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Northwestern Suffers First Loss at New Ryan Field Against Iowa
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- Northwestern Suffers First Loss at New Ryan Field Against Iowa
Northwestern welcomed the Iowa Hawkeyes to Ryan Field on Saturday for a key Big Ten matchup.
With Aidan Chiles sidelined, Nicco Marchiol made his first start for Northwestern, but the Wildcats struggled offensively in a loss to the Hawkeyes, 24-10.
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With the result, Northwestern falls to 6-3, while Iowa improves to 7-2.
Quarterback Marchiol completed 24 of 32 passes for 181 yards, 1 touchdown, adding 52 rushing yards on 23 carries.
Griffin Wilde and Luke Dehnicke each finished with five receptions for 52 yards.
Iowa opened with a 75-yard drive, capped by a 21-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Hank Brown to take a 7-0 lead.
Marchiol connected on a few passes to move the chains on Northwestern's first two drives, but the Wildcats couldn't find an offensive rhythm and were forced to punt both times.
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Nicco Marchiol (4) passes the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Iowa extended its lead on its third drive, moving the ball with ease before Brown connected with Tony Diaz for a 24-yard touchdown. The score gave the Hawkeyes a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
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Northwestern put together a lengthy drive but came away empty after failing to convert on fourth-and-1 from Iowa's 27-yard line.
The Wildcats then remained scoreless going into the half as the Hawkeyes entered with a 14-0 lead.
Northwestern continued to struggle offensively to open the second half, but the defense came up with a big play as Robert Fitzgerald intercepted Brown. Returning from injury, Fitzgerald made an immediate impact, giving the Wildcats possession at their own 40-yard line.
The interception sparked new energy for Northwestern's offense as the Wildcats quickly moved into field goal range. Jackson Kleather connected on a 45-yard field goal to cut Iowa's lead to 14-3 with 4:14 left in the third quarter.
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Iowa responded immediately as Braeden Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, extending the Hawkeyes' lead to 21-3
Northwestern then went for it on fourth down from its own 34-yard line but failed to convert, giving Iowa possession in Wildcats territory. The defense responded by holding the Hawkeyes to a 52-yard field goal from Caden Buhr, making it 24-3.
Northwestern continued to take risks, going for it on fourth-and-8 from Iowa's 12-yard line to open the fourth quarter. The Wildcats couldn't convert, turning the ball over with 11:11 remaining.
The Northwestern defense then forced another turnover as Braydon Brus recovered a fumble with 4:08 remaining.
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Northwestern finally reached the end zone with under two minutes remaining as Marchiol connected with Joseph Himon II for a 2-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 24-10. The Wildcats suffered their first loss at the New Ryan field.
The Wildcats now turn their attention to Ohio State next week as the Wildcats look to get back in the winning column after falling to Iowa and losing consecutive games.
