A bounce-back offensive performance is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Hawkeyes.
It is never an easy game when Iowa and Iowa State play for the Cy-Hawk Trophy, but Iowa's offense couldn't get going as it did in week one. Credit goes to the Cyclones for mixing up defenses to confuse the Hawkeyes' offense, and Iowa wasn't prepared for all the weird looks they got. A week later, they righted their wrongs with a massive offensive day, especially on the ground. Iowa had three running backs go over the century mark, with one earning top marks for his massive day.
Xavier Williams earned a high grade for his dynamic performance against UNI
Iowa was without its top two running backs with injuries, but it didn't matter. Kamari Moulton and L.J. Phillips Jr. were sidelined with injuries, forcing the squad to dip into its depth. Even without their top two options, the Iowa rushing attack exploded for 422 yards, and Xavier Williams is earning praise for his performance.
Highest Graded Running Back from Week 3:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 21, 2026
🟡 Xavier Williams, Iowa: 91.2@HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/7n8tvTZNoQ
Williams rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns, earning a 91.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), the highest grade of the week. Williams burst onto the scene last year as a freshman amid multiple injuries in the running back group, and he was relatively quiet to begin this season. With so many options, it was hard to spread the carries around, but Williams took full advantage of his chance against Northern Iowa.
Williams finished with a team-leading 153 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on only six carries! He averaged 25.2 yards per carry, with a long of 48 yards, and the Panthers had no answer for him. All of Iowa's top three running backs went over 100 yards, including Braeden Jackson (125 yards) and Nathan McNeil (111 yards), helping the offense rack up 422 yards on 41 carries (10.3 yards per carry). Williams also added two catches for 16 yards in an all-around brilliant day.
After the offensive explosion against UNI, the Hawkeyes are now ranked No. 10 in rushing, No. 47 in scoring, and No. 30 in total offense, tallying 477.0 yards per game. Iowa's offense goes as the running game goes, and it has been excellent to start the season. Excluding the strange performance against Iowa State, the rushing attack has made it easier on the entire offense. The running game has opened up plays downfield for Tony Diaz and the rest of Iowa's talented receiver group and has taken pressure off the quarterbacks.
With Hank Brown now locked in as the starter, the running game's impact cannot be overstated. Brown prefers to do most of his damage in the pocket, and a successful running game gives him more time to look downfield. Brown is also not as keen on using his legs (even though he can), so opening up the passing game with the run is an effective strategy. Williams' big day underscores how talented Iowa's running back room is, especially since he put up those numbers as a third-string running back. Jay Norvell isn't short on options, and the group's depth will be key going forward.
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