Gold Out game against Troy – University of Iowa Athletics

OUR BELL COW

Junior RB Kaleb Johnson is averaging 153 yards on 18 attempts this season. The Ohio native has 36 carries for 306 yards and four touchdowns, including five runs of 25 yards.
• He ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing and fourth nationally, while his four touchdowns lead the league (and rank fifth in the FBS). Johnson averages 8.5 yards per carry, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 10th nationally.
• Johnson has runs of 26, 27, 37, 54 and 64 yards in 2024 – two of which resulted in touchdowns (26, 64).
• Johnson has had two consecutive 100-yard games, becoming the first Hawkeye since 2017 (Akrum Wadley) to do so in the first two games of the season. The last player to have two consecutive 100-yard games was Tyler Goodson in 2021.
• He has six 100-yard games in his career – three in 2021, one in 2022 and two in 2023.
• Johnson rushed for a career-high 187 yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts in Week 2 against Iowa State, including 105 yards in the first half alone. Johnson is the first Hawkeye since 2017 to have a 100-yard game against the Cyclones, and the total yardage is the most by an Iowa player in the series since 1996 (Tavian Banks, 182).
• In the season opener against Illinois State, he rushed for 119 yards on 11 attempts (all in the second half), including a 64-yard touchdown run – the third-longest run of his career.
• Johnson is the first Hawkeye to score two touchdowns in consecutive games since Goodson in 2020.

WEJ ON THE RETURN

Senior Kaden Wetjen averaged 10.4 yards per punt return on eight returns this season, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 29th nationally. The Williamsburg, Iowa, native had a 23-yard punt return against Illinois State in Week 1 and scored a punt return touchdown, but it was disallowed due to a penalty.

Close games

Iowa has played 130 games in the Ferentz era that were decided by one point or less. The Hawkeyes have a 65-65 (.500) record in such contests. Over the past two seasons, Iowa has won five of seven games decided by eight points or less.