It was one of those cold, crisp November afternoons that Big Ten fans live for. If you were looking for a high-flying aerial circus, you definitely took a wrong turn at the turnstiles. But if you like old-school, smash-mouth football where the trench warriors decide the fate of the afternoon, the Iowa vs Maryland football 2024 matchup at SECU Stadium was essentially your Super Bowl.
The final score read 29-13 in favor of the Hawkeyes. Honestly, it felt even more dominant than that.
The Ground War Nobody Expected to be This Lopsided
Iowa didn’t just run the ball. They imposed their will on a Maryland defense that looked increasingly shell-shocked as the game wore on. The Hawkeyes racked up a massive 268 rushing yards. To put that in perspective, Maryland only managed 98 on the ground.
Kaleb Johnson was the undisputed star of the show. He carried the rock 35 times. Thirty-five! That is a heavy workload even for a bell-cow back, but he turned it into 164 yards and a touchdown. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why he was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist.
But he wasn't alone. Kamari Moulton decided he wanted a piece of the action too. He only had 12 carries, but he made them count, exploding for 114 yards. His 68-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was basically the dagger. One minute it was a six-point game, and the next, Moulton was dancing in the end zone after outrunning the entire Terrapins secondary.
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Jackson Stratton and the "Next Man In" Mantra
Kirk Ferentz has built a career on the "next man in" philosophy, and boy, did he need it here. With the quarterback room battered, Jackson Stratton stepped into the spotlight.
He didn't need to be Patrick Mahomes. He just needed to be efficient. Stratton finished 10-of-14 for 76 yards. Those aren't "wow" numbers, but he didn't throw a single interception. He stayed calm. He let the running game do the heavy lifting. In a hostile environment on the road, that's exactly what a backup needs to do to survive.
Maryland, on the other hand, struggled to find a rhythm. MJ Morris got the start and threw two touchdowns to Tai Felton, but he also coughed up two costly interceptions. Jay Higgins, the Hawkeye linebacker who seems to be everywhere at once, snagged one of those. TJ Hall got the other. When you turn the ball over twice against an Iowa defense, you're basically asking for a long afternoon.
Drew Stevens: The Secret Weapon
We have to talk about the kicker. Most people ignore special teams until someone misses a chip shot, but Drew Stevens was arguably the MVP of the Iowa vs Maryland football 2024 clash.
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He tied a school record with five made field goals.
Five.
He was banging them through from 50 and 54 yards like it was a warm-up drill.
When the Iowa offense stalled in the red zone—which happened a few times—Stevens was there to make sure they didn't leave empty-handed. In a game that was 19-13 late in the fourth, those 15 points from Stevens were the difference between a stressful finish and a comfortable victory.
Why Maryland Couldn't Close the Gap
Maryland had their moments. Tai Felton is a legitimate threat, and his two scores kept the Terps in striking distance for most of the second half. They actually cut the lead to 19-13 at the start of the fourth quarter.
But the defense couldn't get off the field.
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Iowa held the ball for over 37 minutes. That is a staggering time of possession. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Maryland defenders were gassed. You could see it on the Moulton touchdown run; they just didn't have the legs to chase him down anymore.
The Post-Game Drama You Might Have Missed
Behind the scenes, things were a bit tense. Reports started swirling about top Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris reportedly opting out for the rest of the season. Kirk Ferentz didn't exactly hide his frustration in the post-game presser.
He talked about the "new world" of college football—agents, money, and distractions. He praised guys like Jay Higgins and former stars like Sam LaPorta who played through injuries because they loved the program. It was a classic Ferentz moment, a veteran coach grappling with a sport that's changing faster than most people can keep up with.
Maryland's loss dropped them to 4-7, effectively ending their hopes of a winning season and leaving Mike Locksley with plenty of questions to answer about the consistency of his squad. Iowa, meanwhile, moved to 7-4, clinching yet another winning season under the longest-tenured coach in the game.
Actionable Insights for Big Ten Fans
If you're tracking these two programs moving forward, here's what you need to keep an eye on:
- Iowa's Ground Identity: Expect the Hawkeyes to lean even harder on the Johnson/Moulton duo. If their offensive line stays healthy, they are a nightmare to prepare for.
- The Stevens Factor: In close games, Drew Stevens is a massive tactical advantage. He extends the "scoring zone" to the opponent's 35-yard line.
- Maryland's QB Carousel: The Terps need to settle on a long-term solution under center. The talent is there at receiver (especially Felton), but the turnovers are killers.
- Opt-Out Watch: As we head deeper into the "portal and NIL" era, watch how veteran coaches like Ferentz manage their rosters. The locker room culture is being tested like never before.
The Iowa vs Maryland football 2024 game wasn't just a win for the Hawkeyes; it was a statement about their resilience and a reminder that in the Big Ten, the team that wins the line of scrimmage usually wins the game.