2005 record 7–5 (5–3 Big Ten) | ||
Home stadium Kinnick Stadium(Capacity: 70,585) | ||
The 2005 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa and were coached by Kirk Ferentz.
Contents
Iowa finished the season 7–5, including a record of 5–3 in the Big Ten Conference. Despite an up-and-down season, the Hawkeyes were invited to a January bowl game in Florida for the fourth consecutive year.
Preseason
After three consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins and co-Big Ten championships in 2002 and 2004, expectations were high. A thrilling last second victory over LSU in the Capital One Bowl capped a 10-2 campaign with eight consecutive victories. With the return of first-team All-Big Ten quarterback Drew Tate, and first-team All-Big Ten linebackers Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway (a preseason All-American) anchoring the defense, the Hawkeyes were considered national title contenders by some publications. Indeed, the presence of a running game (the Hawkeyes ranked 115th nationally in rushing in 2004 due to injuries) was thought to make Iowa even stronger. The Hawkeyes entered the season ranked 11th in the AP Poll (10th in the Coaches' Poll), their highest preseason ranking in two decades.