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1985 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

American college football season

Field	Value
year	1985
team	Iowa Hawkeyes
sport	football
conference	Big Ten Conference
short_conf	Big Ten
CoachRank	9
APRank	10
record	10–2
conf_record	7–1
head_coach	Hayden Fry
hc_year	7th
off_coach	Bill Snyder
oc_year	7th
def_coach	Bill Brashier
dc_year	7th
mvp	{{Collapsible list
title	13 players
1	Nate Creer
2	Mike Haight
3	Bill Happel
4	Ronnie Harmon
5	Scott Helverson
6	Tom Humphrey
7	Chuck Long
8	George Millett
9	Devon Mitchell
10	Jay Norvell
11	Kelly O'Brien
12	Hap Peterson
13	Larry Station
captain	Mike Haight
captain2	Ronnie Harmon
captain3	Chuck Long
captain4	Hap Peterson
captain5	Larry Station
stadium	Kinnick Stadium
champion	Big Ten champion
bowl	[Rose Bowl](1986-rose-bowl)
bowl_result	L 28–45 vs. [UCLA](1985-ucla-bruins-football-team)

The 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1985 Big Ten Conference football season. In their seventh year under head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 304 to 184. They lost to UCLA in the 1986 Rose Bowl and were ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll and No. 9 in the final UPI poll.

Chuck Long declared that he would return for his senior season. He became an instant Heisman Trophy candidate, and Iowa was a preseason top five team. After three weeks in 1985, the Hawkeyes ascended to No. 1 in the national rankings for the second time in team history (1960). Three weeks later, in the sixth game of the season, No. 1 Iowa faced No. 2 Michigan at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa trailed 10–9 as the Hawkeyes regained possession of the football at their own 22-yard line with just 5:27 remaining in the game. Long drove the Iowa team to the 12-yard line with two seconds remaining to set up kicker Rob Houghtlin's game-winning field goal as time expired. After a rout of Northwestern, the Hawkeyes were upset by the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. The loss to Ohio State cost Iowa their No. 1 ranking, but the Hawkeyes still won the Big Ten title outright for the first time in 27 years.

Long won a number of major national awards, including the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's top player and the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback, and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the top player in the Big Ten. He was a consensus first-team selection to the 1985 College Football All-America Team and the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy to Bo Jackson of Auburn, losing by just 45 points.

Iowa lost Long's final game, the 1986 Rose Bowl, to UCLA by a score of 45–28. Long's Iowa teams compiled a 35–13–1 record. He graduated with 10,461 passing yards and 74 touchdowns on 782 completions.

Schedule

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Rankings

Game summaries

Drake

Source: Box score and Game story

Drake Bulldogs}}"	Drake	Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa
First Downs	9
Rushing yards	–36
Passing	19–37–1
Passing yards	184
Total Offense	148
Fumbles Lost	2–2
Punts-Average	9–35.5
Penalties	6–59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake Bulldogs}}; text-align:center;"	Drake	Passing	Ed Cheatham	12–17, 121 yards, INT
Rushing	Lawrence	3 carries, 10 yards
Receiving	Peterson	6 receptions, 85 yards
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	21–31, 248 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	14 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Scott Helverson	7 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD

Northern Illinois

Source: Box score and Game story

Senior WR Bill Happel had a big day with 207 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. The yardage total marked the first time a Hawkeye had more than 200 yards receiving in a single game and stood as the school record for two years.

Northern Illinois Huskies	color=white}}"	NIU	Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa
First Downs	8
Rushing yards	16
Passing	5–14–2
Passing yards	69
Total Offense	85
Fumbles Lost	4–3
Punts-Average	10–43.8
Penalties	2–10
Time of Possession	30:35

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Illinois Huskies	color=white}}; text-align:center;"	Northern Illinois	Passing	Marshall Taylor	3–9, 41 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Antonio Davis	6 carries, 27 yards
Receiving	Andy Wooldridge	2 receptions, 37 yards, TD
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	18–28, 270 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	17 carries, 92 yards
Receiving	Bill Happel	9 receptions, 207 yards, 3 TD

at Iowa State

Source: Box score and Game story

The Hawkeyes earned the third of 15 consecutive wins over their in-state rivals. To date, this remains the largest margin of victory in the series. The convincing win vaulted Iowa to the #1 ranking in the country, a spot they would occupy for five consecutive weeks.

Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa	Iowa State Cyclones}}"	ISU
First Downs	23
Rushing yards	138
Passing	24–40–0
Passing yards	357
Total Offense	495
Fumbles Lost	3–2
Punts-Average	3–38.7
Penalties	6–55
Time of Possession	28:33

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	19–32, 223 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	19 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Scott Helverson	8 receptions, 154 yards, 2 TD
Iowa State Cyclones}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa State	Passing	Alex Espinoza	16–33, 157 yards, INT
Rushing	Marques Rodgers	12 carries, 55 yards
Receiving	Danny Gantt	4 receptions, 43 yards

Michigan State

Source: Box score and Game story

In their first game since ascending to the #1 ranking, the Hawkeyes survived a wild, back and forth thriller. The teams combined for well over 1,000 yards of total offense. Chuck Long (30–39, 380 yards, 4 TD) scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard bootleg with 27 seconds remaining.

Michigan State Spartans}}"	MSU	Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa
First Downs	28
Rushing yards	305
Passing	18–28–0
Passing yards	275
Total Offense	580
Fumbles Lost	1–0
Punts-Average	6–37.0
Penalties	9–50
Time of Possession	36:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Michigan State Spartans}}; text-align:center;"	Michigan State	Passing	Bobby McAllister	18–27, 275 yards, TD
Rushing	Lorenzo White	39 carries, 226 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Mark Ingram	7 receptions, 148 yards
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	30–39, 380 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	20 carries, 84 yards
Receiving	Scott Helverson	9 receptions, 102 yards

at Wisconsin

Source: Box score and Game story

Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa	Wisconsin Badgers	color=white}}"	Wis
First Downs	15
Rushing yards	174
Passing	18–30–1
Passing yards	167
Total Offense	341
Fumbles Lost	2–2
Punts-Average	5–43.4
Penalties	7–49
Time of Possession	26:58

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	18–28, 167 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	20 carries, 175 yards, TD
Receiving	Ronnie Harmon	8 receptions, 62 yards
Wisconsin Badgers	color=white}}; text-align:center;"	Wisconsin	Passing	Bud Keyes	7–19, 88 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Larry Emery	19 carries, 104 yards
Receiving	Scott Sharron	5 receptions, 47 yards

No. 2 Michigan

Source: Box score and Game story

The #1 Hawkeyes dominated the game statistically — holding major advantages in total yards (422–182), offensive plays (84–41), and time of possession (38:05-21:55) — but could not find the end zone. Rob Houghtlin kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired to lift the top-ranked Hawkeyes to victory over the #2 "Wolverdinks", as Houghtlin referred to them.

Michigan Wolverines}}"	Mich	Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa
First Downs	9
Rushing yards	127
Passing	8–13–0
Passing yards	55
Total Offense	182
Fumbles Lost	0–0
Punts-Average	6–39.8
Penalties	4–35
Time of Possession	21:55

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Michigan Wolverines}}; text-align:center;"	Michigan	Passing	Jim Harbaugh	8–13, 55 yards, TD
Rushing	Jamie Morris	14 carries, 70 yards
Receiving	Paul Jokisch	2 receptions, 23 yards
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	26–39, 297 yards, INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	32 carries, 120 yards
Receiving	Bill Happel	9 receptions, 107 yards

at Northwestern

Source: Box score and Game story

On a windy day in Evanston, Chuck Long went 19-26 for 399 yards and a Big Ten record-tying 6 TDs. Bill Happel hauled in three touchdowns, finishing with 117 yards on 5 receptions.

Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa	Northwestern Wildcats	color=white}}"	NW
First Downs	20
Rushing yards	124
Passing	19–26–1
Passing yards	399
Total Offense	523
Fumbles Lost	1–0
Punts-Average	4–36.3
Penalties	4–34

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	19–26, 399 yards, 6 TD, INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	14 carries, 74 yards
Receiving	Bill Happel	5 receptions, 117 yards, 3 TD
Northwestern Wildcats	color=white}}; text-align:center;"	Northwestern	Passing	Mike Greenfield	21–40, 242 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing	Mike Greenfield	29 carries, 18 yards
Receiving	George Jones	4 receptions, 84 yards

at No. 8 Ohio State

Source: Box score

Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa	Ohio State Buckeyes	color=white}}"	Ohio St
First Downs	21
Rushing yards	186
Passing	17–34–4
Passing yards	169
Total Offense	345
Fumbles Lost	2–1
Punts-Average	4–32.5
Penalties	3–16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	19–26, 169 yards, 4 INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	26 carries, 120 yards, TD
Receiving	Ronnie Harmon	5 receptions, 19 yards
Ohio State Buckeyes	color=white}}; text-align:center;"	Ohio State	Passing	Jim Karsatos	10–17, 151 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	George Cooper	17 carries, 104 yards
Receiving	Cris Carter	3 receptions, 65 yards

