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Like last game the Iowa Hawkeyes started out fast. Unlike last game Iowa won, scoring 24 first quarter points en route to a season high 48 points, in a 48-7 stomping of the Northwestern Wildcats at Nile Kinnick Stadium Saturday.

"I thought this would be a really even football game, they got a good football team," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said after playing Northwestern.

The game was not close to even at any point.

Mark Weisman scored two rushing touchdowns and Marshall Koehn kicked a field goal before Ben Niemann blocked a Northwestern punt and scoped it off the turf on the 1-yard line and into the end zone for the Hawkeyes 24 first quarter points.

Iowa played to full potential today and showed what they are capable of as Coach Kirk Feretnz pointed out, "...we did some things we hadn't done real consistently this year, so that was positive."

They have been inconsistent all season, but they were anything but today, really just one bad punt attempt and under throw away from a perfect game.

In fact, Iowa is a mere 10 points away from a perfect record.

Despite the inconsistent play Iowa became bowl eligible with this win and has control of its own destiny as co-leader in the Big Ten West Division. They will face each of those teams tied with them in three of the remaining four games.

Iowa had not had a 100 yard rusher in 10 straight games, tying the longest such streak in Ferentz' 16 years at Iowa. It wasn't Weisman that broke the streak.

Red-shirt Freshman Akrum Wadley saw his first two career carries for 24 yards in the first half. He added 86 second half yards and a touchdown to break the 100-yard mark. The speed he possess was evident and it was obvious why Iowa believes he has a very bright Hawkeye future.

Weisman had 43 yards in the first quarter with the two touchdowns on his way to 94 yards on 20 carries, almost all of it coming in the first half.

Iowa didn't attempt a pass over 10 yards in their last game until the very end of each half.

Their second pass of this game traveled 17 yards.  Tevaun Smith added six yards after the catch for a gain of 23 yards. That was followed by a 42-yard flea flicker on the next play.

Quarterback Jake Rudock went on to complete three more passes of 15 yards or more including a 43-yard touchdown to Smith in the second quarter.

Rudock had 118 yards in just the first quarter. He ended up 12-of-19 for 239 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. By far his best yards-per-attempt game of 2014.

The defense did its part, forcing Northwestern into 3rd-and-double digits on each of its first four positions, led by two sacks on two different drives by Iowa's third leading tackler defensive end Louis-Trinca Pasat.

Pasat has worked his way into the conversation as the best defensive end in the Big Ten this season.

The Wildcats could only muster 38 first half yards and would have been shut out from scoring if not for a botched punt attempt, setting them up at the Iowa 18-yard line.

Rising Wildcat star, freshman running back, Justin Jackson ran it in from 1-yard for the only Northwestern touchdown of the game.

Jackson was the lone bright spot on this day for Northwestern, accounting for 106 of the Wildcats 180 offensive yards, gaining 96 on the ground and 10 via pass catch.

It was total Iowa domination. They gained 483 yards to the 180 for Northwestern, gaining 4.8 yards-per-rush and 10.5 per pass, easily surpassing their season averages.

Matt Vandenberg led all receivers with 90 yards on five grabs.

Smith caught four balls for 76 yards and the touchdown.

Mike McHugh led Northwestern with 24 receiving yards on one catch.

Kyle Prater added 3 catches for 22 yards.

Quarterback Travis Siemian had another poor game 8-of-18 for 68 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT.

Iowa, (6-2, 3-1), hosts Big Ten West co-division leader Minnesota, (6-2, 2-1), coming off a bye and an upset loss at the hands of Illinois. Northwestern, (3-5, 2-3), goes to Michigan, (3-5, 1-3) next week.

Like last game the Iowa Hawkeyes started out fast. Unlike last game Iowa won, scoring 24 first quarter points en route to a season high 48 points, in a 48-7 stomping of the Northwestern Wildcats at Nile Kinnick Stadium Saturday.

"I thought this would be a really even football game, they got a good football team," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said after playing Northwestern.

The game was not close to even at any point.

Mark Weisman scored two rushing touchdowns and Marshall Koehn kicked a field goal before Ben Niemann blocked a Northwestern punt and scoped it off the turf on the 1-yard line and into the end zone for the Hawkeyes 24 first quarter points.

Iowa played to full potential today and showed what they are capable of as Coach Kirk Feretnz pointed out, "...we did some things we hadn't done real consistently this year, so that was positive."

