Iowa is last in the nation in total offense, completion percentage and QB sacks per game

Five games is a sample size.

Five games in, and Iowa is last in total offense in FBS. If, that is, you don’t count Sam Houston State. The NCAA doesn’t include James Madison, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State in its team statistics this season because they officially are transitioning from the FCS to FBS levels.

So, the NCAA has 130 teams in its statistics, and Iowa is 130th in total offense at 240.8 yards per game. If you include the transitioning teams, however, the Hawkeyes aren’t at the bottom. Sam Houston State averages 219.5 yards per game in its first FBS go-round.

Last year, Iowa was 129th of the 130 teams in the NCAA stats at 251.8 yards per game. In 2021, the Hawkeyes were 121st of 130, with 303.7 ypg.

Iowa averages just 55.4 offensive plays per game. Only Kentucky has fewer, 55.2. Yet, Kentucky is 5-0 and Iowa 4-1. Kentucky averages 396.8 yards.

The Hawkeyes are 114th in rushing offense. Their 3.52 yards per carry ranks 110th.

At 133.8 yards per game, Iowa is 128th in passing offense. That’s ahead of only Navy (107.3 ypg) and Air Force (82.0). The Hawkeyes have passed 125 times, Navy 56, Air Force 19.

Iowa’s 48.8 percent passing is dead last in the nation. By comparison, 2024 Big Ten members Oregon, Washington and USC have completed 81.0, 74.1 and 73.3 percent of their passes, respectively.

The Hawkeyes are last in quarterback sacks per game with 0.6, three in five games. They were third in the Big Ten in sacks last year with 34, 2.6 per game.

The object of the game remains outscoring the other team. The Hawkeyes average 22.2 points (100th), but allow just 16.8 (21st).

Thanks to Cooper DeJean’s 70-yarder Saturday against Michigan State, Iowa is tied for first nationally in punt returns for touchdowns with one. Seventeen other teams have one. The Hawkeyes have the only one in the Big Ten.

The Hawkeyes are second in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game at 21.6, trailing only Michigan. They are 11th in kickoff returns (28.6-yard average). They are 128th in third down-conversions at 27.7 percent.

Iowa doesn’t have a top-100 passer, rusher or receiver, but Tory Taylor is sixth in punting at 47.8 yards per kick.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com