American college football season
The1986 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was anAmerican football team that represented theUniversity of Iowa as a member of theBig Ten Conference during the1986 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their eighth year under head coachHayden Fry , the Hawkeyes compiled a 9–3 record (5–3 in conference games), tied for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 352 to 176. The Hawekeys defeated No. 17 Michigan State, but lost to No. 4 Michigan and No. 17 Ohio State. They concluded the season with a victory overSan Diego State in the1986 Holiday Bowl . They were ranked No. 15 in the findalUPI poll and No. 16 in the finalAP poll .[ 1] [ 2]
The team played its home games atKinnick Stadium inIowa City, Iowa .
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 13 11:30 a.m. Iowa State * TBS W 43–767,700 [ 3] September 20 1:00 p.m. Northern Illinois * Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA W 57–366,930 [ 4] September 27 1:00 p.m. UTEP * No. 15 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA W 69–767,500 [ 5] October 4 2:30 p.m. at No. 17Michigan State No. 11 CBS W 24–2175,102 [ 6] October 11 1:00 p.m. Wisconsin No. 10 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry ) W 17–667,700 [ 7] October 18 2:30 p.m. at No. 4Michigan No. 8 CBS L 17–20105,879 [ 8] October 25 1:00 p.m. Northwestern No. 11 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA W 27–2067,250 [ 9] November 1 11:30 a.m. No. 17Ohio State No. 11 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA TBS L 10–3167,640 [ 10] November 8 1:00 p.m. atIllinois No. 16 L 16–2075,190 [ 11] November 15 1:00 p.m. Purdue Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA W 42–1467,321 [ 12] November 22 6:00 p.m. atMinnesota TBS W 30–2765,018 [ 13] December 30 8:00 p.m. vs.San Diego State * No. 19 ESPN W 39–3859,473 [ 14] *Non-conference game Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game All times are inCentral time
[ 15]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final AP — — — 15 11 10 8 11 11 16 — — 20 19 16 Coaches 18 20 14 13 11 11 8 12 12 16 RV RV RV RV 15
[ 16]
Iowa State at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Cyclones 0 0 0 7 7 •Hawkeyes 13 13 10 7 43
Scoring summary 1 11:23 Iowa Houghtlin 32-yard field goal Iowa 3–0 6:39 Iowa Houghtlin 46-yard field goal Iowa 6–0 0:34 Iowa Mauro 43-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 13–0 2 11:30 Iowa Hudson 1-yard run (pass failed) Iowa 19–0 1:40 Iowa Mauro 17-yard pass from Smith (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 26–0 3 10:38 Iowa Houghtlin 37-yard field goal Iowa 29–0 3:24 Iowa Mauro 47-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 36–0 4 11:29 Iowa Bayless 32-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 43–0 1:09 ISU Brown 21-yard pass from Sadek (Frank kick) Iowa 43–7
IOWA: Hudson 20 Rush, 120 Yds IOWA: Mauro 5 Rec, 149 Yds The victory over Iowa State was Hayden Fry's 53rd at Iowa, making him the winningest coach in Iowa history.[ 17] Jim Mauro had three receiving touchdowns and Rob Houghtlin kicked three field goals to lead the Hawks. The Hawkeye defense limited Iowa State to 125 yards of total offense.
