Iowa football officially falls short of Big Ten West crown

Iowa’s loss to Nebraska opens door for Purdue to win division

Nov. 26, 2022 5:48 pm

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz talks with an official in the fourth quarter of Iowa’s 24-17 loss to Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Iowa football’s aspirations to repeat as Big Ten West champions have officially come to an end.

The Hawkeyes will not earn a trip to Indianapolis after Purdue won Saturday to leapfrog them in the division standings.

The Hawkeyes’ odds were already a long shot going into Saturday’s slate of Big Ten games after a 24-17 loss to Nebraska. A win against the Huskers would have clinched a second straight trip to Indianapolis, but the loss significantly narrowed Iowa’s path to Indianapolis.

Iowa needed Purdue to lose to Indiana and Illinois to lose to Northwestern. Both Purdue and Illinois were double-digit favorites.

Purdue won, 30-16. Illinois won, 41-3.

Iowa (7-5, 5-4) finished with its worst regular-season record since 2017 although it is eligible for a bowl for the 10th consecutive season.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com