American college football season
The1987 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was anAmerican football team that represented theUniversity of Iowa as a member of theBig Ten Conference during the1987 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their ninth year under head coachHayden Fry , the Hawkeyes compiled a 10–3 record (6–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 360 to 231. They concluded the season with a victory overWyoming in the1987 Holiday Bowl . They were ranked No. 16 in the finalUPI andAP polls .[ 1] [ 2]
The team played its home games atKinnick Stadium inIowa City, Iowa .
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source August 30 vs. No. 17Tennessee * No. 16 ABC L 22–2354,861 [ 3] September 12 atArizona * W 15–1457,284 [ 4] September 19 atIowa State * W 48–954,101 [ 5] September 26 Kansas State * No. 19 W 38–1367,700 [ 6] October 3 Michigan State No. 17 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA L 14–1967,700 [ 7] October 10 atWisconsin W 31–1074,645 [ 8] October 17 atMichigan ABC L 10–37105,406 [ 9] October 24 Purdue Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA ABC W 38–1467,700 [ 10] October 31 No. 11Indiana Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA W 29–2167,700 [ 11] November 7 atNorthwestern W 52–2438,694 [ 12] November 14 atOhio State W 29–2790,090 [ 13] November 21 Minnesota No. 18 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry ) W 34–2067,700 [ 14] December 30 vs.Wyoming * No. 18 ESPN W 20–1961,892 [ 15] *Non-conference game Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game
[ 16]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final AP 16 RV RV 19 17 — RV — — — 18 19 18 18 16 Coaches 18 — — — — — RV RV 20 RV 20 RV 16
[ 17]
Kickoff Classic
Team 1 2 3 4 Total #16 Hawkeyes 3 7 9 3 22 •#17 Volunteers 0 14 0 9 23
Scoring summary 1 4:53 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 42-yard field goal Iowa 3–0 2 10:09 UT W. Howard 1-yard run (Reich kick) Tenn 7–3 2 5:46 UT D. Miller 96-yard fumble return (Reich kick) Tenn 14–3 2 1:36 IOWA Kevin Harmon 23-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Tenn 14–10 3 10:56 IOWA Houghtlin 27-yard field goal Tenn 14–13 3 1:53 IOWA Kevin Harmon 20-yard run (two-point conversion failed) Iowa 19-14 4 UT Phil Reich 45-yard field goal Iowa 19-17 4 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 42-yard field goal Iowa 22-17 4 5:14 UT Phil Reich 25-yard field goal Iowa 22-20 4 0:03 UT Phil Reich 20-yard field goal Tenn 23–22
[ 18] [ 19] [ 20]
Iowa at Arizona
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 6 3 0 6 15 Wildcats 0 7 7 0 14
Scoring summary 1 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 27-yard field goal IOWA 3-0 1 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 21-yard field goal IOWA 6-0 2 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 19-yard field goal IOWA 9-0 2 Ariz Lewis 1-yard run (Coston kick) IOWA 9-7 3 Ariz Watters 3-yard run (Coston kick) Ariz 14-9 4 IOWA Bass 3-yard run (run failed) IOWA 15-14
[ 21] [ 22]
Game statistics[ 22] IOWA ARIZ First downs 21 19 Total yards 371 279 Passing yards 150 115 Rushing yards 221 164 Penalties 5–36 4–24 Turnovers 0 4
Iowa at Iowa State
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 10 14 10 14 48 Cyclones 3 6 0 0 9
Scoring summary 1 ISU Shudak 27-yard field goal ISU 3-0 1 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 30-yard field goal Tied 3-3 1 IOWA Harmon 11-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 10-3 2 ISU Shudak 47-yard field goal IOWA 10-6 2 IOWA Harmon 3-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 17-6 2 IOWA Harmon 3-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 24-6 2 ISU Shudak 34-yard field goal IOWA 24-9 3 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 55-yard field goal IOWA 27-9 3 IOWA Hudson 8-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 34-9 4 IOWA Stewart 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 41-9 4 IOWA Poholsky 3-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 48-9
[ 23] [ 24]
Game statistics[ 24] IOWA ISU First downs 26 12 Total yards 455 259 Passing yards 202 155 Rushing yards 253 104 Penalties 4–24 6–30 Turnovers 2 3
Kansas State at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 7 3 3 0 13 •#19 Hawkeyes 14 7 0 17 38