Northern Illinois at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Huskies 0 0 0 3 3 •Hawkeyes 15 21 14 7 57
Scoring summary 1 14:33 Iowa Hudson 42-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 7–0 5:27 Iowa Bayless 5-yard run (Flagg pass from Poholsky) Iowa 15–0 2 13:46 Iowa Bayless 87-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 22–0 13:08 Iowa Mauro 39-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 29–0 4:49 Iowa Flagg 20-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 36–0 3 11:36 Iowa Hudson 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 43–0 1:13 Iowa Bass 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 50–0 4 9:27 Iowa Bass 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 57–0 1:18 NIU Nelson 31-yard field goal Iowa 57–3
Three Iowa running backs scored two touchdowns each as the Hawkeyes dominated the Huskies in this quick-moving game. For the second straight week, Iowa's opponent scored with just over a minute remaining in the game to avoid a shutout. Iowa held Northern Illinois to 159 yards of total offense.[ 18]
UTEP at#15 Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Miners 7 0 0 0 7 •No. 15 Hawkeyes 21 20 14 14 69
Scoring summary 1 10:09 Iowa Hudson 1-yard run (kick failed) Iowa 6–0 6:46 Iowa Bayless 1-yard run (Hudson pass from Poholsky) Iowa 14–0 5:26 Iowa Smith 34-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 21–0 1:54 UTEP Adkison 9-yard pass from Garza (Jacke kick ) Iowa 21–7 2 13:53 Iowa Smith 25-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 28–7 10:09 Iowa Harmon 1-yard run (kick failed) Iowa 34–7 0:34 Iowa Bayless 4-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 41–7 3 8:24 Iowa Harberts 59-yard pass from McGwire (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 48–7 5:42 Iowa Harberts 54-yard pass from McGwire (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 55–7 4 3:08 Iowa Goodman 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 62–7 0:28 Iowa Ringer 33-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 69–7
Three Hawkeyes scored two touchdowns each and the Iowa defense gave up just 150 yards in this route of UTEP.[ 19]
#11 Iowa at#17 Michigan State
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 14 0 7 3 24 Spartans 7 7 0 7 21
Scoring summary Q1 MSU Ingram 27-yard pass from Yarema (Caudell kick)MSU 7–0 Q1 IOWA Bass 12-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Tied 7–7 Q1 IOWA Flagg 6-yard pass from Poholsky (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14–7 Q2 MSU Ingram 22-yard pass from Yarema (Caudell kick) Tied 14–14 Q3 IOWA Mauro 50-yard pass from Poholsky (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21–14 Q4 IOWA Houghtlin 42-yard field goal IOWA 24–14 Q4 4:15 MSU Ingram 8-yard pass from Yarema (Caudell kick) IOWA 24–21
[ 20]
Wisconsin at#10 Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Badgers 3 0 3 0 6 •Hawkeyes 7 0 3 7 17
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Bayless 4 yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 WIS Gregoire 27 yard field goal IOWA 7–3 Q3 WIS Gregoire 34 yard field goal IOWA 7–6 Q3 IOWA Houghtlin 39 yard field goal IOWA 10–6 Q4 IOWA Bayless 2 yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 17–6
IOWA: Bass 22 Rush, 107 Yds [ 21]
#8 Iowa at#4 Michigan
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Hawkeyes 7 3 0 7 17 •Wolverines 3 0 14 3 20
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Bass 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 Mich Gillette 53-yard field goal IOWA 7–3 Q2 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 29-yard field goal IOWA 10–3 Q3 Mich G. White 25-yard pass from J. Harbaugh (Moons kick) Tied 10–10 Q3 Mich G. White 10-yard run (Moons kick) Mich 17–10 Q4 IOWA R. Smith 15-yard pass from Vlasic Tied 17–17 Q4 0:00 Mich Gillette 34-yard field goal Mich 20–17
[ 22]
Northwestern at#11 Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 0 10 7 3 20 •Hawkeyes 10 7 10 0 27
