1968 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1968 Iowa Hawkeyes football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–5 4–3 Ray Nagel 3rd Ed Podolak Ed Podolak Steve Wilson Iowa Stadium The 1968 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1968 Big Ten football season. In their third year under head coach Ray Nagel, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–5 record (4–3 in conference game), tied for fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 322 to 289.1968 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football May 18, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1968-schedule.html2022 Iowa Football Media Guide 242 University of Iowa https://storage.googleapis.com/hawkeyesports-prod/2022/07/b99ff33b-2022_ia_fb_media-guide-online-version.pdf May 18, 2025 The 1968 Hawkeyes gained 2,528 rushing yards and 1,876 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 2,819 rushing yards and 1,283 passing yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161. They broke Big Ten scoring and total offense records.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 151. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Larry Lawrence (88-of-156 passing, 1,307 yards, 60 points scored), Ed Podolak (937 rushing yards), and Ray Manning (35 receptions for 426 yards).2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-280. Podolak set a new Iowa single-game record with 286 rushing yards on 17 carries against Northwestern. Podolak and defensive back Steve Wilson were the team captains.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220. Podolak was selected as the team's most valuable player.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222. The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance totaled 294,126, an average of 49,021 per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260. Schedule 1968 AP September 21 w y Oregon State 8 Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 21–20 46,892 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ia1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4192%2C4794878 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Preece hurt, O-State upset by Iowa 21-20 September 22, 1968 1B September 28 l y y TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX 17–28 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald-frogs-vault-over-iow/168853314/ Waco Tribune-Herald Frogs vault over Iowa September 29, 1968 March 25, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 l y Notre Dame 5 Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 28–51 58,043 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-irish-explode-to-bu/183707614/ The Kansas City Star Irish explode to bury Iowa October 6, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 l y Indiana Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 34–38 54,633 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-indiana-outlasts/183725600/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Indiana outlasts Iowa, 38–34 October 13, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 w Wisconsin Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 41–0 45,651 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-podolak-iowa-star/183726122/ The South Bend Tribune Podolak Iowa star as Hawkeyes romp October 20, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 l y Purdue 7 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 14–44 61,927 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-purdue-rushing-th/183724226/ The South Bend Tribune Purdue rushing thrust cripples Iowa October 27, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 w y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry 35–28 57,703 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-iowa-surprises-gophers/183725059/ The Minneapolis Tribune Iowa surprises Gophers November 3, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 w Northwestern Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 68–34 44,876 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-podolak-rushes-for-2/183726275/ Council Bluffs Nonpareil Podolak rushes for 286; Hawkeyes win, 68–34 November 10, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 l Ohio State 2 Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 27–33 44,131 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-osu-edges-iowa-3327/183723896/ The Saginaw News OSU