Scoring summary 1 KSU Jordan 4-yard pass from Swim (Porter kick) KSU 7-0 1 Iowa Hudson 5-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Tied 7-7 1 Iowa Harmon 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 14-7 2 Iowa Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 21-7 2 KSU Porter 41-yard field goal Iowa 21-10 3 KSU Porter 34-yard field goal Iowa 21-13 4 Iowa Early 14-yard pass from McGwire (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 28-13 4 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 20-yard field goal Iowa 31-13 4 Iowa Marciano 8-yard pass from McGwire (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 38-13
[ 25]
Game statistics[ 26] KSU IOWA First downs 11 27 Total yards 188 443 Passing yards 104 271 Rushing yards 84 172 Penalties 10–76 6–44 Turnovers 5 7
Michigan State at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Spartans 7 0 6 6 19 #17 Hawkeyes 7 7 0 0 14
Scoring summary 1 IOWA Early 19-yard pass fromDan McGwire (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0 1 Mich St White 5-yard run (Langeloh kick) Tied 7-7 2 Iowa Watkins 14-yard pass from McGwire (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-7 3 Mich St Langeloh 21-yard field goal IOWA 14-10 3 Mich St Langeloh 46-yard field goal IOWA 14-13 4 Mich St Sargent 8-yard pass from McAllister (pass failed) Mich St 19-14
[ 27] [ 28]
Game statistics[ 29] MSU IOWA First downs 16 15 Total yards 249 214 Passing yards 13 230 Rushing yards 236 (-16) Penalties 13–102 7–50 Turnovers 1 1
Iowa at Wisconsin
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 7 14 7 3 31 Badgers 0 3 7 0 10
Scoring summary 1 IOWA Cook 51-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0 2 IOWA Hartlieb 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-0 2 IOWA Bass 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21-0 2 Wisc Gregoire 37-yard field goal IOWA 21-3 3 IOWA Early 9-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28-3 3 Wisc Artley 66-yard run (Gregoire kick) IOWA 28-10 4 IOWA Houghtlin 32-yard field goal IOWA 31-10
[ 30]
Game statistics IOWA WIS First downs 23 10 Total yards 412 175 Passing yards 223 58 Rushing yards 189 117 Penalties 5–50 3–35 Turnovers 3 4
Iowa at Michigan
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Hawkeyes 0 10 0 0 10 •Wolverines 6 24 0 7 37
Scoring summary 1 Mich D. Brown 1-yard run (kick failed) Mich 6-0 2 Mich Gillette 42-yard field goal Mich 9-0 2 Mich Kolesar 35-yard pass from Brown (Gillette kick) Mich 16-0 2 IOWA Clark 6-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Mich 16-7 2 Mich McMurtry 12-yard pass from Brown (Gillette kick) Mich 23-7 2 IOWA Houghtlin 46-yard field goal Mich 23-10 2 Mich McMurtry 12-yard pass from Brown (Gillette kick) Mich 30-10 4 Mich Morris 3-yard run (Gillette kick) Mich 37-10
[ 31]
Game statistics IOWA MICH First downs 13 19 Total yards 349 352 Passing yards 362 190 Rushing yards (-13) 162 Penalties 4–42 2–16 Turnovers 1 2
Purdue at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Boilermakers 0 7 7 0 14 •Hawkeyes 14 7 10 7 38
Scoring summary 1 Iowa Bass 3-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 7-0 1 Iowa Quinn Early 38-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 14-0 2 Iowa Travis Watkins 55-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 21-0 2 Purdue Darren Myles 1-yard run (kick) Iowa 21-7 3 Purdue Hardy 22-yard pass from McCarthy (kick) Iowa 21-14 3 Iowa Craig Clark 46-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 28-14 3 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 30-yard field goal Iowa 31-14 4 Iowa T. Stewart 13-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 38-14
[ 32]
Game statistics[ 33] PUR IOWA First downs 16 29 Total yards 301 520 Passing yards 259 317 Rushing yards 42 203 Penalties 5–45 7–44 Turnovers 5 2
Indiana at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total #11 Hoosiers 0 7 7 7 21 •Hawkeyes 13 7 0 9 29
Scoring summary 1 Iowa Quinn Early 35-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 7-0 1 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 23-yard field goal Iowa 10-0 1 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 37-yard field goal Iowa 13-0 2 Indiana E. Jones 41-yard pass from Schnell (Stoyanovich kick) Iowa 13-7 2 Iowa Bass 3-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 20-7 3 Indiana Thompson 1-yard run (Stoyanovich kick)Iowa 20-14 4 Indiana E. Jones 32-yard pass from Kramme (Stoyanovich kick) Indiana 21-20 4 Iowa Hudson 1-yard run (pass failed) Iowa 26-21 4 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 28-yard field goal Iowa 29-21
[ 34]
Game statistics[ 35] IND IOWA First downs 16 23 Total yards 305 445 Passing yards 237 282 Rushing yards 68 163 Penalties 8–91 8–72 Turnovers 3 2
Iowa at Northwestern
