Conference Big Ten Conference AP No. 8 Offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe (5th year) | Coaches No. 8 2003 record 10–3 (5–3 Big Ten) | |
Head coach Kirk Ferentz (5th year) | ||
The 2003 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Following a 2002 season that saw the Hawkeyes finish 11–2 with a Big Ten Conference championship, expectations for a third straight bowl game were well warranted. With four offensive starters and seven defensive starters returning from the 2002 season, the Hawkeyes looked to be a primarily defensive team going into the season.
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The Hawkeyes opened the season strong, winning games over Miami, Buffalo, Iowa State and Arizona State en route to a 4–0 record. Undefeated and ranked ninth in the country, the Hawkeyes headed into East Lansing, Michigan for their Big Ten opener. Playing a Michigan State Spartans team that had just beaten Notre Dame a week earlier, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over four times and committed ten penalties in a 20–10 loss. However, with Michigan next up on the schedule, things would get no easier for the Hawkeyes. Before the game, Michigan held a 37–9–4 lead in the series between the two teams.
Down by 14 in the first quarter for the second straight game, the Hawkeyes came back to take a 30–20 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Michigan threatened the Iowa lead late, but the Hawkeyes held on for the 30–27 victory. After the victory, Iowa lost on the road to Ohio State, but followed with home wins over Illinois and Penn State. With a loss to Purdue, Iowa's record was 7–3 with two regular season games remaining. Playing against Minnesota and the Big Ten's top-ranked offense, the Hawkeyes scored 33 points before the Gophers scored a touchdown.
Following the 40–22 victory, the Hawkeyes fell behind unranked Wisconsin 21–7 during the second quarter. Needing a pass deflection in the end zone by Sean Considine with no time remaining, the Hawkeyes scored 20 straight points and escaped with a 27–21 win and a 9–3 regular season record. Playing in the 2004 Outback Bowl on January 1, 2004, the Hawkeyes won their first game in the state of Florida with a 37–17 victory over the Florida Gators. The win was also Iowa's first in the month of January since 1959.
Previous season
Behind strong performances by quarterback Brad Banks, who finished second in the Heisman voting, and the Hawkeye rushing defense, which finished fifth-best in the country, Iowa finished 11–2 and shared the Big Ten championship with undefeated Ohio State. The Hawkeyes finished with an 8–0 conference record that included wins over Penn State and Michigan. Iowa's lopsided 34–9 victory over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor was Michigan's worst home loss since 1967. Despite losses to Iowa State and Southern California, the eleven victories remains the single-season school record (since tied by the 2009 Hawkeyes).
Recruiting class
On National Signing Day, February 5, 2003, the Hawkeyes signed 22 players on football scholarships.
Rankings
Entering the season, Iowa was unranked by both major polls. However, the Hawkeyes would debut in the Coaches Poll as the 25th-ranked team before their first game against Miami University.