College Basketball

Iowa Hawkeyes: Top Five Football/Basketball Moments Of 2016

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:14 p.m. ET

Fansided, Jeremy Karll/FanSided via Dear Old Gold

Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The top-five Iowa Hawkeyes’ basketball/football moments from 2016

2016 had a lot of ups and a lot of downs when it came to the Iowa Hawkeyes. In one year, the Associated Press ranked both the football and basketball team in the top-five. It’s an accomplishment and level of dominance never seen in both sports at the same time in Iowa history.

Granted both ended with Iowa losing abruptly in the postseason, but the ride was fun and enjoyable, nonetheless. In a conference that is usually dominated by Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State, it was nice for part of the year the Hawkeyes became the center of attention.

It makes losing in the Rose Bowl and in the second round of the NCAA Tournament more bearable. Plus, the Hawkeyes 2016 football season featured another All-American season for Desmond King, as Iowa went 8-4 and will meet the Florida Gators in the Outback Bowl.

With all the great moments between the football and basketball season in 2016, it’s fitting that there is a top-five countdown of the top moments. Some came at the start of the year and some came at the end, either way, it’s telling of how dominating the Hawkeyes were for a full 365 days.

There still might be a better moment in the last half month of the year, but, for now, here are the five best moments from the Iowa Hawkeyes’ football and basketball seasons this calendar year.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. January 1: Rose Bowl

It happened on the first day of the year, yet it’s still one of the best moments. It would be even higher on the list if the Hawkeyes didn’t lose 45-16 to Stanford in one of the most embarrassing ways possible. Still, going to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1990 to cap off a perfect regular season can’t be overlooked.

Leading up to the game, the air in the stadium was electric. Iowa fans wanted the rest of the nation to respect them after going 12-0 in the regular season and barely losing to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Although, Colin Cowherd and everyone else wanted Iowa to give back their fake ID.

Sadly, Iowa didn’t show up. I could say they were a shell of themselves, but even that would be putting it too nicely.

On the first play of scrimmage, Christian McCaffrey caught a quick slant out of the backfield for a 75-yard touchdown. Stanford then went on to score two more offensive touchdowns, a pick-six and return a punt for a touchdown — in just the first half.

Iowa trailed 35-0 at halftime and much of the nation’s first glimpse of Hawkeyes’ football that year turned into a laughing-stock. Even though Iowa was clearly better than that in 2015, it’s how many will remember them.

Still, going to the Rose Bowl is really impressive, especially since it ended a 25-year drought. The Hawkeyes got embarrassed on national TV, however being in the Rose Bowl is still surreal and who knows when the next time will be.

Win or lose, it’s hard not to enjoy those types of moments.

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

4. September 10/December 8: It’s A Hawkeye State

The last time before 2016 that Iowa beat Iowa State in basketball and football in the same year was 2008. It doesn’t happen often, but it reassured that Iowa is a Hawkeye state for the whole 2016 year and at least most of 2017.

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In football, losing to Iowa State would have been catastrophic. The Cyclones are still one of the worst teams in the Big 12 and Iowa came into the game ranked 16th in the nation and with a Big 10 championship on their mind.

Dominating Iowa State from the get-go, and shutting them out for the final three quarters, was the perfect way for the Hawkeyes to earn their second win of the young season. Iowa won 42-3 in arguably their best played game of the season, though. Everything clicked, and it became evident early that the seniors wanted to leave Iowa with a win over their biggest rival.

Although, the Hawkeyes winning in basketball is what makes this one of the top moments of 2016. Besides the fact Iowa State entered the game ranked and coming off a 44-point win over the same Omaha team that beat Iowa the previous week, Iowa is one of the youngest teams in the nation.

The Hawkeyes could have easily folded in a big, high-pressure game against a better team. Instead, they protected their home court and played their best game of the young season, winning 78-64. Iowa didn’t just win, they dominated the game from the start on both ends of the court just like in football.

Winning against the Cyclones is always enjoyable, but blowing them out in football and basketball in the same year is even better.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. January – February: Iowa Wins 9 Out Of 10 To Start 2016

2015-16 is arguably the best year of Fran McCaffery‘s Iowa career. The Associated Press ranked the Hawkeyes as high as third and Iowa finished 22-11. Even though Iowa took a significant nose dive at the end of the season, they looked like arguably the best team in the nation for a little over a month.

