5 takeaways from Iowa football's loss to UCLA

PASADENA, California Iowa dropped its fourth game of the season, falling to UCLA 20-17 in a Big Ten road contest on Friday.

The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) allowed the Bruins (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten) to rush for a season-high 211 yards and overcome a 10-0 deficit to pick up their third consecutive win.

It marked Iowa's fifth straight loss inside the Rose Bowl stadium.

Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) is tackled by UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano (20) and defensive back Devin Kirkwood (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) In Brendan Sullivans first two games with significant playing time, the Northwestern transfer showed out with 173 passing yards and one touchdown while completing 66.7% of his passes.

He also added 98 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

However, beyond his stats, Sullivan seemed to unlock Kaleb Johnson as the superstar scored three touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per attempt over the same two-game span.

On Friday, the Iowa offense came crashing back to earth in the second quarter of the matchup with the Bruins.

Sullivan threw an interception on Iowas first drive and fumbled the ball on the second, committing the first two turnovers of his Hawkeye career.

Iowa went three-and-out on the third drive, losing one yard, and punted the ball back to UCLA to set up a go-ahead touchdown.

Johnson rushed for 20 yards on five attempts, including two runs of one yard and one run that lost one yard, in the second quarter.

The Hawkeyes offense started the game red-hot against UCLA, but the second quarter gave a clearer picture on the pros and cons of Sullivan under center.

UCLA tight end Bryce Pierre, center, is tackled by Iowa defensive end Brian Allen, left, and defensive back Deshaun Lee during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) UCLA finished the first half with six drives.

Those six drives ended in three scoring plays (two touchdowns and a field goal) and three turnovers (two interceptions and one fumble).

In 2023, Iowa ranked 109 th in the nation, averaging just 1.1 takeaways per game, and forced just 15 turnovers (10 interceptions, five fumbles) on the season.

Through nine games of the 2024-25 season, Iowa forced 17 turnovers (12 interceptions, five fumbles).

With UCLAs three turnovers in the first half, Iowas 2024-25 totals rose to 20 (14 interceptions, six fumbles) and two takeaways per game.

During a press conference in September, Hawkeye defensive coordinator Phil Parker said Iowa made a concerted effort to improve its turnover numbers.

We worked on that, Parker said.

We took some stuff from Virginia Tech and ideas of how to get the ball out and try to get the ball back to our offense in good field position.

I think that has been really good.

On Tuesday, linebacker Jay Higgins explained the Hawkeyes borrowed a pre-practice drill from the Hokies.

We started doing a drill pre practice where we pick up loose fumbles, Higgins said.

We will pull the ball out.

We will working on matching the hand, tipping the passes ...

The coaches have brought more attention to it.

Iowa defensive back Quinn Schulte (30) jumps next to linebacker Jay Higgins (34) to intercept a pass thrown by UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Sullivans aggressive play created two turnovers as he looked for a big gain over the middle to Zach Ortwerth and fumbled while attempting to gain more yards.

It also put him in harms way as he took hard hits on a third-down scramble in the first and third quarters of action.

However, the aggressive play also provided a boon to Iowas offense that it had not had this season.

On Iowas second drive, Sullivan hit wide receiver Jacob Gill for a gain of 59 yards.

It is the longest pass for Iowa this season and set up a 24-yard Drew Stevens field goal.

A play-action fake, which benefits from Sullivans running ability forcing defense to account for his mobility, got Gill open and Sullivan hit his fellow Northwestern transfer in stride for the big gain.

Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Down Cade McNamara (concussion) and Marco Lainez III (thumb), the Hawkeyes entered Fridays contest with just two quarterbacks available Sullivan and walk-on sophomore Jackson Stratton, a Colorado State transfer.

Sullivan took a number of hard hits, including a punishing hit from Jalen Woods on a third-down scramble on the first drive of the second half.

Sullivan limped off following the hit from Woods, but returned on the next series.

Despite his ability to return, Sullivan was blatantly limited and did not return after taking a shot following a third-down interception.

On Tuesday, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz indicated he hoped not to see Stratton in Friday night's game despite praise his play in practice.

"I f he goes in, hes practiced well this week ," Ferentz said.

"Hes really learning, and hes a very capable thrower.

Thats his strength, and well see what happens.

But hopefully we just kind of keep the status quo and just keep moving.

But hes done a good job." With Sullivan hampered, Iowas lack of quarterback depth took center stage as the FOX broadcast routinely monitor the sideline activity of Stratton and Sullivan.

Iowa quarterback Jackson Stratton warms up before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov.

2, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa.

In addition to Sullivans myriad ailments, Iowa also lost star linebacker Jay Higgins in the second quarter to a non-contact injury.

Higgins briefly returned on the next UCLA drive before missing the remainder of the contest.

In the third quarter, the Hawkeyes lost their leading receiver, Jacob Gill, after the junior caught four passes for a career-high 113 yards.

He later returned to the game.

Tight end Luke Lachey also remained limited with a lower body injury, but was left off the availability report.

Already without starting wide receiver Reece Vander Zee, tight end Addison Ostrenga, Lainez, McNamara and defensive backups John Nestor and Karson Sharar, the Hawkeyes welcome the bye week as a chance to get healthy before the final three games of the season.

The loss marked Iowa's third in Big Ten play.

All three conference losses came on the road.

Iowa dropped its third consecutive road game as UCLA posted a season-high 211 rushing yards to top the Hawkeyes on Friday.

Injuries gave him the opportunity, but practice and film study helped tight end Zach Ortwerth carve out a role early on in his career with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

A second-year player posted a career performance to lead the Iowa men's basketball team to a win over Southern on Thursday despite rough night defensively for the Hawkeyes.

The Iowa women's basketball team officially began the Jan Jensen era with a win as the Hawkeyes overcame a slow start to beat Northern Illinois in Wednesday's season opener.

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers scrambles during an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, left, throws under pressure from Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan looks to throw during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) is tackled by UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano (20) and defensive back Devin Kirkwood (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson warms up before an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson warms up before an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) warms up before an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, right, runs under pressure from, from left, Iowa defensive lineman Deontae Craig, defensive lineman Max Llewellyn, defensive end Brian Allen during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa defensive back Zach Lutmer, second from left, celebrates with teammates after catching an interception thrown by UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa defensive back Zach Lutmer, left, celebrates with defensive back Jaylen Watson after catching an interception thrown by UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) UCLA tight end Bryce Pierre, center, is tackled by Iowa defensive end Brian Allen, left, and defensive back Deshaun Lee during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa defensive back Quinn Schulte (30) jumps next to linebacker Jay Higgins (34) to intercept a pass thrown by UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster stands on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz reacts from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) UCLA wide receiver Logan Loya, left, celebrates with tight end Bryce Pierre, right, after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Iowa linebacker Kyler Fisher, right, forces a fumble on UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov.

8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.

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