Likes, dislikes from Iowa football's win over Northwestern

Iowa's defense was dominant in their 24-10 victory against Northwestern on November 7, never trailing throughout the game. The Hawkeyes improved their record to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play. Iowa's defensive coordinator, Phil Parker, had a compelling matchup against Northwestern's offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly. Northwestern struggled without their starting quarterback, Aidan Chiles, but Parker's unit still held Northwestern to a season-low 10 points.

Running back L.J. Phillips Jr. delivered his best performance of the season, rushing for 128 yards and a 45-yard touchdown run after an injury-related slow start. Special teams also played a crucial role, with Braeden Jackson returning a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, extending Iowa's lead to 21-3.

Hank Brown started the game with a strong performance, completing 11 of his first 12 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing. Iowa's linebackers, Cam Buffington and Jayden Montgomery, combined for 21 tackles, showcasing their strong play. Wide receiver Caden Buhr has made two field goals of over 50 yards in recent games, including a 54-yarder against Wisconsin and a 52-yarder against Northwestern.

Despite Iowa's struggles with turnovers and penalties, the team remains optimistic about their College Football Playoff hopes. They now hold a 3-1 road record after victories at Michigan, Washington, and Northwestern. The Hawkeyes will need to win their remaining three games - against Purdue (home), Illinois (away), and Nebraska (home) - to have a realistic chance at securing a spot in the 12-team field.