The 1991 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes compiled an overall record of 10âÂÂ1âÂÂ1 with a mark of 7âÂÂ1 in conference play, placing second in the Big Ten. Iowa was invited to the Holiday Bowl, where the Hawkeyes tied BYU. The team played home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
This game was essentially over at halftime as Iowa cruised to start the season 1-0.
Iowa had little trouble getting their ninth consecutive victory in this in-state rivalry contest.
In the 1991 Big Ten opener, the Hawkeyes led 18âÂÂ7 midway through the second quarter, but could not stop the Michigan ground game as the Wolverines rolled up 371 yards rushing on 50 attempts. This game essentially decided the conference championship as both teams won the remainder of their Big Ten games.
Prior to kickoff, 1957 Outland Trophy winner Alex Karras was presented with a plaque from the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Hawkeyes ended up having a happy homecoming in a game where they were outplayed in the first half in this top 15 showdown.
The Hawkeyes played without decals on their helmets in honor of the fallen from an on-campus shooting the day before. Leroy Smith recorded a school-record 5 sacks in the road victory over the Buckeyes.
Mike Saunders became the fifth Iowa player to score four touchdowns in a game, tying the school record. The Iowa defense forced four interceptions from Indiana quarterback Trent Green.
The Hawkeyes closed the regular season with a win in the snow, giving Coach Fry his 100th victory at Iowa.
The following Hawkeyes were selected in the 1992 NFL draft after the season.