To start 2016, Iowa won nine of their first ten games. That also doesn’t include wins over Drake, Tennessee State and top-ranked Michigan State to end December. Although, it does include Purdue twice and Michigan State again, with two of the three wins coming on the road.

Iowa’s only loss came against Maryland, who was ranked eighth at the time, on the road 74-68.

The Hawkeyes won by an average of 13.4 points during their amazing streak. It’s also when Jarrod Uthoff, who became an All-American, started to gain national recognition as one of the best players in the nation.

Of course, the Hawkeyes ended the regular season with just two wins in their final seven games and a loss to Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

Although, for a month and half, the Hawkeyes went from being unranked to third in the nation, a jump that very few teams any year see. It didn’t last but for a team who hasn’t made it to the Sweet 16 since 1998-99, it was nice to imagine the Hawkeyes being a legitimate national contender for a while.

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

2. March 18: Adam Woodbury OT Tip-In

Coming into the NCAA Tournament after losing six of the past eight games is never a good thing. Iowa went from being the third ranked team in the country to on some people’s bubbles on selection day. To no real surprise, though, Iowa made it in the NCAA Tournament as a seventh seed.

Iowa played the Temple Owls, the tenth seed, and no one knew what to expect from Iowa. If the Hawkeyes that looked like the potential number one seed they were showed up, then they would easily win. On the other hand, if the Hawkeyes that ended the season showed up, Temple would move onto the second round against Villanova, the eventual national champion.

A little of both showed up. Iowa led by 12 in the first half and even 10 with just 13:32 remaining in the game. Although, the Hawkeyes couldn’t shut the door on the Owls and continuously let them back in the game.

Then, with two seconds left, Anthony Clemmons committed a terrible foul to put Quenton DeCosey to the line to shoot three free-throws to try to tie the game. DeCosey hit all three free-throws to send the game to overtime with Temple owning all the momentum.

Just like in regulation, the game went back and forth. Overtime had three blown leads in a five-minute stretch when Adam Woodbury, one of the most scrutinized players on Iowa, made the shot of his life.

Off a terrible looking Mike Gesell jumper, Woodbury tipped in the missed shot as time expired for the Hawkeyes to beat Temple 72-70 in overtime.

Villanova demolished Iowa in the second round, but for one game the March Madness magic was on Iowa’s side. They didn’t go on a Sweet 16 run like many hoped, however Woodbury’s tip-in will be one of the most famous buzzer beaters in Iowa history and at least made the Hawkeyes’ ending a little better.

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

1. November 12: Iowa Upsets Michigan

It wasn’t a top-10 matchup like many hoped for at the start of the season, but it was as good of an ending as anyone could have imagined. Well, maybe not Michigan fans.

Iowa entered the game losing 41-14 to Penn State the previous week, therefore beating Michigan seemed like a joke more than anything. Although, anything can happen under the lights of Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa came out like they needed to prove something, and Michigan came out like they thought Iowa would roll over and quit. The Hawkeyes did the opposite, even after going down 10-0 to start the game. Iowa jumped on Akrum Wadley‘s back and almost tied the game at the half, but an Adrian Falconer two-point conversion drop kept it at 10-8.

Iowa’s stout defense continued in the second half with key turnovers and big third down stands. They held Michigan to just three points in the second half, which was set up on a questionable Brandon Snyder roughing the center penalty.

On Iowa’s final drive, down 13-11 with 1:23 left in the game, Desmond King returned the punt eight yards, but a face mask penalty tacked on 15 more yards. Then, led by Akrum Wadley and a clutch run by C.J. Beathard, the Hawkeyes drove down to the 15 yard line with three seconds left.

True freshman kicker Keith Duncan walked up and kicked it right through the uprights. Iowa won 14-13 and the students stormed the field around Kirk Ferentz and Sam Ponder. In a game that no one believed in the Hawkeyes, Iowa stunned the college football world, and it turned their season around.

They’re now in the Outback Bowl after finishing the season with three straight wins.

It’s a regular season game in the middle of November, but when combining the chance of Iowa winning, the storming of the field and how Iowa won the game, it’s hard to top this moment in 2016.