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Houghtlin 44-yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q1 IOWA Hudson 50-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 10–0 Q2 IOWA Early 93-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 17–0 Q2 NW Duvic 32-yard field goal IOWA 17–3 Q2 NW Davenport 89-yard run (Duvic kick) IOWA 17–10 Q3 NW Robertson 34-yard pass from Greenfield (Duvic kick) Tied 17–17 Q3 IOWA Burke fumble recovery in end zone (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 24–17 Q3 IOWA Houghtlin 46-yard field goal IOWA 27–17 Q4 NW Duvic 27-yard field goal IOWA 27–20
[ 23]
#17 Ohio State at#11 Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •No. 17 Buckeyes 0 21 7 3 31 No. 11 Hawkeyes 7 0 3 0 10
Scoring summary 1 12:19 Iowa Kerry Burt 17-yard interception return (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 7–0 2 12:14 OSU Cris Carter 72-yard pass fromJim Karsatos (Frantz kick)Tied 7–7 9:50 OSU George Cooper 9-yard run (Frantz kick) OSU 14–7 5:58 OSU Greg Rogan 31-yard fumble return (Frantz kick) OSU 21–7 3 12:23 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 20-yard field goal OSU 21–10 6:20 OSU Everett Ross 38-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Frantz kick) OSU 28–10 4 7:10 OSU Matt Frantz 37-yard field goal OSU 31–10
[ 24]
#16 Iowa at Illinois
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Hawkeyes 3 7 0 6 16 •Fighting Illini 0 0 7 13 20
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Houghtlin 36-yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q2 IOWA Hudson 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 10–0 Q3 Illinois Pierce 54-yard pass from Menkhausen (Siambekos kick) IOWA 10–7 Q4 Illinois Menkhausen 1-yard run (Siambekos kick) Illinois 14–10 Q4 Illinois Siambekos 29-yard field goal Illinois 17–10 Q4 Illinois Siambekos 42-yard field goal Illinois 20–10 Q4 IOWA Harmon 3-yard run (pass failed) Illinois 20–16
[ 25]
Purdue at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Boilermakers 7 0 0 7 14 •Hawkeyes 14 7 14 7 42
Scoring summary Q1 Purdue Rod Woodson 100-yard interception return (Briggs kick)Purdue 7–0 Q1 IOWA Early 64-yard pass from Poholsky (Houghtlin kick) Tied 7–7 Q1 IOWA Bayless 31-yard pass from Poholsky (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14–7 Q2 IOWA Harmon 4-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21–7 Q3 IOWA Flagg 15-yard pass from Poholsky (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28–7 Q3 IOWA Bayless run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 42–7 Q4 IOWA Watkins 42-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 42–7 Q4 Purdue Schieb 18-yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick) IOWA 42–14
[ 26]
Iowa at Minnesota
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 0 0 13 17 30 Golden Gophers 7 10 7 3 27
Scoring summary Q1 MINN Goetz 6-yard run (Lohmiller kick) MINN 7–0 Q2 MINN D. Thompson 8-yard run (Lohmiller kick) MINN 14–0 Q2 MINN Lohmiller 62-yard field goal MINN 17–0 Q3 IOWA Houghtlin 49-yard field goal MINN 17–3 Q3 IOWA Marciano 89-yard punt return (Houghtlin kick) MINN 17–10 Q3 MINN Foggie 23-yard run (Lohmiller kick) MINN 24–10 Q3 IOWA Houghtlin 38-yard field goal MINN 24–13 Q4 IOWA Flagg 1-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) MINN 24–20 Q4 IOWA Bayless 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 27–24 Q4 MINN Lohmiller 49-yard field goal Tie 27–27 Q4 0:01 IOWA Houghtlin 37-yard field goal IOWA 30–27
IOWA: Mauro 6 Rec, 100 Yds [ 27] [ 28]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 7 6 8 18 39 Aztecs 6 15 7 10 38
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Bayless 5-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 SDSU Hardy 6-yard pass from Santos (kick failed) IOWA 7–6 Q2 SDSU Jackson 44-yard pass from Santos (Hardy run) SDSU 14–7 Q2 IOWA Vlasic 1-yard run (kick failed) SDSU 14–13 Q2 SDSU Gilbreath 28-yard pass from Santos (Rahill kick) SDSU 21–13 Q3 SDSU Gilmore 1-yard run (Rahill kick) SDSU 28–13 Q3 IOWA Hudson 1-yard run (Smith pass from Vlasic) SDSU 28–21 Q4 SDSU Hardy 6-yard run (Rahill kick) SDSU 35–21 Q4 IOWA Cook 29-yard pass from Vlasic (Flagg pass from Vlasic) SDSU 35–29 Q4 IOWA Flagg 4-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 36–35 Q4 SDSU Rahill 21-yard field goal SDSU 38–36 Q4 IOWA Houghtlin 41-yard field goal IOWA 39–38
