected with wide receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr. for a 36-yard touchdown pass. The Wildcats responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Evan Hull. The Hawkeyes regained the lead before halftime, when kicker Caleb Shudak nailed a 42-yard field goal to make it 10-7.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams scoring two touchdowns each. The Wildcats took their first lead of the game, when quarterback Ryan Hilinski found wide receiver Malik Washington for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The Hawkeyes answered with a 9-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a 4-yard touchdown run by running back Tyler Goodson. The Wildcats then regained the lead, when Hull scored his second touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run. The Hawkeyes tied the game again, when Petras threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this time to tight end Sam LaPorta for 18 yards.

The fourth quarter was a defensive battle, as neither team could score until the final minutes. The Hawkeyes got the ball at their own 20-yard line with 3:44 left in the game, and mounted a clutch drive that ate up the clock and moved the chains. With 17 seconds left, Shudak kicked the game-winning 37-yard field goal to give the Hawkeyes a 24-17 victory.

Game stats

The Hawkeyes outgained the Wildcats 389 to 312 in total yards, and had 22 first downs to 18. Petras completed 21 of 31 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. Goodson rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and Tracy Jr. caught six passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. The Hawkeyes also had four sacks and two turnovers on defense⁴.

The Wildcats were led by Hull, who rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Hilinski completed 16 of 25 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. Washington caught five passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. The Wildcats also had three sacks and one turnover on defense⁴.