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 7 28 14 3 52 Wildcats 10 7 7 0 24
Scoring summary Q1 NW McClellan 10-yard pass from Greenfield (Adler kick) NW 7–0 Q1 NW Adler 25-yard field goal NW 10–0 Q1 IOWA Early 35-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) NW 10–7 Q2 NW Pennington 75-yard interception return (Adler kick) NW 17–7 Q2 IOWA Watkins 22-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) NW 17–14 Q2 IOWA Watkins 7-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21–17 Q2 IOWA Hudson 7-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28–17 Q2 IOWA Early 9-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 35–17 Q3 IOWA Early 44-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 42–17 Q3 IOWA Early 95-yard pass from Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 49–17 Q3 NW Greenfield 1-yard run (Adler kick) IOWA 49–24 Q4 IOWA Houghtlin 26-yard field goal IOWA 52–24
Chuck Hartlieb completed 25 of 32 passes for 471 yards and a Big Ten single-game record 7 touchdowns.[ 36] [ 37] Quinn Early hauled in 10 passes and set school records with 256 yards receiving (Big Ten record at the time) and 4 touchdown receptions.[ 38]
Game statistics[ 38] IOWA NW First downs 28 21 Total yards 674 364 Passing yards 584 245 Rushing yards 90 119 Penalties 4–38 9–65 Turnovers 4 8
Iowa at Ohio State
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •Hawkeyes 3 12 0 14 29 Buckeyes 7 7 7 6 27
Date: November 14Location: Ohio Stadium ,Columbus, Ohio Game attendance: 90,090Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), Clear and sunnyReferee: Gil Marchman
Scoring summary 1 10:08 OSU Ross 24-yard pass from Tupa (Frantz kick) Ohio St 7–0 1 7:34 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 39-yard field goal Ohio St 7–3 2 11:19 OSU Ross 60-yard pass from Tupa (Frantz kick) Ohio St 14–3 2 9:10 IOWA Kevin Harmon 50-yard run (pass failed) Ohio St 14–9 2 3:14 IOWA Houghtlin 41-yard field goal Ohio St 14–12 2 0:00 IOWA Houghtlin 22-yard field goal IOWA 15–14 3 6:14 OSU Ellis 20-yard pass from Tupa (Frantz kick) OSU 21-15 4 9:11 IOWA Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 22-21 4 2:45 OSU Snow 14-yard run (run failed) OSU 27-22 4 0:06 IOWA Marv Cook 28-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 29–27
With six seconds left, Chuck Hartlieb threw a 28-yard touchdown pass toMarv Cook on fourth-and-23 to earn Iowa's first victory at Ohio Stadium since 1959.
[ 39] [ 40] [ 41]
Minnesota at Iowa
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Golden Gophers 3 3 7 7 20 •#18 Hawkeyes 3 21 7 3 34
Scoring summary 1 Minn Chip Lohmiller 32-yard field goal Minn 3-0 1 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 37-yard field goal Tied 3-3 2 Minn Chip Lohmiller 44-yard field goal Minn 6-3 2 Iowa Bayless 4-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 10-6 2 Iowa Mike Flagg 15-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 17-6 2 Iowa Early 34-yard pass from Chuck Hartlieb (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 24-6 3 Minn Gaiters 5-yard pass from Foggie (Lohmiller kick) Iowa 24-13 3 Iowa Hudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick) Iowa 31-13 3 Minn Couch 45-yard pass from Foggie (Lohmiller kick) Iowa 31-20 4 2:01 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 37-yard field goal Iowa 34-20
[ 42]
Game statistics[ 43] MINN IOWA First downs 14 30 Total yards 295 510 Passing yards 216 328 Rushing yards 79 182 Penalties 4–33 7–64 Turnovers 0 2
[ edit ] Team 1 2 3 4 Total •#18 Hawkeyes 0 7 0 13 20 Cowboys 12 7 0 0 19
Scoring summary 1 WYO Worker 43-yard field goal WYO 3-0 1 WYO Worker 38-yard field goal WYO 6-0 1 WYO Loving 15-yard pass from Burnett (pass failed) WYO 12-0 2 IOWA Hess 10-yard blocked punt return (Houghtlin kick) WYO 12-7 2 WYO Abraham 3-yard run (Worker kick) WYO 19-7 4 IOWA Wright 33-yard interception return (Houghtlin kick) WYO 19-14 4 IOWA Hudson 1-yard run (conversion failed) IOWA 20-19
[ 44] [ 45]
1987 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
Team players in the 1988 NFL draft [ edit ] [ 46]
