1ST AND 10

1 – The Hawkeyes are facing their second top five opponent this season when they travel to Columbus to face No. 2 Ohio State (Michigan, #4). Iowa competed against three top six opponents in 2017 (No. 4 PSU, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 6 Wisconsin), including downing the Buckeyes, 55-24, in Iowa City. It is the second straight year Iowa has faced a No. 2 ranked foe (Michigan, 2021 Big Ten Championship Game).

2 – TE Sam LaPorta had his second career 100-yard game when he had a career-high nine catches for 101 yards at Illinois on Oct. 8. The Illinois native has a team-high 30 receptions for 279 yards this season. LaPorta’s 30 receptions are second-most amongst Big Ten tight ends this season.

3 – The Hawkeye defense has allowed 10 points or fewer in five of the team’s first six games – a first for the program since 1933. Iowa has allowed 59 points in its first six games, the fewest for the program since 1956 (57 points).

4 – 200 X 2… Iowa has two senior linebackers that each have more than 200 career tackles. LB Jack Campbell has 239 career stops, which is 39th all-time, and LB Seth Benson has 214 career tackles, ranking 63rd all-time.

5 – The Hawkeyes are third nationally in scoring defense (9.8). Iowa is also second in passing efficiency defense (97.20), third in passing yards allowed (154.0), seventh in total defense (265.0) and 13th in red zone defense (.733).

6 – LB Jack Campbell is second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally, averaging 10.3 tackles per game. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native has 23 tackles in the last two games and has 10+ tackles in four games this season. Both Campbell and LB Seth Benson rank in the top five in the Big Ten in tackles.

7 – Iowa is one of the least penalized teams in the nation, ranking ninth in fewest penalty yards (241), 15th in fewest penalties (30), 16th in fewest penalty yards per game (40.17) and 20th in fewest penalties per game (5.00).

8 – P Tory Taylor is second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally with a 46.0 punting average on 40 punts. Taylor, a two-time Big Ten Specialist of the Week honoree, has 15 punts of 50+ yards and 20 have been downed inside the 20.

9 – RB Kaleb Johnson is fourth in the Big Ten in kickoff returns, averaging 25.5 yards per return. The Ohio native is second on the team in rushing with 232 yards and a team-high three touchdowns.

10 – DB/CASH Cooper DeJean is second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally with three interceptions. DeJean has eight passes defended (three INT, five breakups) to go along with 37 tackles – third-most on the team.

COURTESY IOWA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS