1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1984 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes compiled an overall record of 8–4–1 with a mark of 5–3–1 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the Big Ten. Iowa was invited to the Freedom Bowl, where the Hawkeyes defeated Texas. The team played home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Schedule

Rankings

Game summaries

Iowa State

No. 12 Penn State

at No. 5 Ohio State

The Hawkeyes outgained the Buckeyes 458–335, but four turnovers (one returned for a touchdown) were too much to overcome on this trip to Columbus. Keith Byars ran, caught, and threw touchdowns for Ohio State.

Illinois

The Hawkeyes exacted some revenge for the whipping laid on them in Champaign the previous season. The win over the defending Big Ten champions snapped the Illini's 12-game conference winning streak. Ronnie Harmon had 3 touchdown runs for Iowa.

At Northwestern

The Hawkeyes held Northwestern to only 49 yards of total offense, a mark that still stands as a single-game school record. Ronnie Harmon recorded 3 touchdown runs for the second straight game.

at No. 14 Purdue

Chuck Long went 17-21 for 369 yards and 4 TD as Iowa won in West Lafayette for the first time since 1956, snapping a 12-game losing skid at Ross–Ade Stadium.

Michigan

The Hawkeyes' 26–0 shutout of the Wolverines would end up being Bo Schembechler's worst loss in 21 years as head coach at Michigan.

At Indiana

Chuck Long set an NCAA record by completing 22 consecutive passes (record stood until 1998) and tossed two touchdowns, and Ronnie Harmon ran for 160 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Indiana. Iowa sat atop the Big Ten standings after beating the Hoosiers, but would not win another conference game in 1984.