Iowa football has always been able to dominate you on defense and special teams.

This version, though, appears to have a more than capable offense to go with a high-level defense and exceptional special teams.

The Hawkeyes put together a pair of impressive scoring drives to take an early lead on Northwestern, prevailing 24-10. The win moved Iowa to 7-2 overall and keeps them within shouting distance in the jumbled Big Ten Conference standings.

Hank Brown Has The Iowa Offense Clicking

To start the game, the Hawkeyes went on a seven-play, 75-yard drive that took up just under four minutes. It ended when Brown got free for a 21-yard touchdown run.

Near the end of the first and start of the second, Brown and Iowa engineered another seven-play series. This one, though, spanned 97 yards and over four minutes.

Brown hit Tony Diaz on a 24-yard scoring strike to make it 14-0. The Hawkeyes would keep Northwestern off the scoreboard in the first half, allowing just a field goal in the third.

The Wildcats put a touchdown on the board in the final two minutes, but by that time, the decision was not in doubt.

Iowa also scored 10 points from its special teams to salt the contest away. Braeden Jackson, the son of former NFL player Fred Jackson, went 96 yards on a kickoff return. That came after Northwestern got on the board.

Caden Buhr nailed a 52-yard field goal late in the third to make it a three-touchdown game.

Efficiency, Running The Football Lead Hawkeyes

L.J. Phillips, Jr. has replaced Kamari Moulton as the lead back. Phillips rushed 21 times for 128 yards.

Brown was 16 of 21 for 126. He did throw an interception, but made up for it with his rushing score and TD pass to Diaz.

Reece Vander Zee caught three passes; Phillips had two and five others caught passes.

Cam Buffington continues to show why he is an all-Big Ten performer and possible All-American. He recorded 12 tackles with one for loss, as Jayden Montgomery had nine stops.

As a unit, the defense recorded six sacks and eight tackles for loss.