Illinois

Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

Source: Box score

Illinois Fighting Illini}}"	Illinois	Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa
First Downs	14
Rushing yards	5
Passing	30–58–5
Passing yards	227
Total Offense	232
Fumbles Lost	5–4
Punts-Average	9–34.8
Penalties	10–82
Time of Possession	27:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois Fighting Illini}}; text-align:center;"	Illinois	Passing	Jack Trudeau	26–47, 208 yards, 4 INT
Rushing	Thomas Rooks	7 carries, 26 yards
Receiving	David Williams	10 receptions, 70 yards
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	22–30, 289 yards, 4 TD, INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	32 carries, 120 yards
Receiving	Robert Smith	3 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD

at Purdue

Source: Box score and Game story

Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa	Purdue Boilermakers}}"	Purdue
First Downs	28
Rushing yards	206
Passing	20–33–1
Passing yards	268
Total Offense	474
Fumbles Lost	1–0
Punts-Average	5–31.8
Penalties	4–19
Time of Possession	34:30

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	20–33, 268 yards, INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	25 carries, 122 yards, TD
Receiving	Ronnie Harmon	9 receptions, 118 yards
Purdue Boilermakers}}; text-align:center;"	Purdue	Passing	Jim Everett	23–32, 315 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Ray Wallace	10 carries, 21 yards
Receiving	Steve Griffin	4 receptions, 110 yards, TD

Minnesota

Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 11:40 a.m.

Source: Box score and Game story

In the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale, Iowa beat the Golden Gophers in Lou Holtz's last game as Minnesota's head coach. Chuck Long, in his final game at Kinnick Stadium, became the first player in Big Ten history to eclipse 10,000 career passing yards.

Minnesota Golden Gophers}}"	Minn	Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa
First Downs	18
Rushing yards	154
Passing	9–18–0
Passing yards	118
Total Offense	272
Fumbles Lost	4–2
Punts-Average	6–32.8
Penalties	1–5
Time of Possession	30:10

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Minnesota Golden Gophers}}; text-align:center;"	Minnesota	Passing	Rickey Foggie	6–13, 69 yards
Rushing	David Puk	13 carries, 61 yards
Receiving	Eugene Gailord	3 receptions, 57 yards, TD
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	21–31, 268 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	13 carries, 75 yards, TD
Receiving	Scott Helverson	7 receptions, 86 yards

vs. No. 13 UCLA (Rose Bowl)

2:12 p.m.

Main article: 1986 Rose Bowl

UCLA Bruins}}"	UCLA	Iowa Hawkeyes}}"	Iowa
First Downs	29
Rushing yards	55–299
Passing	16–26–1
Passing yards	189
Total Offense	488
Fumbles Lost	3–2
Punts-Average	2–38.5
Penalties	6–36

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UCLA Bruins}}; text-align:center;"	UCLA	Passing	Matt Stevens	16–26, 189 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Eric Ball	12 carries, 67 yards
Receiving	Mike Sherrard	4 receptions, 48 yards
Iowa Hawkeyes}}; text-align:center;"	Iowa	Passing	Chuck Long	29–37, 319 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Ronnie Harmon	14 carries, 55 yards
Receiving	Ronnie Harmon	11 receptions, 102 yards

Roster

Bill Snyder – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Bill Brashier – Defensive coordinator
Kirk Ferentz – Offensive line
Carl Jackson – Running backs
Del Miller – Offensive assistant
Dan McCarney – Defensive line
Barry Alvarez – Linebackers
Don Patterson – Defensive backs
Bernie Wyatt – Defensive ends/recruiting coordinator
Bill Dervich – Strength and conditioning
Bob Stoops – Volunteer assistant

Awards and honors

Chuck Long, Quarterback – Big Ten Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award, and Runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Consensus First-team All-American.
Larry StationLinebacker $2 – Consensus First-team All-American.