^ "1987 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 .^ Lopresti, Mike (August 31, 1987)."Tennessee tips Iowa in Classic" .Argus-Leader . RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "Hartlieb guides Iowa to 15–14 win" .The Des Moines Register . September 13, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Hawkeyes roll past Cyclones, 48–9" .The Sioux City Journal . September 20, 1987. RetrievedMay 13, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "K-State keeps losing" .The Wichita Eagle-Beacon . September 27, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Ron Maly (October 4, 1987)."Perles' ire fires Spartans; Iowa feels heat; No. 17 Hawks spin wheels in 19–14 loss" .The Des Moines Register . pp. 1D, 7D – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "New Badger QB gets hazing from Hawkeyes" .Sunday News . October 11, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Wolverines roll over Hawkeyes" .The Plain Dealer . October 18, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Bass score starts Fry's 'wonderful day' .Omaha World-Herald . October 25, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Hawkeyes clip Indiana, 29–21" .The Sioux City Journal . November 1, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Iowa's Hartlieb bombs Wildcats" .Wisconsin State Journal . November 8, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Iowa's big play dumps Bucks" .Dayton Daily News . November 15, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Hawkeyes roll Gophers, 34–20" .The Daily Nonpareil . November 22, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Creative Iowa rebounds to win by 1 again" .The Los Angeles Times . December 31, 1987. RetrievedMay 14, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "1987 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results" .sports-reference.com . RetrievedNovember 10, 2015 .^ "Iowa 1987 AP Football Rankings" .collegepollarchive.com . RetrievedNovember 10, 2015 .^ "Tennessee Freshman, Bad Pitch Stop Iowa" .Chicago Tribune . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; TENNESSEE KICK EDGES IOWA" .The New York Times . RetrievedOctober 11, 2017 .^ Looney, Douglas S. (September 7, 1987)."DASHING DEBUT BY THE VOLS" .Sports Illustrated . RetrievedDecember 16, 2018 . ^ "Pacific 10 Roundup: Iowa 15, Arizona 14" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^a b "Hawkeyes edge 'Cats for first win" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 19, 2017 .^ "Big Ten Roundup: Harmon's 179 Yards, 3 Touchdowns Help Iowa to 48-9 Victory" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^a b "Hawkeyes roll past Cyclones, 48-9" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 19, 2017 .^ "K-State fails to capitalize on Iowa's mistakes" .The Salina Journal . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Lackluster Hawks top 'Cats 38-13" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 19, 2017 .^ "Who'll Be Counted Out In Big 10?" .Chicago Tribune . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "White, MSU defense too much for Iowa" .Chicago Tribune . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Hawks flounder in Big Ten opener" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 19, 2017 .^ "Big Ten Roundup: Iowa 31, Wisconsin 10" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Big Ten Roundup: Brown and Michigan Bounce Back and Beat Iowa at the Pass, 37-10" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Big Ten Roundup: Iowa 38, Purdue 14" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Iowa burns Purdue in air assault" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 19, 2017 .^ "LATE IOWA DRIVE DROPS INDIANA FROM LEAD IN BIG TEN, 29-21" .The Washington Post . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Iowa tricks Hoosiers in upset treat" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 19, 2017 .^ "Iowa's Hartlieb Throws for 7 Touchdowns" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Hartlieb's 7 Td Passes Sink NU" .Chicago Tribune . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^a b "Hartlieb directs 52-24 blowout" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 17, 2017 .^ "IOWA RALLY UPSETS OHIO STATE" .The New York Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Iowa Beats Ohio State on Fourth-Down Pass With Six Seconds Left" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Hawkeyes break 28-year jinx in Columbus" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedJanuary 28, 2017 .^ "Iowa 34, Minnesota 20" .Chicago Tribune . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Hawks crunch Minnesota in bowl tune-up" (PDF) .The Daily Iowan . RetrievedSeptember 19, 2017 .^ "Wyoming, Iowa Set for Holiday" .Los Angeles Times . RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "Game History: The 1987 SeaWorld Holiday Bowl" .sandiegobowlgames.com . Archived fromthe original on November 18, 2015. RetrievedNovember 17, 2015 .^ "1988 NFL draft" .pro-football-reference.com . RetrievedNovember 10, 2015 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
