Hawkeyes: Major Response is key for Iowa after ‘setback’ loss to Iowa State

OWA CITY — Kirk Ferentz confronted the issue directly.

Following some friendly remarks to the gathered media, the Iowa head coach began his opening statement on Tuesday.

“First, I want to say a few words about setbacks,” Ferentz stated. “Everyone in Kinnick on Saturday saw us go through one of those.”

Ferentz stated that no one felt the sting of the Hawkeyes’ 20-19 loss to Iowa State on a last-second 54-yard field goal more than his team.

“I know many people are upset, especially our fans,” Ferentz said. “But I can promise you that no one is more disappointed than those directly involved, particularly our players. They put in a tremendous amount of effort.

“Experiencing a setback is always tough. One thing I’ll emphasize to the team is that you don’t get second chances, and you can’t reclaim games. That’s a significant lesson.”

The loss marked Iowa’s second straight defeat to Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium, largely due to a disappointing second half from the Hawkeyes.

The Cyclones outscored Iowa 20-6 in the second half and quickly advanced 42 yards in just four plays over 28 seconds to set up the field goal attempt.

Iowa defensive back Sebastian Castro’s reaction to the defeat captured the pain and disappointment highlighted by Ferentz.

“I made a lot of mistakes — more than usual,” Castro said. “In that situation, you feel like you’ve let your teammates down. I was trying to do too much. I just need to focus on playing my role.”

As he spoke, Castro paused and lowered his head, expressing his disappointment in himself.

During the Cyclones’ final drive, Castro was the primary defender when he allowed completions of 10 yards and 30 yards to Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel.

He appeared to relive both plays with each word he spoke.

“We know we played well — but it wasn’t our best performance,” Castro said. “This is definitely going to stick with us for the entire season.”

Despite the pain of the loss, a focus on moving forward quickly emerged, as Iowa kept its eyes on its college football playoff goals for the 2024 season.

Linebacker Jay Higgins, a defensive captain, emphasized the importance of the Hawkeyes’ response right after the defeat, comparing the atmosphere in the locker room to that following their 31-0 loss to Penn State in 2023.

“It’s all about how we respond,” Higgins said. “Fortunately, the season isn’t over — it’s only week two. If I were to bet, I’d say the sun is likely to rise tomorrow. We just have to keep putting in the work. You can’t give up. For competitors, situations like this happen. The great ones get back up and keep fighting, while the others just stay down.”

Ferentz conveyed a message similar to Higgins, outlining a path forward.

“It’s just one game, and we still have 10 more chances ahead of us, which is a significant takeaway,” Ferentz said. “Setbacks are a part of every season. They don’t always come as losses; there are always challenges. It’s an essential lesson going into a season to recognize that unexpected events can arise, and how you handle those situations is crucial—that’s where our focus lies.”

However, unlike Higgins, Ferentz didn’t reference last season’s defeat to the Nittany Lions as a comparison.

Instead, when reminded of it by Chad Leistikow from The Des Moines Register, the 26-year head coach reflected on a 2002 game, recalling Iowa’s 36-31 loss to the Cyclones. That 5-point defeat ended a streak of five consecutive losses and marked the longest winning streak for the Cyclones in the series.

The Hawkeyes’ response in 2002, particularly through quarterback Brad Banks, serves as a model for the team in 2024.

“What stands out in Brad’s story, and that of his team, is how he reacted,” Ferentz remarked. “I often share this story with our players each year. To me, the essence of what Brad accomplished that season is significant—nobody felt worse after a game than he did, given his commitment. Yet he went back to work.

“That’s the right mindset. That’s what we aim to achieve, and while the season wasn’t without its challenges, it was a tough ride.

“Life continues. What truly matters is how you respond.”