IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Nate Stanley threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns and No. 20 Iowa rolled past Rutgers 30-0 on Saturday in its Big Ten opener. New Jersey native Ihmir Smith-Marsette caught two TD passes for the Hawkeyes (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who’ve allowed just 14 points in two games ahead of next week’s rivalry showdown at No. 25 Iowa State.

Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, center, makes a reception for the first down as Rutgers defensive back Avery Young, right, defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Iowa City. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)

Stanley found Smith-Marsette and Tyrone Tracy for first-half touchdowns to help Iowa take a 20-0 lead at the break. Stanley then connected with Smith-Marsette from 23 yards out to make it 27-0. Smith-Marsette finished with 113 yards receiving. Iowa’s defense smothered Rutgers (1-1, 0-1), which scored 48 points in its opener over UMass. The Scarlet Knights gained just 125 yards, punted 10 times and turned it over three times.
THE TAKEAWAY
Iowa: Rutgers has yet to beat a ranked league opponent since joining the Big Ten, so it’s not as though the Hawkeyes faced a ton of resistance. Still, Iowa’s defense crippled the Scarlet Knights from their opening drive, and the 97-yard touchdown drive the Hawkeyes put together in the second quarter was a good sign for their surging offense.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights thought they had found their quarterback when McLane Carter threw for 340 yards last week. But Rutgers made the switch back to Artur Sitkowski at halftime after Carter threw for just 22 yards — only to watch Sitkowski throw for 19 in 11 attempts. It could be another long year in Piscataway.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Iowa could move up a few spots after thoroughly dominating a conference opponent.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to face rival Iowa State next week.
Rutgers has a bye next week. The Scarlet Knights host Boston College on Sept. 21.