They have been inconsistent all season, but they were anything but today, really just one bad punt attempt and under throw away from a perfect game.

In fact, Iowa is a mere 10 points away from a perfect record.

Despite the inconsistent play Iowa became bowl eligible with this win and has control of its own destiny as co-leader in the Big Ten West Division. They will face each of those teams tied with them in three of the remaining four games.

Iowa had not had a 100 yard rusher in 10 straight games, tying the longest such streak in Ferentz' 16 years at Iowa. It wasn't Weisman that broke the streak.

Red-shirt Freshman Akrum Wadley saw his first two career carries for 24 yards in the first half. He added 86 second half yards and a touchdown to break the 100-yard mark. The speed he possess was evident and it was obvious why Iowa believes he has a very bright Hawkeye future.

Weisman had 43 yards in the first quarter with the two touchdowns on his way to 94 yards on 20 carries, almost all of it coming in the first half.

Iowa didn't attempt a pass over 10 yards in their last game until the very end of each half.

Their second pass of this game traveled 17 yards.  Tevaun Smith added six yards after the catch for a gain of 23 yards. That was followed by a 42-yard flea flicker on the next play.

Quarterback Jake Rudock went on to complete three more passes of 15 yards or more including a 43-yard touchdown to Smith in the second quarter.

Rudock had 118 yards in just the first quarter. He ended up 12-of-19 for 239 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. By far his best yards-per-attempt game of 2014.

The defense did its part, forcing Northwestern into 3rd-and-double digits on each of its first four positions, led by two sacks on two different drives by Iowa's third leading tackler defensive end Louis-Trinca Pasat.

Pasat has worked his way into the conversation as the best defensive end in the Big Ten this season.

The Wildcats could only muster 38 first half yards and would have been shut out from scoring if not for a botched punt attempt, setting them up at the Iowa 18-yard line.

Rising Wildcat star, freshman running back, Justin Jackson ran it in from 1-yard for the only Northwestern touchdown of the game.

Jackson was the lone bright spot on this day for Northwestern, accounting for 106 of the Wildcats 180 offensive yards, gaining 96 on the ground and 10 via pass catch.

It was total Iowa domination. They gained 483 yards to the 180 for Northwestern, gaining 4.8 yards-per-rush and 10.5 per pass, easily surpassing their season averages.

Matt Vandenberg led all receivers with 90 yards on five grabs.

Smith caught four balls for 76 yards and the touchdown.

Mike McHugh led Northwestern with 24 receiving yards on one catch.

Kyle Prater added 3 catches for 22 yards.

Quarterback Travis Siemian had another poor game 8-of-18 for 68 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT.

Iowa, (6-2, 3-1), hosts Big Ten West co-division leader Minnesota, (6-2, 2-1), coming off a bye and an upset loss at the hands of Illinois. Northwestern, (3-5, 2-3), goes to Michigan, (3-5, 1-3) next week.

The Northwestern Wildcats, (3-4, 2-2 Big Ten) have given the Iowa Hawkeyes, (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten), fits in recent years.

The Wildcats are 6-3 against Iowa over the last nine games. Iowa needed overtime last season, at home, for one of those three victories.

Over the last four games the teams are 2-2, the home team winning each of those games.

Both teams are coming off a bye and a loss.

Iowa is a five point favorite over the Wildcats, again playing in Iowa City this year.

This season Northwestern started slowly before reeling off three straight wins including one against 17th ranked Wisconsin. They have since lost their last two against Minnesota and Nebraska.

Northwestern sports a decent defense amassing 13 turnovers and 14 sacks. They give up just 20.4 points-per-game but allow 374.9 yards a game.

The Wildcat offense lacks a big play threat with only seven pass plays over 25 yards, and just 24 points in their last two games.

Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian is completing just 57 percent of his passes with only four touchdowns to six interceptions.

Their running game averages just 3.4 yards-per-carry. Justin Jackson has shown signs of life lately.

He picked up 128 yards and two touchdowns against Nebraska and 106 yards in the previous game against Minnesota, averaging 5.8 and 4.6 yards-per-carry.

The lack of big play threats is good news for Iowa, as they have been burned by them all season.

In their last game alone, Maryland had five plays of 20 yards or more, which doesn't sound all that bad until you consider Maryland really only has one big play threat in Stefon Diggs.

