The Hawkeyes rode their running game and a strong defense to a 24-10 road win over Northwestern on Saturday. Iowa ran for 170 yards as a team, led by 128 from fourth-year running back L.J. Phillips Jr. Defensively, Phil Parker’s unit had six sacks and eight tackles for loss in a dominant effort.
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The win helped vault Iowa up the Nov. 8 AP Top 25 poll. The Hawkeyes jumped five spots from last week, landing at No. 16 in the newest rankings.
The newest AP poll saw quite a few changes following a massive slate of ranked games over the weekend. The Big Ten is represented by six teams in this week’s rankings, led by UCLA at No. 4. Indiana is ranked No. 6, USC No. 15, Oregon No. 18, and Ohio State No. 21.
Here is the full AP Top 25 poll heading into Week 11:
Missouri 50; Duke 49; Oklahoma State 21; Liberty 14; Louisville 10; North Texas 2;
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A Iowa Hawkeyes fan looks on before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A Iowa Hawkeyes fan looks on before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; The Iowa Hawkeyes come out of the tunnel before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) and wide receiver Alex Eichmann (17) interact on the field before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; The Northwestern Wildcats take the field against the Iowa Hawkeyes at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) passes the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) catches a pass as Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Damon Walters (21) tackles him during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football ascends rankings in latest AP Top 25 poll
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) and quarterback Hank Brown (9) celebrate Brown’s touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes cheerleaders during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz on the sidelines in a game against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz talks to a referee during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Nicco Marchiol (4) passes the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Joseph Himon II (6) runs with the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Xavier Styles (18) tackles him during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Tony Diaz (14) catches a touchdown pass as Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Damon Walters (21) defends during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Tony Diaz (14) celebrates his touchdown reception with tight end DJ Vonnahme (81) during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Cam Buffington (33) tackles Northwestern Wildcats running back Caleb Komolafe (5) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Cam Buffington (33) celebrates a defensive stop against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back L.J. Phillips Jr. (21) runs the ball as Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Robert Fitzgerald (6) defends him during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Cam Buffington (33) and linebacker Landyn van Kekerix (23) tackle Northwestern Wildcats running back Caleb Komolafe (5) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes kicker Caden Buhr (92) kicks a field goal against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Addison Ostrenga (87) celebrates a field goal against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes kicker Caden Buhr (92) celebrates his field goal against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Kahmari Brown (43) applies pressure on Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Nicco Marchiol (4) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Kobie McKinzie (2) tackles Iowa Hawkeyes running back L.J. Phillips Jr. (21) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Damon Walters (21) tackles Iowa Hawkeyes running back L.J. Phillips Jr. (21) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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