Iowa Football: 3 takeaways from slim win against Purdue in Week 8

Iowa football struggled to put away Purdue at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. What did we learn from another defensive struggle by the Hawkeyes in Week 8?

On one hand, Iowa improved to 2-2 in Big Ten play against Purdue and moved within one game of bowl eligibility. The Hawkeyes doubled up the score in a 26-20 victory at home in Iowa City against the Boilermakers, as they controlled the clock for more than 35 minutes and slowly suffocated any chance of an upset by the visitors. But the final result flattered the Hawkeyes in a game that was much closer than the final margin.

On the other hand, there were some distressing signs of struggle when Iowa had the football. Getting into the endzone proved incredibly difficult for a Hawkeyes team that entered the game ranked 93rd nationally in scoring offense. The running game barely topped 100 yards on the ground, getting a late surge from Mekhi Sargent as the final score was opened up.

There were also moments when they were off the football that Iowa looked vulnerable. While the nation’s fifth-ranked scoring defense did its part to force Purdue field goals, there were moments where it looked like that might not be enough to hold on for victory.

Ultimately the home crowd went home happy after securing the Big Ten victory in the divisional showdown against Purdue. What did we learn from the six-point win at home on Saturday afternoon?