{{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] Coaches No. 9 AP No. 10
The 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season . The team was coached by Hayden Fry and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Season
Chuck Long declared that he would return for his senior season. He became an instant Heisman Trophy candidate, and Iowa was a preseason top five team. After three weeks in 1985, the Hawkeyes ascended to #1 in the national rankings for the second time in team history (1960).
Three weeks later, in the sixth game of the season, #1 Iowa faced #2 Michigan in Kinnick Stadium . Iowa trailed 10-9 as the Hawkeyes regained possession of the football at their own 22-yard line with just 5:27 remaining in the game. Long drove the Iowa team to the 12-yard line with two seconds remaining to set up kicker Rob Houghtlin 's game winning field goal as time expired. After a rout of Northwestern, the Hawkeyes were upset by the #8 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus.
The loss to Ohio State cost Iowa their #1 ranking, but the Hawkeyes still won the Big Ten title outright for the first time in 27 years.[3] Chuck Long won many major national awards as a senior, including the 1985 Maxwell Award , given to the nation's top player and the Davey O'Brien Award , given to the nation's top quarterback. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus first team All-American . Finally, Chuck Long was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy to Bo Jackson of Auburn in what used to be the closest margin in Heisman history, losing by just 45 points.
Iowa lost in Chuck Long's final game in the 1986 Rose Bowl . Long's Iowa teams compiled a 35-13-1 record. He graduated with 10,461 passing yards and 74 touchdowns on 782 completions.
Schedule
September 14Drake * No. 5
W 58–0 66,135
September 21Northern Illinois * No. 4
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 48–20 66,014
September 28at Iowa State * No. 3
Raycom W 57–3 53,202
October 5Michigan State No. 1
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa CBSW 35–31 66,044
October 12at Wisconsin No. 1
W 23–13 79,023
October 19No. 2 Michigan No. 1
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa CBSW 12–10 66,350
October 26at Northwestern No. 1
W 49–10 47,269
November 2at No. 8 Ohio State No. 1
CBSL 13–22 90,467
November 9Illinois No. 6
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 59–0 66,120
November 16at Purdue No. 5
CBSW 27–24 57,762
November 23Minnesota No. 3
TBS W 31–9 66,020
January 1vs. No. 13 UCLA * No. 4
NBC L 28–45 103,292
Template:CFB Schedule End [4]
Rankings
Ranking MovementLegend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Final
AP
4 (7)
4 (5)
5 (5)
4 (5)
3 (5)
1 (35)
1 (34)
1 (27)
1 (60)
1 (58)
6
5
3
2 (3)
3 (3)
4 (2)
10
Coaches'
3
9
[5]
Game notes
Drake
Drake at #5 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs
0
0 0 0
0
• Hawkeyes
0
14 37 7
58
Scoring summary 2 IOWA Clark 6-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0
2 IOWA Helverson 4-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-0
3 IOWA R. Harmon 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21-0
3 IOWA R. Harmon 6-yard run (kick failed) IOWA 27-0
3 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 46-yard field goal IOWA 30-0
3 IOWA K. Harmon 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 37-0
3 IOWA Hudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 44-0
3 IOWA Helverson 31-yard pass from Vlasic (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 51-0
4 IOWA Bayless 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 58-0
[6]
Northern Illinois
[7]
Iowa State
#3 Iowa at Iowa State
1
2 3 4 Total
• Hawkeyes
7
34 9 7
57
Cyclones
0
0 0 3
3
Scoring summary 1 IOWA Bush 4-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0
2 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 47-yard field goal IOWA 10-0
2 IOWA R. Harmon 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 17-0
2 IOWA R. Harmon 23-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 24-0
2 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 41-yard field goal IOWA 27-0
2 IOWA Mike Flagg 3-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 34-0
2 0:47 IOWA Smith 9-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 41-0
3 IOWA Scott Helverson 46-yard pass from Chuck Long (kick failed) IOWA 47-0
3 2:10 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 27-yard field goal IOWA 50-0
4 IOWA Scott Helverson 26-yard pass from Vlassic (Cook kick) IOWA 57-0
4 9:21 ISU Frank 52-yard field goal IOWA 57-3
The Hawkeyes earned the third of 15 consecutive wins over their in-state rivals. To date, this remains the largest margin of victory in the series. The convincing win vaulted Iowa to the #1 ranking in the country, a spot they would occupy for five consecutive weeks.
[9]
Michigan State
Spartans at #1 Hawkeyes
1
2 3 4 Total
Michigan State
0
10 14 7
31
• Iowa
7
6 15 7
35
Scoring summary 1 10:23 IOWA Robert Smith 60-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0
2 13:12 IOWA Mike Flagg 17-yard pass from Chuck Long (kick failed) IOWA 13-0
2 11:34 MSU Chris Caudell 32-yard field goal IOWA 13-3
2 9:15 MSU Andre Rison 50-yard pass from Bobby McAllister (Caudell kick)IOWA 13-10
3 12:30 MSU Lorenzo White 23-yard run (Caudell kick)MSU 17-13
3 7:01 MSU Lorenzo White 1-yard run (Caudell kick) MSU 24-13
3 6:16 IOWA Robert Smith 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Flagg pass from Long for two-point conversion) MSU 24-21
3 IOWA Mike Flagg 12-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28-24
4 4:06 MSU Craig Johnson 25-yard run (Caudell kick) MSU 31-28
4 0:27 IOWA Chuck Long 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 35-31
In their first game since ascending to the #1 ranking, the Hawkeyes survived a wild, back and forth thriller. The teams combined for well over 1,000 yards of total offense. Chuck Long (30-39, 380 yards, 4 TD) scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard bootleg with 27 seconds remaining.
