Final
Iowa 24, Utah State 14
The Aggies fell to the Hawkeyes in their 2023 season opener, 24-14, with too many mistakes preventing USU from ever truly threatening Iowa.
Utah State, with 59 new players on the roster and 25 players making their Aggie debut in the first half alone, overcame a slow and ineffective start and largely out-played Iowa in the second and third quarters, but couldn’t find the end zone until late in the fourth quarter and was upended by 10 ill-timed penalties.
4th Quarter
Iowa 24, Utah State 14
1:36 — Utah State QB Cooper Legas finds wide receiver Terrell Vaughn for a 16-yard touchdown late. The Aggies went for the two-point conversion and converted, Legas with a deft pass to running back Rahsul Faison.
10:17 — Iowa pulls ahead, likely for good, with a 3-yard touchdown run by Kaleb Johnson. The Hawkeyes drove 68-yards in 10 plays — aided by some untimely Aggie mistakes — for the game-changing score. Prior to that score by Iowa, Utah State had arguably been the better team on both sides of the ball through the second half.
3rd Quarter
Iowa 17, Utah State 6
12:02 — The Aggies wasted little time cutting into the Hawkeyes lead, with a 7-play, nearly three minute drive to kick off the second half. Kicker Elliott Nimrod connected on the 45-yard field goal try.
2nd Quarter
Iowa 17, Utah State 3
After a difficult first quarter, the Aggies showed real signs of life in the second quarter, on both sides of the ball. USU got on the board for the first time in the game, and stymied the Iowa offense on multiple possessions, allowing only three points at the very end of the quarter.
Miscues upended some promising offensive drives for the Aggies, be it an interception thrown by Cooper Legas or a dropped first down conversion by Jalen Royals. The Aggies did prove capable of moving the ball through the air, though, with Micah Davis, Colby Bowman and Royals each making needed plays.
0:07 — The Hawkeyes stretch their lead to two touchdowns with a 20-yard field goal by Drew Stevens. Iowa drove 47 yards in 11 plays on the drive.
3:54 — Iowa’s defense registers the first takeaway for the game, with defensive back Xaiver Nwankpa intercepting a pass by USU QB Cooper Legas at midfield.
8:38 — USU safety Ike Larsen picks up where he left off in 2022, blocking an Iowa punt. Larsen has now blocked four punts in his Aggie career.
11:03 — William Testa puts the Aggies on the board with a 32-yard field goal. USU drove 56 yards over 16 plays, with success on the ground and in through the air for the first time today.
1st Quarter
Iowa 14, Utah State 0
The Aggies were thoroughly out-played by the Hawkeyes through the first 14 minutes. Iowa out-gained USU 139 total yards to 30, had five more first downs (seven compared to two), fewer penalties and more third down conversions.
Utah State only had the ball for 2:59 in the quarter, but with two tackles for loss and a near interception and fumble recovery, has proven disruptive on defense.
2:02 — Utah State stops Iowa on downs inside Aggie territory, thanks to a timely tackle by nickelback Anthony Switzer.
7:49 — Iowa breaks through for a second time in the quarter with a 3-yard touchdown reception by tight end Erick All.
14:22 — Iowa QB Cade McNamara found wide receiver Seth Anderson for a 36-yard touchdown. The Hawkeyes drove 39 yards in two plays.
Pregame prep
Here are a few stories to get ready for Utah State’s game against Iowa: