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Iowa football opens 2026 season with victory over Northern Illinois

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 8:45 PM

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Iowa football opens 2026 season with victory over Northern Illinois

Summary

Iowa defeated Northern Illinois 40-0 in the season opener at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The Hawkeye offense totaled 507 yards, marking the team’s highest output in a season opener since 2002. Wide receiver Evan James provided a spark on special teams with a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second half. Defensively, the team registered six sacks behind a performance from Bryce Hawthorne, who recorded four tackles. Despite the win, head coach Kirk Ferentz addressed disciplinary issues, including seven penalties for 60 yards and several dropped passes by receivers. Iowa shifts focus to its next matchup against Iowa State.

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Status Watch

•Iowa defeated Northern Illinois 40-0 at Kinnick Stadium.
•The Hawkeye offense recorded 507 total yards during the contest.
•Evan James scored on a 77-yard punt return.
•The defense collected six sacks throughout the game.
•The team committed seven penalties for 60 yards.

Latest Updates

8:45 PMYahoo Sports — Three Do's and Three Don'ts From Iowa Football's Win Over Northern Illinois

What they're saying

"
Iowa is going to win a lot of football games when it hits the 500-yard mark, but Kirk Ferentz isn't going to be happy about some of the drops and penalties.
— Yahoo Sports

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