1986 NFL draft

Main article: 1986 NFL draft

Future head coaches

References

The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. "University of Iowa Football 2011 Media Fact Book: IOWA MVPs". The University of Iowa Athletic Communications.
The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. "University of Iowa Football 2011 Media Fact Book: IOWA Captains". The University of Iowa Athletic Communications.
"1985 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
"2022 Iowa Football Media Guide". University of Iowa.
Big Ten Football Media Guide. Michigan, who had tied with [[1985 Illinois Fighting Illini football team. Illinois]], finished second in the Big Ten with a 6–1–1 record.
(September 15, 1985). "Iowa bites 'Dogs, 58–0: 37-point quarter ruins Drake effort". Cedar Rapids Gazette.
(September 22, 1985). "Hawks limit foe to 85 net yards". The Sioux City Journal.
(September 29, 1985). "Hawks humiliate ISU". The Gazette.
(October 6, 1985). "Spartans scare Hawkeyes". The Ann Arbor News.
(October 13, 1985). "Hawks survive late Badger bid". The Dispatch.
(October 20, 1985). "Houghtlin's dramatic boot lifts Hawkeyes, 12–10". The Indianapolis Star.
(October 27, 1985). "Long rips Wildcat defense". Quad-City Times.
(November 3, 1985). "No. 1 Hawkeyes stunned by inspired OSU, 22–13". The Daily Nonpareil.
(November 10, 1985). "Long, Hawkeyes make short work of Illini 59–0". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
(November 17, 1985). "Buckeyes' loss puts Iowa in driver's seat". Omaha World-Herald.
(November 24, 1985). "Gophers can't spoil Iowa's day". Minneapolis Star & Tribune.
(January 2, 1986). "UCLA has too much for Iowa". Spokane Chronicle.
"1985 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results".
(September 15, 1985). "Iowa bites 'Dogs, 58-0: 37-point quarter ruins Drake effort". Cedar Rapids Gazette.
(September 22, 1985). "Iowa rain falls only on NIU". Chicago Tribune.
(September 29, 1985). "Big Ten Roundup : Iowa Routs Iowa State, 57-3, to Stay Unbeaten". Los Angeles Times.
(September 29, 1985). "Third-ranked Iowa crushes Iowa State". [[The Salina Journal]].
(October 5, 1985). "Last-Minute Score Gives Iowa Victory". New York Times.
(October 13, 1985). "Top-ranked Iowa eases past Wisconsin". Gainesville Sun.
Big Ten Elite, Season 2, Episode 3
(October 20, 1985). "Iowa Saves Biggest Noise For Finish". Chicago Tribune.
(October 20, 1985). "Iowa Beats Michigan On Last Play, 12-10". Washington Post.
(October 20, 1985). "Iowa's Last-second Kick Defeats Michigan, 12-10". Orlando Sentinel.
(October 20, 1985). "Hawkeyes win No. 1 thriller, 12-10". Des Moines Register.
(October 20, 1985). "Kick by Iowa Stops Michigan". [[The New York Times]].
(October 27, 1985). "Iowa Rolls, 49-10; Long Ties Record". New York Times.
(October 27, 1985). "Iowa's Long Ball Rips NU". Chicago Tribune.
(October 27, 1985). "Long Throws for Six Scores as Iowa Routs Northwestern, 49-10". Los Angeles Times.
(November 3, 1985). "Ohio State Upsets Top-Ranked Iowa". New York Times.
(November 9, 1985). "Like Father, Like Son? Iowa End Hopes So". [[Chicago Tribune]].
(November 10, 1985). "Iowa Hits Illini Early, Often". Chicago Tribune.
(November 10, 1985). "A Long Day For Illinois, 59-0 : Quarterback Throws 4 Touchdown Passes in Iowa Rout". Los Angeles Times.
(September 3, 2010). "1985: The Unexpected blowout". University of Iowa Athletic Department.
(November 17, 1985). "Hawkeyes survive Purdue scare, 27-24". [[Des Moines Register]] via newspapers.com.
(November 17, 1985). "Iowa Wins, 27-24 on Late Field Goal". New York Times.
(November 17, 1985). "Purdue Is Beaten By Iowa And Clock". [[Chicago Tribune]].
(November 24, 1985). "Believe It--Iowa Rules Big 10". Chicago Tribune.
(November 24, 1985). "Long Achieves Dream of Leading Hawkeyes Back to the Rose Bowl". Los Angeles Times.
(January 2, 1986). "ROSE BOWL; U.C.L.A. WALLOPS IOWA". New York Times.
""College Football Awards - 1985"".
"Consensus All-America Teams (1980-1989); 1985".
"1986 NFL Draft".

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