[10]
Wisconsin
#1 Hawkeyes at Badgers
1
2 3 4 Total
• Iowa
3
7 10 3
23
Wisconsin
0
0 10 3
13
Scoring summary 1 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 30-yard field goal IOWA 3-0
2 IOWA Bill Happel 8-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 10-0
3 WIS Joe Armentrout 3-yard pass from Bud Keyes (Todd Gregoire kick) IOWA 10-7
3 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 40-yard field goal IOWA 13-7
3 WIS Todd Gregoire 27-yard field goal IOWA 13-10
3 IOWA Ronnie Harmon 12-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 20-10
4 WIS Todd Gregoire 24-yard field goal IOWA 20-13
4 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 35-yard field goal IOWA 23-13
[11]
Michigan
#2 Wolverines at #1 Hawkeyes
1
2 3 4 Total
Michigan
0
7 0 3
10
• Iowa
0
6 0 6
12
Scoring summary 2 IOWA Houghtlin 25-yard field goal IOWA 3-0
2 MICH White 6-yard pass from Harbaugh (Gillette kick) MICH 7-3
2 IOWA Houghtlin 27-yard field goal MICH 7-6
4 IOWA Houghtlin 36-yard field goal IOWA 9-7
4 MICH Gillette 40-yard field goal MICH 10-9
4 IOWA Houghtlin 29-yard field goal IOWA 12-10
Rob Houghtlin kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired to lift the top-ranked Hawkeyes to victory over the #2 Wolverines.
[12]
[13]
[14]
Northwestern
#1 Hawkeyes at Wildcats
1
2 3 4 Total
• Iowa
7
21 7 14
49
Northwestern
3
0 0 7
10
Scoring summary 1 IOWA Bill Happel 28-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0
1 NW John Duvic 21-yard field goal IOWA 7-3
2 IOWA Ronnie Harmon 44-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-3
2 IOWA Robert Smith 89-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21-3
2 IOWA Bill Happel 35-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28-3
3 IOWA Bill Happel 25-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 35-3
4 IOWA Craig Clark 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 42-3
4 IOWA Kevin Harmon 2-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 49-3
4 2:02 NW Marc Bumgarner 4-yard pass from Mike Greenfield (John Duvic kick) IOWA 49-10
On a windy day in Evanston, Chuck Long went 19-26 for 399 yards and a Big Ten record-tying 6 TDs. Bill Happel hauled in 3 TDs, finishing with 117 yards on 5 receptions.
[15]
[16]
[17]
Ohio St.
#1 Hawkeyes at #8 Buckeyes
1
2 3 4 Total
Iowa
0
7 0 6
13
• Ohio State
5
10 0 7
22
Scoring summary 1 OSU Rich Spangler 28-yard field goal OSU 3-0
1 OSU Safety, Sonny Gordan blocked punt out of end zone OSU 5-0
2 OSU John Woolridge 57-yard run (Spangler kick) OSU 12-0
2 OSU Rich Spangler 26-yard field goal OSU 15-0
2 Iowa Ronnie Harmon 3-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) OSU 15-7
4 OSU Vince Workman 4-yard run (Spangler kick) OSU 22-7
4 Iowa David Hudson 2-yard run (run failed) OSU 22-13
[18]
Illinois
Illinois at #6 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Fighting Illini
0
0 0 0
0
• Hawkeyes
35
14 0 10
59
Scoring summary 1 IOWA R. Smith 49-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0
1 IOWA Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-0
1 7:28 IOWA R. Smith 43-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21-0
1 IOWA R. Harmon ?-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28-0
1 0:59 IOWA Hudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 35-0
2 5:16 IOWA Flagg 1-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 42-0
2 IOWA Helverson 8-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 49-0
4 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 37-yard field goal IOWA 52-0
4 IOWA Goodman 16-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 59-0
[19]
[20]
Purdue
#5 Iowa at Purdue
1
2 3 4 Total
• Hawkeyes
7
17 0 3
27
Boilermakers
7
10 0 7
24
Scoring summary 1 Purdue Griffin 49-yard pass from Jim Everett (kick) Purdue 7-0
1 Iowa Ronnie Harmon 2-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) Tied 7-7
2 Iowa Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-7
2 Purdue Medlock 1-yard run (kick) Tied 14-14
2 Iowa Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21-14
2 Purdue field goal IOWA 21-17
2 0:00 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 33-yard field goal IOWA 24-17
4 Purdue Medlock 2-yard run (kick) Tied 24-24
4 1:08 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 25-yard field goal IOWA 27-24
[21]
Minnesota
Minnesota at #3 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers
3
0 0 6
9
• Hawkeyes
7
10 7 7
31
Scoring summary 1 9:48 Iowa Ronnie Harmon 5-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0
1 1:54 Minn Chip Lohmiller 35-yard field goal IOWA 7-3
2 5:15 Iowa Rob Houghtlin 26-yard field goal IOWA 10-3
2 1:40 Iowa Mike Flagg 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 17-3
3 9:39 Iowa Kevin Harmon 10-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 24-3
4 14:11 Iowa Rick Bayless 5-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 31-3
4 2:01 Minn Gailord 16-yard pass from Holt (conversion failed) IOWA 31-9
In the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale , Iowa beat the Golden Gophers in Lou Holtz 's last game as Minnesota's head coach. Chuck Long, in his final game at Kinnick Stadium, became the first player in Big Ten history to eclipse 10,000 career passing yards.
