Iowa Football: Hawkeye defense boasts impressive point streak

Good luck trying to score against the Iowa defense. The Hawkeyes have one of the most impressive streaks in the nation dating back to last season.

The 19th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2) have one of the stingiest defenses in college football. Opponents have a hard enough time moving the ball against the Hawkeyes, but scoring has been another story. One particular statistic backs up this claim.

Iowa football has allowed 24 points or fewer in 20 straight games dating back to last season, by far the longest streak in the FBS. No other team is in the double-digits. The next closest team: Marshall with seven straight games. Alabama is the next closest Power Five team with five straight games.

During that span, the Hawkeyes have given up the following point totals: 22, 14, 0, 17, 3, 10, 17, 20, 0, 24, 19, 10, 24, 24, 24, 21, 7, 7, 21 and 20.

The Hawkeyes are allowing an average of just 16.7 points per game this season, tied with Notre Dame and Ohio for 11th in the FBS. Iowa also ranks 18th in total defense, allowing just 322.8 yards per game.

A huge reason the Hawkeyes have been able to hold opponents to lower point totals is due to their turnover margin. Iowa has forced at least one turnover in every game this season and has forced at least two turnovers in five of six games. The Hawkeyes also have at least one interception in 12 of their last 13 games.

Iowa is likely to extend their current streak of 24 or fewer points to 21 games against Illinois (2-3) on Saturday.

The Illini rank 105th in scoring offense this season, averaging just 21.8 points per game. The consensus over/under for the game is 52.5 and the Hawkeyes are a 13.5-point favorite, according to Action Network. This gives Illinois an implied point total of around 20 points. Kickoff is set for 2:30 pm CT on FS1.