Overall the Hawkeye defense doesn't look bad on paper, forcing 12 turnovers with 17 sacks while giving up just 21.9 points-per-game and 343.1 yards.

Iowa has struggeld to find an identity with an offensive line that was supposed to be a strength struggling and a complete lack of big play ability themselves. Seven games into 2014 and they are still looking for that identity.

They have just 12 pass plays of 25 yards or more. Unlike Northwestern Iowa has the big play potential.

Quarterback Jake Rudock has dink and unked his way to 64.8% completion percentage but only 6.31 yards-per-attempt.

The 6.31 yards-per-attempt rank second to last in the Big Ten among current starting quarterbacks. Only Sieman is behind him at 5.6.

Damond Powell leads the team in receiveing yards with 278 yards on just 12 catches. That's a 23.2 yard average.

Their longest pass play of the year was a 3-yard swing pass Powell took 69 more yards for a touchdown.

Jonathan Parker has 94 yards rushing on 10 totes.

Two guys that can burn, but rarely see the ball.

Iowa prefers to plod their way to victories controlling the ball and clock.

It is not a bad formula, Iowa is almost always near the top of the league, making a decent to good bowl, like the Orange Bowl last season, but they rarely threaten the top Big Ten teams.

This season they are only 10 points away from being undefeated.

Iowa is clearly the better team in this game, but it is not likely to translate into a big margin of victory.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald seems to have the Hawkeyes number.

This should be a low scoring game that Iowa wins by a field goal, 27-24.

The Northwestern Wildcats, (3-4, 2-2 Big Ten) have given the Iowa Hawkeyes, (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten), fits in recent years.

The Wildcats are 6-3 against Iowa over the last nine games. Iowa needed overtime last season, at home, for one of those three victories.

Over the last four games the teams are 2-2, the home team winning each of those games.

Both teams are coming off a bye and a loss.

Iowa is a five point favorite over the Wildcats, again playing in Iowa City this year.

This season Northwestern started slowly before reeling off three straight wins including one against 17th ranked Wisconsin. They have since lost their last two against Minnesota and Nebraska.

Northwestern sports a decent defense amassing 13 turnovers and 14 sacks. They give up just 20.4 points-per-game but allow 374.9 yards a game.

The Wildcat offense lacks a big play threat with only seven pass plays over 25 yards, and just 24 points in their last two games.

Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian is completing just 57 percent of his passes with only four touchdowns to six interceptions.

Their running game averages just 3.4 yards-per-carry. Justin Jackson has shown signs of life lately.

He picked up 128 yards and two touchdowns against Nebraska and 106 yards in the previous game against Minnesota, averaging 5.8 and 4.6 yards-per-carry.

The lack of big play threats is good news for Iowa, as they have been burned by them all season.

In their last game alone, Maryland had five plays of 20 yards or more, which doesn't sound all that bad until you consider Maryland really only has one big play threat in Stefon Diggs.

Overall the Hawkeye defense doesn't look bad on paper, forcing 12 turnovers with 17 sacks while giving up just 21.9 points-per-game and 343.1 yards.

Iowa has struggeld to find an identity with an offensive line that was supposed to be a strength struggling and a complete lack of big play ability themselves. Seven games into 2014 and they are still looking for that identity.

They have just 12 pass plays of 25 yards or more. Unlike Northwestern Iowa has the big play potential.

Quarterback Jake Rudock has dink and unked his way to 64.8% completion percentage but only 6.31 yards-per-attempt.

The 6.31 yards-per-attempt rank second to last in the Big Ten among current starting quarterbacks. Only Sieman is behind him at 5.6.

Damond Powell leads the team in receiveing yards with 278 yards on just 12 catches. That's a 23.2 yard average.

Their longest pass play of the year was a 3-yard swing pass Powell took 69 more yards for a touchdown.

Jonathan Parker has 94 yards rushing on 10 totes.

Two guys that can burn, but rarely see the ball.

Iowa prefers to plod their way to victories controlling the ball and clock.

It is not a bad formula, Iowa is almost always near the top of the league, making a decent to good bowl, like the Orange Bowl last season, but they rarely threaten the top Big Ten teams.

This season they are only 10 points away from being undefeated.

Iowa is clearly the better team in this game, but it is not likely to translate into a big margin of victory.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald seems to have the Hawkeyes number.

This should be a low scoring game that Iowa wins by a field goal, 27-24.