edges Iowa, 33–27 November 17, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 37–13 35,055 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-hawks-smash-illin/183726425/ The Sioux City Journal Hawks smash Illini, 37–13 November 24, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com1968 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1968-schedule.html Sports Reference January 7, 2018 Schedule/Results (1968 Iowa) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130174 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 26, 2025 Game summaries Oregon State Oregon State at Iowa No. 8 Beavers 14 6 0 0 Hawkeyes 7 7 0 7 September 21 Iowa StadiumIowa City, IA CDT 46,892 yes 1 OSU TD (Arnold kick) OSU 7–0 1 OSU TD (Arnold kick) OSU 14–0 1 Iowa Podolak 2-yard run (Melendez kick) OSU 14–7 2 Iowa Podolak 10-yard run (Melendez kick) Tied 14–14 2 8:36 OSU Rich 1-yard run (kick failed) OSU 20–14 4 Iowa Dennis Green run (Melendez kick) Iowa 21–20 yes 1968 Oregon State Beavers football team Hawk Sophs Prove Determination Can Be Valued over Experience https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1968/di1968-09-24.pdf 4 The Daily Iowan September 24, 1968 January 7, 2018 At TCU 1968 TCU Horned Frogs football team Notre Dame 1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team At Purdue 1968 Purdue Boilermakers football team Northwestern Northwestern at Iowa Wildcats 7 7 14 6 Hawkeyes 14 28 7 19 November 9 Iowa StadiumIowa City, IA 44,876 yes 1 Iowa Sullivan 3-yard run (Melendez kick) Iowa 7–0 1 Iowa Podolak 60-yard run (Melendez kick) Iowa 14–0 1 NW Kurzawski 32-yard pass from Shelbourne (Emmerich kick) Iowa 14–7 2 Iowa Podolak 32-yard run (Melendez kick) Iowa 21–7 2 Iowa Lawrence 7-yard run (Melendez kick) Iowa 28–7 2 Iowa Sullivan 9-yard run (Melendez kick) Iowa 35–7 2 Iowa Manning 19-yard pass from Cilek (Melendez kick) Iowa 42–7 2 NW Emmerich 1-yard run (Emmerich kick) Iowa 42–14 3 Iowa Reardon 95-yard kick return (Melendez kick) Iowa 49–14 3 NW Smeeton 1-yard run (Emmerich kick) Iowa 49–21 3 NW TD (Emmerich kick) Iowa 49–28 4 Iowa Sullivan 11-yard run (kick failed) Iowa 55–28 4 Iowa Manning 6-yard pass from Cilek (pass failed) Iowa 61–28 4 Iowa Green 19-yard pass from Cilek (Melendez kick) Iowa 68–28 4 NW Emmerich 3-yard run (pass failed) Iowa 68–34 yes 1968 Northwestern Wildcats football team It was a record-setting day for the Hawkeyes. Iowa established a Big Ten record for total offense with 639 yards (431 rushing). Ed Podolak rushed for 286 yards (setting Iowa and Big Ten records) and two touchdowns on 17 carries. His performance still ranks #2 on Iowa's single-game rushing list.Podolak Captures Lead in Big 10 Rushing https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1968/di1968-11-12.pdf 4 The Daily Iowan November 12, 1968 January 7, 2018 Iowa Sets Mark https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/221332881/ 39 The Times (Shreveport) November 10, 1968 January 7, 2018 Ohio State No. 2 Ohio State at Iowa No. 2 Buckeyes Hawkeyes 6 6 14 7 0 0 6 21 November 16 Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA 1:30 p.m. CST 44,131 38 F, Rain, Wind E 12 mph yes Q1 12:13 OSU Otis 7 yard run (kick failed) OSU 6-0 Q2 6:42 OSU Kern 3 yard run (pass failed) OSU 12-0 Q3 10:40 OSU Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 19-0 Q3 6:45 IOWA Lawrence 1 yard run (kick failed) OSU 19-6 Q3 1:19 OSU Kern 1 yard run (Zelina kick) OSU 26-6 Q4 8:59 IOWA Podolak 3 yard run (Melendez kick) OSU 26-13 Q4 7:07 OSU Brockington 22 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 33-13 Q4 4:02 IOWA Manning 12 yard pass from Lawrence (Melendez kick) OSU 33-20 Q4 :09 IOWA Reardon 9 yard pass from Lawrence (Melendez kick) OSU 33-27 yes 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team At Illinois 1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football team After winning only 4 games combined over the previous three seasons, the Hawkeyes earned their 5th victory of the season.Seniors Close Careers on a Happy Note https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1968/di1968-11-26.pdf 4 The Daily Iowan November 26, 1968 January 7, 2018 Roster 1968 Iowa Hawkeyes f 10 So Larry Lawrence QB y Larry Lawrence (gridiron football) 14 Sr Ed Podolak RB y 44 So Dennis Green RB y 22 So Kerry Reardon WR y     Marcos Melendez K *Ray Nagel References Iowa Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football seasons Iowa Hawkeyes football