In a season full of obstacles, Iowa found a path to the Big Ten championship game. We discuss the Hawkeyes’ 15-13 win over Illinois and their journey to the Big Ten West title on this episode of The Final Score podcast.
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West-champion Hawkeyes have ground down opponents and scorners
Iowa kept standing up to adversity Saturday and all season, and won a grinder of a game against Illinois to ensure a Big Ten title-game berth in two weeks.
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Kirk Ferentz was very complimentary of Tyler Elsbury, who has filled in at center while Logan Jones battles an injury: "After the way he's played the last couple weeks, he should be confident as hell. ... He's played really well in three pivotal games for us."
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Kirk Ferentz on Brian Ferentz: "He's been admirable in the way he's handled a very tough situation. And I'm not quite sure I know how he's done it, but I'm really proud of him as a dad."
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Kirk Ferentz reflects on Iowa's win over Illinois and clinching the Big Ten West title
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Joe Evans discusses Iowa's perseverance and his big plays against Illinois
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Logan Lee talks about the emotions of Iowa's Senior Day win over Illinois
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Jay Higgins explains how Iowa fought through injuries to win the Big Ten West
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Taking a look at the turning point, key numbers and more notes from Iowa's 15-13 win over Illinois.
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Iowa secures Big Ten championship game berth with narrow win over Illinois
After looking like the division favorites earlier in the season — and then not, and then favorites again — 16th-ranked Iowa clinched the outright Big Ten West title and a Big Ten championship game berth with its 15-13 win over Illinois at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday.
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Final: No. 16 Iowa 15, Illinois 13
Iowa (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) clinches the Big Ten West title. The Hawkeyes will play in the conference championship game in Indianapolis on Dec. 2.
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Kaleb Johnson picks up a first down with a 12-yard run on third-and-8.
Illinois has no timeouts left. 2:42 remaining.
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Illinois turns it over on downs
John Paddock's third-and-2 attempt was deflected by Iowa defensive linemen Joe Evans and Yahya Black.
Illinois lined up to punt from its 33, then called timeout and sent the offense back out. And Paddock's pass was, you guessed it, batted down by Evans.
Iowa 15, Illinois 13 (3:41 4th)
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Drew Stevens had been 42-for-42 in career PATs, not that the miss was his fault.
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Touchdown Iowa: Kaleb Johnson for the lead
One play after an intended deep ball for Kaleb Brown picked up a holding penalty on Illinois, Kaleb Johnson broke away for a 30-yard touchdown run.
The Hawkeyes take the lead with a four-play, 54-yard drive.
The extra point was blocked.
Iowa 15, Illinois 13 (4:43 4th)
KALEB JOHNSON. 🙌@HawkeyeFootball takes back the lead.
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 18, 2023
📺: FS1/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/Zv6OzRUFtY -
Good punt return for Kaden Wetjen
Illinois picked up one first down before punting. Kaden Wetjen picked up 17 yards on the punt return and Iowa will start at its 46, exactly what the offense needed.
Illinois 13, Iowa 9 (6:51 4th)
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This offense will need better field position. Or for the defense to score itself.
Iowa picked up 12 yards on a third-and-19 screen pass to Kaleb Brown before punting.
It's Illinois ball at the Illini 22.
Illinois 13, Iowa 9 (9:28 4th)
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Hawkeyes in the first half: 175 yards on 38 plays, 4.6 yards per play
So far in the second half: 45 yards on 16 plays, 2.8 yards per play
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Big stop for Iowa
Illinois drove to the Iowa 44, then Nick Jackson brought pressure on third-and-5 to help force an incompletion.
Iowa takes over at its 7.
Illinois 13, Iowa 9 (11:01 4th)
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Iowa goes three-and-out
A run for 2 yards and two incomplete passes over the middle. Illinois gets it back at its 35.
Illinois 13, Iowa 9 (13:54 4th)
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Illinois tacks on 3 to start the 4th
John Paddock rolled out of the pile on a third-and-1 QB sneak and was hit hard by Sebastian Castro. So Illinois brought on Caleb Griffin and he kicked a 29-yard field goal that got just inside the right upright on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Illinois 13, Iowa 9 (14:56 4th)
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End 3rd: Illinois 10, Iowa 9
Iowa has averaged 2.1 yards per play on its four drives since the first-half TD. That needs to improve.