[ 29] [ 30]
1986 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
Team players in the 1987 NFL draft [ edit ] [ 31]
^ "1986 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results" .SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. RetrievedMay 27, 2025 .^ "2022 Iowa Football Media Guide" (PDF) . University of Iowa. pp. 196, 243. RetrievedMay 27, 2025 .^ "Old, familiar story: Iowa 43, ISU 7" .The Des Moines Register . September 14, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Iowa's Bayless sparkles" .The Sioux City Journal . September 21, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Iowa rolls to win over UTEP" .The Daily Nonpareil . September 28, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Spartan rally picked off by Iowa" .The Flint Journal . October 5, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Two Bayless touchdowns boost Iowa over Badgers" .Green Bay Press-Gazette . October 12, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Tommy George (October 19, 1986)."Sweet revenge for U-M! Gillette's FG at :00 hands Iowa 20–17 loss" .Detroit Free Press . pp. 1D, 12D – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "Hawkeyes hold on to top Northwestern" .The Sioux City Journal . October 26, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buckeyes take Iowa out of Rose Bowl" .The Courier . November 2, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Hayden Fry's worry is justified after Iowa upset by Illinois 20–16" .Omaha World-Herald . November 9, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Iowa hammers Boilermakers" .The Pharos-Tribune . November 16, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Gophers exchange tie, give Iowa win gift" .Post-Bulletin . November 24, 1986. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Aztecs upended by a field goal as time expires" .The Los Angeles Times (San Diego County ed.). December 31, 1986. p. I-1. RetrievedApril 22, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "1986 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results" .sports-reference.com . RetrievedNovember 9, 2015 .^ "Iowa 1986 AP Football Rankings" .collegepollarchive.com . RetrievedNovember 9, 2015 .^ "Big Ten Roundup : Iowa's Vlasic Picks Up Where Long Left Off" .Los Angeles Times . September 14, 1986. RetrievedNovember 8, 2015 .^ "Fumble Recoveries Fuel Iowa In Pasting Of Niu" .Chicago Tribune . September 21, 1986. RetrievedNovember 9, 2015 .^ "Hawkeyes unload on Miners, Cornhuskers crush the Ducks" .Galveston Daily News . September 28, 1986. RetrievedNovember 18, 2015 .^ "MIDWEST; IOWA HOLDS OFF MICHIGAN STATE, 24-21" .The New York Times . October 5, 1986. RetrievedNovember 9, 2015 .^ "Iowa beats back upstart Badgers" .The Cincinnati Enquirer . October 12, 1986. RetrievedNovember 18, 2015 .^ "Michigan Beats Iowa Like Iowa Beat Michigan, 20-17" .Los Angeles Times . October 19, 1986. RetrievedNovember 8, 2015 .^ "NU Loses To Iowa But Wins Its Respect" .Chicago Tribune . October 26, 1986. RetrievedNovember 18, 2015 .^ "Ohio St. Thunders By Iowa" .Chicago Tribune . November 2, 1986. RetrievedNovember 9, 2015 .^ "Illinois Remembers To Pay Back Iowa" .Chicago Tribune . November 10, 1986. RetrievedNovember 18, 2015 .^ "Hawkeyes pummel Purdue" .Indianapolis Star . November 16, 1986. RetrievedNovember 18, 2015 .^ "Darndest Things Hog The Spotlight In Archrival Trophy Games" .Chicago Tribune . November 16, 1986. RetrievedNovember 18, 2015 .^ "Big Ten Roundup : Given a Second Chance, Iowa Beats Minnesota" .Los Angeles Times . November 23, 1986. RetrievedNovember 9, 2015 .^ "HOLIDAY BOWL : SDSU vs. IOWA : 7 Days to Go : His Long Wait Was Worth It : Vlasic Had to Watch for Four Years Before Taking Over at Iowa" .Los Angeles Times . December 23, 1986. RetrievedNovember 10, 2015 .^ "Game History: The 1986 SeaWorld Holiday Bowl" .sandiegobowlgames.com . RetrievedNovember 10, 2015 .^ "1987 NFL Draft" .pro-football-reference.com . Archived fromthe original on December 21, 2007. RetrievedNovember 10, 2015 .
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