Iowa Football: 3 takeaways from sleepy win over Illinois in Week 13

By Dante Pryor | Nov 23, 2019

IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes rushes up field during the first half past defensive back Devon Witherspoon #31 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 23, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- AUGUST 31: Quarterback Nate Stanley #4 and quarterbacks coach Ken O’Keefe of the Iowa Hawkeyes take the field before the match-up against the Miami RedHawks on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

2. Iowa was very Iowa

This was the most Iowa game Iowa could play — in Iowa. The Hawkeyes played good defense and had a conservative game plan. Illinois did a good job of stopping their run game. They got three turnovers on defense, and held the Fighting Illini scoreless in the second and third quarters.

When the Hawkeyes jumped out to a 13-7 lead, Iowa sat on the lead, played ball control offense and just sat on the lead and played good defense.

Early in the game Nathan Stanley was throwing the ball all over the field to get them to that lead. To the credit of the Illini, they kept the Hawkeyes out of the end-zone, but the Hawkeyes made sure the Illini couldn’t score either.

The one thing that’s missing from the Hawkeyes this season is the run game. They have really good perimeter players, but the run game has left a lot to be desired this season. The Hawkeyes only ran for 79 yards in this one and under four yards per rush this season. What the offensive coaching staff has done is use the short pass game to compensate.

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