Illinois faces fourth down to start the fourth but is certainly in field-goal range.
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Iowa gets the third-down stop, but then Quinn Schulte is called for roughing the passer. 15-yard penalty. Illinois now at the Iowa 34-yard line.
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Iowa runs the ball on third-and-20 while down 10-9, and the Kinnick crowd does not like it.
Illinois gets it back at its 20 with 5:14 left in the third quarter.
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Iowa called its second timeout as Kirk Ferentz gives an earful to the officiating crew after Gennings Dunker was flagged for an illegal blindside block.
Iowa has only one timeout left.
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Iowa gets a stop
Deontae Craig leveled John Paddock and the Illinois quarterback's pass hit a cutting Sebastian Castro in the helmet on third-and-7. Iowa gets it back at its 23.
Illinois 10, Iowa 9 (9:20 3rd)
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Iowa goes three-and-out
Tory Taylor's 53-yard punt puts Illinois at its 30.
Illinois 10, Iowa 9 (11:15 3rd)
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Illinois punts to begin the second half
Nick Jackson and Joe Evans knocked down passes at the line of scrimmage, then Deshaun Lee broke up a third-down attempt to stop Illinois' drive at midfield.
Iowa starts at its 8.
Illinois 10, Iowa 9 (12:35 3rd)
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Half: Illinois 10, Iowa 9
After a stellar start for the Iowa defense, Illinois has put together three straight 40-plus-yard drives.
Illinois will receive to start the second half.
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Illinois misses field goal
Caleb Griffin's second 52-yard field goal attempt fell short.
Illinois 10, Iowa 9 (1:15 2nd)
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Three Tory Taylor punts, all three inside the 20. Averaging 48.7 yards per punt.
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Hill sacked on third down
Deacon Hill had a big gain on the ground earlier in the second quarter, but don't mistake him for having wheels. Illinois tracked him down on third-and-4 and Kenenna Odeluga recorded a sack for an 8-yard loss.
Illinois takes over at its 20.
Illinois 10, Iowa 9 (4:00 2nd)
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Touchdown Illinois: Love punches it in
Reggie Love III's 1-yard touchdown run and the ensuing extra point from Caleb Griffin gave the Illini the lead back.
It was a 10-play, 75-yard drive, with John Paddock's 17-yard pass to tight end Tip Reiman getting Illinois to the goal line.
Illinois 10, Iowa 9 (6:53 2nd)
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Iowa with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, and — what's that pig doing flying over the UI water tower?
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Touchdown Iowa: Hill to Ostrenga
Iowa completed a 14-play, 75-yard drive with Deacon Hill's 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Addison Ostrenga in the corner of the end zone.
Hill scrambled for a 12-yard gain on third-and-9 from the Illinois 19 to set up the score. He's 10-of-12 passing so far for 95 yards.
Iowa 9, Illinois 3 (10:20 2nd)
TOUCHDOWN @HawkeyeFootball. 🙌
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 18, 2023
📺: FS1/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/PMzBfx0CR1 -
This is the fifth-straight Iowa game in which neither team scored a first-quarter touchdown.
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End 1st: Illinois 3, Iowa 2
Iowa has a 132-33 advantage in yards, yet is trailing (for now). Will start the second quarter on the Illinois 34-yard line.
Solid first quarter for WR Kaleb Brown ... team-high four receptions on four targets for 47 yards. You see why Ohio State recruited him out of high school.
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Illinois takes the lead
Caleb Griffin kicked a 52-yard field goal to give Illinois the lead.
It was an eight-play, 41-yard drive highlighted by John Paddock's 31-yard completion to Isaiah Williams.
Illinois 3, Iowa 2 (3:19 1st)
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Iowa flagged for kick catch interference
Iowa punter Tory Taylor had Illinois pinned inside the 10 again but Koen Entringer was called for kick catch interference. The Illini start at their 23.
Iowa 2, Illinois 0 (4:50 1st)
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Tyler Elsbury in at center on this drive for Iowa.
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Illinois goes three-and-out
Illinois appeared to have a first down with a juggling catch from Casey Washington but it was ruled incomplete. The Illini only gained a yard on their next two plays. Hugh Robertson's 66-yard, line-drive punt flew over Kaden Wetjen's hands and into the end zone.
