Iowa's offense proves maybe Brian Ferentz wasn't the problem in first half against Troy

Iowa is currently losing to the 0-2 Troy Trojans at the half.

Sep 14, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) runs the ball against the Troy Trojans during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Sep 14, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) runs the ball against the Troy Trojans during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

For three games in a row, Iowa's offense is booed off the field at home in Kinnick Stadium.

Going into the locker room for halftime down 14-10, the Iowa Hawkeyes were booed by the home crowd, especially after with a minute left on the clock, offensive coordinator Tim Lester chose to run the ball twice to run the clock out.

The Iowa offense again has stuttered scoring just one touchdown in the half against Troy. What is even more surprising is that the Iowa defense has given up a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown.

This is not the way Iowa needed the game to go in order to get back on track before heading into Big Ten play. Iowa needed to come out and put a beat down on Troy at home tog show they are better than what they looked like in the second half against Iowa State, but so far they are showing they are anything but.

Every time it seems like Iowa is going to get the ball going, either the offensive line crumbles or McNamara makes a bad throw that puts the Hawkeyes behind the sticks.

There was an interesting play however for Iowa on their lone touchdown drive. Offensive coordinator Tim Lester chose to put backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan in for Cade McNamara. On the nest play, Sulivan handed the ball off to running back Kaleb Johnson for the touchdown, so no one got to see Sulivan's skills, but maybe this is the start of McNamara feeling the heat.

This is the first time Iowa has ever played a team from the state of Alabama and so far their experience hasn't been great.

Iowa fired offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz in the offseason due to the offense being one of the worst in college football in the past few seasons. Well, after that first-half performance by the offense, maybe it wasn't Brian Ferentz's fault after all.

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