In 2015, the Hawkeyes donned black uniforms — black jerseys, black pants, black helmets — with yellow numbers in a game against Minnesota.
Fast forward two seasons, and Iowa’s playing in another Big Ten game with fresh alternate jerseys.
This year’s alternates feature black jerseys and pants again, but the numbering is gray with a yellow outline. The sleeves feature more gray, and the helmets contain both the Tigerhawk logo and each player’s number.
Check out the sweet new uniforms @HawkeyeFootball will wear for Saturday’s blackout game against Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/bRA6e308zn
— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) October 30, 2017
“They’re really nice,” defensive back Josh Jackson aid. “But we also have to be able to play well in them, not let that be a distraction in the game.”
The program released photos of the new uniforms on Sunday, but a handful of players were selected to try them on for a secret photo shoot and video.
Linebacker Josey Jewell was one of those players, and while he said he isn’t a huge uniform guy, he really got into Iowa’s new look.
“I couldn’t take my phone in there, otherwise I would have been snapping pics and sending it to everybody,” he said.
Out of all the tweaks and details included in the new uniforms, the helmets seemed to draw the largest approval from the players. Jackson said they were his favorite part, and running back James Butler agreed.
“They’re more comfortable than my normal helmet,” he said. “It’s just really soft. It feels new.”
Head coach Kirk Ferentz sarcastically joked that he couldn’t sleep because of his excitement about the unveiling.
However, as much as he kidded about switching things up in the uniform universe, he said he doesn’t mind players donning different jerseys.
“I’ve really changed my approach on all this stuff,” Ferentz said. “I’m really for all this stuff now, if guys play. If they play well, I’m all for it.
Brace yourselves, November is coming
Ohio State is Iowa’s first November opponent this season. Even with substantially different records — the Buckeyes, ranked No. 3 in the nation, enter Saturday’s contest with a 7-1 record — the Hawkeyes remain confident.
After all, it’s November.
“Coach always talks about us playing our best football in November,” Akrum Wadley said. “Teams either go up or go down; we talk about us going up, not the roller coaster where you go up and down. We just got to be consistent.”
Last season, Iowa took down then-No. 2 Michigan, 14-13, in a game under the lights. The season before, the Hawkeyes finished November with an unblemished record.
Over the past two seasons, Iowa boasts a 7-1 record in November.
“I don’t know,” Wadley said when asked about why Iowa does well toward the end of the season. “Maybe we get our identity. We know who we are, we know what it takes.”
No Snyder against Ohio State
Snyder missed Iowa’s games against Northwestern and Minnesota after playing his first game of th season on Oct. 7 against Illinois. Ferentz gave an update on whether Snyder would see the field Saturday.
“We won’t see him this week, no,” he said.
Ferentz also said that it’s the same knee issue keeping Snyder sidelined since his season début.
Against Illinois, the senior notched 3 tackles, 2 pass-breakups, and snagged an interception, returning it 89 yards for a touchdown.