Iowa's defense hands Northwestern its first loss at new Ryan Field, 24-10

Iowa ended Northwestern's perfect run at its new $875 million Ryan Field on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes won 24-10 in Evanston behind a defense that recorded six sacks and kept the Wildcats outside its 26-yard line until the fourth quarter, according to the Associated Press recap on ESPN. It was Iowa's fifth straight win in the series. Northwestern had been chasing its first 6-0 home record in 122 years.

The ranked Hawkeyes moved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. Hank Brown completed 16 of 21 passes for 126 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he also scored on a 21-yard quarterback draw on the opening drive. His 24-yard scoring throw to Tony Diaz finished a 97-yard drive early in the second quarter for a 14-0 lead. L.J. Phillips had his best game since arriving from South Dakota, running for 128 yards on 21 carries. Braeden Jackson put the game away in the third quarter. Right after Northwestern's first points, he ran the kickoff back 96 yards, his second return touchdown of the season.

Northwestern played without starting quarterback Aidan Chiles, who missed the game with an upper-body injury. West Virginia transfer Nicco Marchiol went 24 of 32 for 181 yards and a late touchdown to Joseph Himon II, and he ran for 52 yards. Iowa held the Wildcats to 2.8 yards per carry, 1 of 11 on third down and 1 of 4 on fourth down. SB Nation credited Marchiol's scrambling with keeping the sack total from climbing higher. Its review also questioned offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's choice to run the offense through the backup quarterback rather than the Himon and Komolafe backfield, which got just 13 carries combined. The outlet also noted that the returning safety Robert Fitzgerald steadied the defense. Fitzgerald intercepted a pass and made seven tackles, and after Iowa's opening touchdown drives Northwestern gave up only a field goal.

Head coach David Braun told reporters his staff was not satisfied with the result. "We also aren't discouraged," he said, per the AP account.

What it means for next week

After a 6-1 start, Northwestern (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) has now lost two straight: 34-26 at Oregon and then this one. SB Nation wrote that the loss effectively ends the Wildcats' College Football Playoff hopes. The schedule doesn't ease up. Next Saturday they visit ranked Ohio State on Fox. The Buckeyes are 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the league, and they beat Iowa 31-14 earlier this season. Northwestern's one other trip to a top-tier Big Ten opponent ended in a 29-23 loss at Indiana. Whether Chiles is back will shape the game plan in Columbus, because against Iowa the offense managed only a short-field field goal and a late touchdown.

Iowa comes home to face Purdue on NBC. The Boilermakers are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the conference. The Hawkeyes' defense has given up two touchdowns in three games, a stretch that includes a 30-0 shutout of Wisconsin and a 13-10 loss at Minnesota. Iowa's two losses have both come against Big Ten opponents, and with a winning record against the league so far, it sits in a crowded group at 4-2 behind unbeaten UCLA and one-loss Indiana.