In a world where high-powered offenses like the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Alabama Crimson Tide dominate college football, one of the first games from Saturday’s week one college football slate was certainly not high scoring. In fact, Saturday’s noon matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Dakota State was so low scoring it was tough to watch.
At the end of four quarters on Saturday afternoon, the two teams combined for just 10 points with neither team scoring a single touchdown as the Hawkeyes topped the Jackrabbits by a score of 7-3 with teams combining for less than 100 yards rushing. While that final score might look like a relatively normal, albeit low-scoring football score, the way Iowa got its seven-point total was quite unorthodox.
Instead of a simple touchdown and extra point, Iowa got its seven points with a field goal and two safeties. For much of the game, Iowa held a 5-3 lead and it looked like the Hawkeyes might be headed for the first 5-3 victory in an FBS game since 1980 – a game which, by the way, involved Iowa. However, Iowa added a second safety late in the fourth quarter.
It was a mess of a football game. And the college football world had plenty to say about it.
Don’t let Iowa get hot pic.twitter.com/92XomJCXqm
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 3, 2022
"It's 3rd and 6 at the Iowa 34." pic.twitter.com/TQpe6Q70E1
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) September 3, 2022
iowa should turn hazard lights on in the stadium whenever the offense is on the field pic.twitter.com/IzOrMvmtR5
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) September 3, 2022
iowa is every blackjack dealer's nightmare
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) September 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/lukezim/status/1566134708261588993?s=21&t=rDqTxp04aOpdykcQnCIdkw
Iowa showing off its renovated offense. pic.twitter.com/P71uHl6k2H
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) September 3, 2022
It certainly wasn’t a pretty or easy victory for the Hawkeyes, but it still counts the same in the win column.