Iowa 2, Illinois 0 (7:21 1st)
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Iowa misses field goal
Signs of life again for the Iowa offense before turning to special teams.
Leshon Williams picked up 15 yards on the ground on the first play of the drive, then Deacon Hill found Kaleb Brown for a 31-yard gain.
A pair of incompletions led to a 53-yard Drew Stevens field goal attempt that he missed wide right.
Iowa 2, Illinois 0 (8:40 1st)
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Iowa's decision to punt on fourth-and-1 at its own 47 was brilliant, the Hawkeyes force a safety, and Iowa is off the races with a 2-0 lead.
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Senior Day safety
Iowa defensive end Joe Evans contributes to points on his Senior Day, sacking Illinois QB John Paddock. Paddock actually fumbled in the end zone but the Illini recovered for a safety.
Iowa 2, Illinois 0 (11:24 1st)
SACKED 🔒
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 18, 2023
A safety for @HawkeyeFootball + 2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/aHM5WsQnxn -
Hawkeyes stall at midfield
Iowa went play-action on the first play of the game and Deacon Hill fired a 13-yard completion to Nico Ragaini. His second pass was a screen play to Kaleb Brown for a 5-yard gain. That brought up third-and-1 and Leshon Williams was stuffed at the Iowa 47.
Illinois takes over at its 7. John Paddock is starting at quarterback.
Iowa 0, Illinois 0 (12:07 1st)
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Illinois wins the toss and defers. Hawkeyes will receive.
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Kirk Ferentz on radio, as he talks about Noah Shannon, says the NCAA is "extremely rigid and closed-minded."
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As expected, Deshaun Lee is taking first-team reps at CB in place of Cooper DeJean.
Brenden Deasfernandes and John Nestor are taking second-team reps at CB.
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Iowa QB Marco Lainez is working with the second-team offense again in pregame warmups.
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Joe Evans' last pregame talk to his teammates on the Kinnick field was a doozy. Lots of waving his arms to emphasize points, extremely animated.
He's been a heck of a good player for Iowa. His career sacks-per-snaps ratio has to be one of the best ever here.
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NFL scouts are expected from the Bills and Vikings for today's Iowa-Illinois game.
Bowl reps are expected from the Citrus Bowl (x2) and ReliaQuest Bowl (x2).
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Iowa will again be without offensive lineman Beau Stephens and wide receiver Diante Vines on Saturday as it takes on Illinois.
The most notable absence will be star defensive back Cooper DeJean, who suffered a season-ending injury in practice this week.
Here is Iowa’s full Big Ten-mandated pregame availability report.
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Iowa vs. Illinois storylines
3 keys for Iowa: Iowa’s Cooper DeJean-less secondary stopping Illinois’ Isaiah Williams, Iowa’s offensive line winning its battles against Illinois’ defensive line and quarterback Deacon Hill building on last week’s improvement. Here’s the analysis from John Steppe.
Gameday feature: Iowa safety Quinn Schulte proves “you get what you earn” in his journey from walk-on to “coach on the field.”
Hlas column: Winning a title is much sweeter at home, and the Hawkeyes have that chance.
Illinois perspective: Iowa’s offensive line has to contend with Outland Trophy finalist Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois.
Fun Facts: Iowa hasn’t lost to Illinois at Kinnick Stadium since 1999. Here are 20 things to know about Illinois-Iowa.
Analysis: Iowa’s offense has “found a rhythm” at a pivotal time of the 2023 season. Is that momentum here to stay?
Injury report: Iowa star cornerback Cooper DeJean will miss the rest of the season. Receiver Diante Vines is “very unlikely” to play Saturday.
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Mike Hlas: Iowa 16, Illinois 10
John Steppe: Iowa 17, Illinois 13
Jeff Johnson: Iowa 21, Illinois 10
Rob Gray: Iowa 17, Illinois 13
Beth Malicki: Iowa 20, Illinois 13
Todd Brommelkamp: Iowa 23, Illinois 6
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How to watch Iowa vs. Illinois
Kickoff time: 2:35 p.m. (CT)
TV channel: FS1
Live stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app
TV announcers: Adam Alexander (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst)
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network | The Varsity Network app | SiriusXM channel 113 or 195