No. 18 Iowa has three go over 100 yards rushing as Hawkeyes roll to 55-0 win over Northern Iowa - Yahoo Sports

Story by

Story by
No. 18 Iowa has three go over 100 yards rushing as Hawkeyes roll to 55-0 win over Northern Iowa

Iowa running back Xavier Williams, left, celebrates with teammate offensive lineman Jack Dotzler after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northern Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga (87) celebrates with teammate running back Xavier Williams (26) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northern Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Iowa quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski, left, is sacked by Northern Iowa linebacker Kolben Miller during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Iowa wide receiver Dayton Howard (7) is tackled by Northern Iowa safety Anthony Isley (35) after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

JOHN BOHNENKAMP · Associated Press

Sat, Sep 19, 2026 ·

3 min read

About Our Ads

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa had three running backs in Xavier Williams , Nathan McNeil and Braeden Jackson run for more than 100 yards apiece, and the No. 18 Hawkeyes rolled to a 55-0 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday even without their top running back, Kamari Moulton.

Williams had 151 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries, Jackson celebrated his 20th birthday with 125 yards and a TD to go with a 24-yard TD catch, and McNeill had 111 yards and two scores. It was the first time Iowa had three go over 100 yards rushing in a game since Owen Gill, Norm Granger and Eddie Phillips did it in a 61-10 win over Minnesota in 1983.

Advertisement

"That was a lot of fun out there today," Williams said. "Our running back room is so deep. I think it's not really a secret. So we're happy for each other's success, and when we each get opportunities, we all just make the most of it."

Williams is a third-year player, while Jackson and McNeil are in their second seasons.

"All three of them stepped up and really did well," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "And it was good to see because they're all young players that we haven't seen a lot on the game field."

Moulton, the Hawkeyes' leading rusher, was hurt in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's 16-13 win over Iowa State. But Iowa (3-0) still piled up 422 yards on the ground and finished with 640 yards of total offense against its Football Championship Subdivision foe.

Advertisement

"We build off each other," Williams said of the Hawkeyes' running backs. "We steal each other's moves. We argue. But we're like brothers. We're tight. So it's hard not to be happy for everybody else."

The Hawkeyes scored on their first five possessions and led the Panthers 42-0 at halftime.

Williams had touchdown runs of 48 and 16 yards in the first half, and a 37-yarder in the third quarter. McNeil opened the scoring with a short touchdown run in the first quarter and added a 12-yard TD run in the second. Jackson, the son of former Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson , had a 62-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

"It's all about your opportunity, and we all knew we were going to get our opportunity today," Williams said. "I was definitely ready to go out there again, but you have to let everybody eat."

Advertisement

Jaxon Dailey had 91 yards passing and two interceptions for the Panthers (1-2). They finished with 155 yards of total offense.

"We were embarrassed today." Northern Iowa coach Todd Stepsis said. "At the same time, we knew we had a tall task in front of us."

The takeaway

Northern Iowa: The Panthers have another tough test next week in their Missouri Valley Football Conference opener against Illinois State. "I'm disappointed we didn't give Iowa a better game, but at the same time, I know we've got a lot of football left," Stepsis said.

Iowa: There was a competition at quarterback at the start of the season for the Hawkeyes, but Hank Brown has started all three games and established himself at the top of the depth chart. Brown completed all 12 of his passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. "He's helped himself with every opportunity," Ferentz said.

Advertisement

Up next

Northern Iowa: Hosts Illinois State next Saturday

Iowa: At No. 19 Michigan next Saturday

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here . Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here.

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: