Game Report: Iowa 45, Indiana 29

OPENING SALVO

Indiana running back Tevin Coleman may not pick up any Heisman Trophy consideration, but he deserves it. He recorded his eighth straight 100-yard game with 219 yards on 15 carries. He scored in his 15th straight game on touchdown runs of 83, 69 and 45 yards. Both streaks are the longest in the nation.

'Those three runs that Coleman had were outstanding runs,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'I said during the week, all their backs are good. And they are - they're all good - but he's really good. You get on the field with a guy and you really find out what he's like and what he's all about.”

After Saturday's game, Coleman took over the national rushing lead from Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon (174.3) with 176.7 yards per game.

'I can't remember anyone doing that to us, and I'm including us against ourselves in spring practice, August,” Ferentz said. 'We've had some good backs here - Fred Russell, Shonn Greene, Albert Young - it's a little scary.”

BY THE NUMBERS

2 - Iowa touchdowns exceeding 60 yards, the most in a game since 2009 (Indiana)

5 - Seasons Iowa has opened Big Ten play 2-0 under Kirk Ferentz

38 - First-half points for Iowa, the most since stopping Minnesota 52-28 in 2005

74 - The most total points in an Iowa game since Indiana beat Iowa 45-33 in 2000

75 - Meetings between Iowa and Indiana, ranking fourth among most-played series for both schools

REPORT CARD

B - That game was Ferentz's inferno. All that crazy offense and very little droopy defense. You know he hates that stuff.

- Marc Morehouse

B-plus - This game was crazier than Kim Jong Un, wherever he is.

- Mike Hlas

B - Maybe Brandon Scherff will block for Tevin Coleman next year. I'm sure plenty of Hawkeyes hope that's the case, anyway.

- Scott Dochterman

GAME BALL

Iowa QB Jake Rudock. The junior quarterback returned from a hip injury three weeks ago to complete 19 of 27 passes for 210 yards and two scores. He hit wide receiver Damond Powell on a 72-yard strike and also tossed a 12-yard score to tight end Jake Duzey.

'I felt good,” Rudock said. 'It was like every game. You just kind of get into it quick, just feeling comfortable with our line.”

Rudock guided Iowa to its first 28-point first quarter since throttling Ball State in 2005.

STEPPING IN, STEPPING UP

Iowa right guard Jordan Walsh injured his right ankle on the game's second play. Iowa center Austin Blythe shifted to guard, and fifth-year senior Tommy Gaul became the center. Blythe helped Gaul get settled, which in turn helped the offense. Iowa's 207 rushing yards were a season-high.

'It was nice having (Blythe) out there pointing the way with some of the stuff they threw at us,” said Gaul, a West Des Moines Dowling graduate.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

Former Iowa quarterback Drew Tate served as the team's honorary captain and enjoyed every minute of it. Tate, now a quarterback with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, spoke to Iowa players on Friday, including fellow quarterbacks Jake Rudock and C.J. Beathard.

'I gave a little talk to the team, and I just hope one of them separates themselves,” Tate said before the game. 'Ultimately you want a guy, right? But in the end you want what's best for everybody.

'When you have two quarterbacks duking it out, that really sets the tone for the team. I think it can be a really good thing. But there's only one guy that can play at a time.”

Tate's Stampeders are idle but boast the CFL's best record (12-2) by at least two games. He brought his team punter to Iowa for his first trip to an Iowa football game since his senior season in 2006. He just turned 30 years old, a fact he (and others who covered him) finds hard to believe.

'I didn't know I was going to make 30,” he said. 'They had the (2004) team here earlier in the season, just being able to come back here has been awesome. Everyone has been awesome.”

INJURY TIME

Iowa wide receiver Derrick Willies and guard Boone Myers did not dress for Saturday's game. Ferentz said he's 'hopeful” to have them both return next week.

Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfield left with a separated shoulder after he was sacked early in the second quarter and did not return. Indiana Coach Kevin Wilson said it's undetermined how much time he'll miss.

'It's some degree of a separation and we'll evaluate it when we get back,” Wilson said. 'I don't know if it's short or long term.”

UP NEXT

Iowa (5-1, 2-0) travels to Maryland (4-2, 1-1) next Saturday in the teams' inaugural meeting. Maryland was idle Saturday. Indiana (3-3, 0-2) plays host to Michigan State.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com