Iowa football vs. Utah State: Live updates, highlights, analysis

IOWA CITY — More than an hour before kickoff, Utah State Coach Blake Anderson went out of his way to talk to some Iowa students in the Kinnick Stadium front row.

“Watch those mouths,” Anderson told the student section at one point. “No potty mouths.”

But the student section did not need to say much, as the plays made by some of Iowa’s newcomers did all the talking necessary with a 24-14 win Saturday.

The Hawkeyes quickly jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and both touchdowns were courtesy of Iowa’s transfer portal additions.

Ex-Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara connected with ex-Charleston Southern wide receiver Seth Anderson on a 36-yard touchdown pass.

The touchdown was McNamara’s first pass attempt as a Hawkeye.

Then McNamara connected with ex-Michigan tight end Erick All Jr. for a 3-yard touchdown later in the first quarter.

It was the first time Iowa scored 14-plus points in the first quarter since last year’s 27-0 win over Nevada.

The offense stagnated after that, however. Five of the following six drives did not result in any points.

The exception was a drive at the end of the first half that went all the way to the Utah State 2-yard line before the Hawkeyes settled for a field goal. Iowa benefited from 23 yards of Utah State penalties on that drive, however.

A lack of consistent protection from the offensive line also proved problematic.

Iowa’s rushing attack averaged 2.6 yards per carry — a number that would have been lower, had it not been for Kaleb Johnson’s 21-yard carry and Kaden Wetjen’s 14-yard carry.

Iowa’s only other touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a Johnson 3-yard run.

Iowa’s defensive success — it allowed 4.6 yards per play, and only 4 before the Aggies’ final two drives — gave the Hawkeyes some buffer despite the offense’s stagnation.

Xavier Nwankpa had his second career interception in his second career start as the Hawkeyes’ strong safety. He later left the game, though, with an apparent leg issue.

Linebacker Jay Higgins, in his first start at the spot long occupied by Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell, had 15 tackles and almost had an interception. The 15 tackles were a career high.

Utah State found the end zone late when Terrell Vaughn hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Legas with 1:36 left. Legas found Rahsul Faison for the 2-point conversion.

Utah State had 10 penalties that gave the Hawkeyes 75 yards and a wider margin for error.

Iowa will have a more challenging opponent — and less margin for error — next week as it visits in-state rival Iowa State.

— John Steppe