Turned Up to the Max

September 23, 2025

It was an early slugfest when the Iowa Hawkeyes met Rutgers during Week 4 of the college football season. Kaden Wetjen returned the opening kickoff, and then Rutgers marched down the field and scored on the ensuing drive. Basically, it was blow for blow, and at halftime, it was all knotted up at 21.

Hawkeye fans couldn’t argue with the tie, but I think there was a little concern growing about their defense. Where are they? Are they going to show up tonight? Defensively, Iowa seemed to have no answer for what Rutgers was doing offensively, and Scarlett Knight receiver, Ian Strong, looked unstoppable.

After making some adjustments, however, we saw a completely different Iowa defense take the field in the third quarter, and the shoe was on the other foot. It was the Scarlett Knight’s offense who was now scrambling for answers.

So, what changed? Well, Iowa sent a fifth guy to rush the quarterback and that was enough to disrupt things and get pressure on Rutger’s quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis. They turned it up to the max.

In addition, there was a huge momentum change when Iowa held Rutgers on a drive late in the third quarter and then blocked their field goal attempt. Iowa’s defense, at that point, finally woke up.

After scoring 21 points in the first half, Rutgers scored their first and only touchdown of the second half with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. Rutgers was winning 28-24, but Iowa responded quickly to regain the lead, 31-28.

When the Scarlett Knights got the ball back, Kaliakmanis was pressured again, this time from defensive end, Max Llewellyn, and he threw an interception. Iowa scored on their next drive and put the game away.

It was the pressure from senior defensive end, Max Llewellyn, that helped Iowa get their third win of the season. Llewellyn is 6’5″ and 265 pounds. He’s a big strong guy with good speed, but he’s not alone. With Ethan Hurkett on the other side and Aaron Graves in the middle, that’s a strong defensive line belonging to a unit that returned nine seniors.

This weekend, Iowa is at home for their game against Indiana, and the Hawkeye’s defense is going to have to continue playing the way they did in the second half of the Rutgers game. Indiana is for real. They’re 4-0 and ranked 11^th nationally. Quarterback, Fernando Mendoza threw 14 touchdowns in the last three games, and he has options with Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr.