Hawkeyes open 2026 season with a dominating win over NIU
Iowa City, IA - September 5, 2026 - The #22 Iowa Hawkeyes opened its 2026 season with a dominant 40–0 shutout over Northern Illinois, powered by a suffocating defense and a breakout performance from running back Kamari Moulton. Moulton exploded for 183 yards and two touchdowns, ripping off scoring runs of 50 and 37 yards in the first quarter and surpassing his previous career high before halftime. Iowa controlled the line of scrimmage throughout, outgaining NIU 507–120 and holding the Huskies without a first down until the third quarter.
Quarterbacks Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski both saw action, with Brown throwing a touchdown to Tony Diaz and Hecklinski connecting with Xavier Williams. Special teams added a highlight when Evan James returned a punt 77 yards for a score. Iowa’s defense forced turnovers, smothered NIU’s run game, and set the tone for a convincing season‑opening win.
RB Kamari Moulton had the Hawkeye ground game humming.
