The Hawkeyes got off to a slow start in week one, even earning some boo birds from the Kinnick crowd in the first half. But Tim Lester put a down payment on his statue with the second half adjustments and production, particularly in the passing game.
Iowa came away with as many receiving TDs by a wide receiver in the second half as they had in the entire season in 2023 and the use of the entire field opened things up for the ground game as Kaleb Johnson returned for a ridiculous 119 yards and 2 TDs on 11 carries in the half.