Wildcats Suffer Setback at Iowa

Saturday, October 29

Iowa City, Iowa

2:30pm CT

Northwestern

1-7 , 1-4

Iowa

4-4 , 2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northwestern

Iowa

Photo by: Joshua Hoffman/NUSports

10/29/2022 5:44:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Postgame Presser Photo Gallery

IOWA CITY, Iowa –– Northwestern fell 33-13 to Iowa on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Hawkeyes improved to 4-4 on the year and 2-3 in Big Ten play, while the 'Cats fell to 1-7 overall and 1-4 in conference.

Brendan Sullivan led Northwestern's passing attack with 159 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and one interception, becoming the first Wildcat QB to pass for a touchdown in his first three appearances since Trevor Siemian.

Evan Hull paced the NU rushing attack by accumulating 32 yards over the course of the game. Anthony Tyus III also added 15 yards on the ground.

Sullivan's most prolific target in the ballgame was Bryce Kirtz, who caught five passes for 35 yards.

Xander Mueller led the Northwestern defensive effort, recording nine tackles, 2.5 TFL, and one sack. Nigel Williams added and Bryce Gallagher had nine tackles in the loss.

Northwestern converted on 41.2 percent of third-down attempts on the day. The 'Cats also went 4-for-4 on fourth down.

How It Happened

After the Hawkeyes jumped out to a 20-0 lead, Duke Olges caught his first career touchdown with 6:17 left in the third quarter to narrow the margin to 20-7. Iowa responded with a 54-yard field goal, then added a touchdown and another field goal to extend its lead to 33-7. Raymond Niro III hauled in his second Touchdown this season on the last play of the game to cap the scoring at 33-13.

Game Notes

» Northwestern converted 7 of 17 third downs, while Iowa was successful on 5 of 11.
» NU had three players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Mueller, who had nine.
» Northwestern held Iowa to a field goal on its opening drive, marking the sixth straight game the Wildcats have not allowed an opening drive touchdown.
» The Wildcats converted four fourth downs on four attempts.
    » It's the first time the Wildcats have gone a perfect 100% on fourth downs this year when attempting two or more.
    » It's tied for Northwestern's most fourth down conversions in a game this season.
» Northwestern ran more plays than its opponent for the fourth time this season.
» Sullivan completed 76.7% of his passes on the day, going 23-for-30.
» QB Brendan Sullivan completed 77% of his passes (23-of-30) for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
    » Sullivan threw a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
    » Sullivan is the first player to throw a touchdown in each of his first three games as a Wildcat since Trevor Siemian in 2011.
    » After completing 75% (18-of-24) of his passes last week, Sullivan becomes the first WIldcat to complete 75% of his passes in back-to-back games (min. 20 attempts) since Dan Persa did so in 2011.
    » He completed eight straight passes in the first half, his career longest completion streak. It's tied for the second longest completion streak by a Northwestern quarterback this season.
» WR Raymond Niro III corralled a seven-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
    » It marked his second career receiving touchdown and third career touchdown.
    » He is the only Wildcat to score a touchdown while wearing the No. 1 jersey since the jersey's tradition began in 2011.
» RB Evan Hull hauled in five receptions, his third game in a row with four or more catches and his sixth such game this season.
» DL Jaylen Pate combined on a tackle for loss in the first quarter, his first as a Wildcat.
» DB Jeremiah Lewis set a new career high with 1.5 tackles for loss and tied a career high with eight tackles.
» DB Garnet Hollis Jr. broke up a pass in the second quarter, matching his career high.
» DL Duke Olges hauled in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brendan Sullivan in the third quarter, the first reception of his career.
    » Olges is the first NU defensive player to score an offensive touchdown since Coco Azema in 2019 against Illinois.
    » He is the first NU defensive player with a receiving touchdown since LB Tim Riley in 2011.
» LB Xander Mueller recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
    » It's tied for both his career high tackles for loss and the most by a Northwestern player this year.
    » A Wildcat has tallied 2.5+ tackles for loss in two straight games.

The Wildcats return home to Ryan Field to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes next Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.