[22]
[23]
Rose Bowl
#13 UCLA vs. #4 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bruins
10
14 7 14
45
Hawkeyes
7
3 7 11
28
Scoring summary 1 IOWA David Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0
1 UCLA Eric Ball 30-yard run (Lee kick) Tied 7-7
1 UCLA John Lee 42-yard field goal UCLA 10-7
2 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 24-yard field goal Tied 10-10
2 UCLA Eric Ball 40-yard run (Lee kick) UCLA 17-10
2 UCLA Eric Ball 6-yard run (Lee kick) UCLA 24-10
3 IOWA Chuck Long 4-yard run (Houghtlin kick) UCLA 24-17
3 UCLA Mike Sherrard 6-yard pass from Matt Stevens (J. Lee kick) UCLA 31-17
4 UCLA Eric Ball 32-yard run (Lee kick) UCLA 38-17
4 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 52-yard field goal UCLA 38-20
4 UCLA Matt Stevens 1-yard run (Lee kick) UCLA 45-20
4 IOWA Bill Happel 11-yard pass from Chuck Long (Harmon run) UCLA 45-28
[24]
Awards and honors
Team players in the 1986 NFL Draft
[27]
References
^ The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. "University of Iowa Football 2011 Media Fact Book: IOWA Captains" (PDF) . The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. p. 146. Retrieved November 9, 2015 .
^ The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. "University of Iowa Football 2011 Media Fact Book: IOWA MVPs" (PDF) . The University of Iowa Athletic Communications. p. 145. Retrieved November 9, 2015 .
^ Big Ten Football Media Guide. Note that Michigan had a 6-1-1 record in second place to Iowa's 7-1 record. Michigan also had tied with Illinois .
^ "1985 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results" . sports-reference.com . Retrieved November 9, 2015 .
^ "Iowa 1985 AP Football Rankings" . collegepollarchive.com . Retrieved November 9, 2015 .
^ "Iowa, Long Route Drake" . Chicago Tribune . September 15, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa rain falls only on NIU" . Chicago Tribune . September 22, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Third-ranked Iowa crushes Iowa State" . The Salina Journal . September 29, 1985. Retrieved November 10, 2015 .
^ "Big Ten Roundup : Iowa Routs Iowa State, 57-3, to Stay Unbeaten" . Los Angeles Times . September 29, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Last-Minute Score Gives Iowa Victory" . New York Times . October 5, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Top-ranked Iowa eases past Wisconsin" . Gainesville Sun . October 13, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Saves Biggest Noise For Finish" . Chicago Tribune . October 20, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Beats Michigan On Last Play, 12-10" . Washington Post . October 20, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa's Last-second Kick Defeats Michigan, 12-10" . Orlando Sentinel . October 20, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Rolls, 49-10; Long Ties Record" . New York Times . October 27, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa's Long Ball Rips NU" . Chicago Tribune . October 27, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Long Throws for Six Scores as Iowa Routs Northwestern, 49-10" . Los Angeles Times . October 27, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Ohio State Upsets Top-Ranked Iowa" . New York Times . November 3, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Hits Illini Early, Often" . Chicago Tribune . November 10, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "A Long Day For Illinois, 59-0 : Quarterback Throws 4 Touchdown Passes in Iowa Rout" . Los Angeles Times . November 10, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Wins, 27-24 on Late Field Goal" . New York Times . November 17, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Believe It--Iowa Rules Big 10" . Chicago Tribune . November 24, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ "Long Achieves Dream of Leading Hawkeyes Back to the Rose Bowl" . Los Angeles Times . November 24, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "ROSE BOWL; U.C.L.A. WALLOPS IOWA" . New York Times . January 2, 1986. Retrieved November 6, 2015 .
^ a b " "College Football Awards - 1985" " . espn.com . Retrieved November 10, 2015 .
^ a b "Consensus All-America Teams (1980-1989); 1985" . sports-reference.com . Retrieved November 10, 2015 .
^ "1986 NFL Draft" . pro-football-reference.com . Retrieved November 10, 2015 .
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