The 1996 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 18th-year head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes compiled an overall record of 9âÂÂ3 with a mark of 6âÂÂ2 in conference play, tying for third place in the Big Ten. Iowa was invited to the Alamo Bowl, where the Hawkeyes defeated Texas Tech. The team played home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa held on to win this back-and-forth contest, aided by three Wildcat turnovers.
Tavian Banks ran for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Hawkeyes defeated the Cyclones for the 14th consecutive time.
Highlighted by an electrifying 83-yard punt return touchdown by Tim Dwight (the first of five career punt return touchdowns), the Hawkeyes earned their first road win over a top ten opponent since the 1990 season.
ESPN's College GameDay visited Iowa City for the first time for this matchup between the #2 Buckeyes (6âÂÂ0) and #20 Hawkeyes (5âÂÂ1).
Northwestern's Darnell Autry ran for 240 yards and scored 4 touchdowns (1 receiving). The Wildcats won back-to-back games against Iowa for the first time since 1966âÂÂ67.
After this shutout at Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes had gone 17âÂÂ0âÂÂ1 in an 18-game stretch in the series with the Badgers that began with the 1977 game.