EVANSTON, Ill. _ Northwestern's JJ Jefferson had all 23 of the team's receiving yards Saturday when he left the game against Iowa in the first quarter with an injury.
It was just the latest hurdle for the Wildcats, who look as if they're trying to clear a pole-vault crossbar without the pole.
Northwestern's offense appeared inept and its defense was porous, allowing No. 20 Iowa to stumble to a 20-0 victory on a soggy afternoon at Ryan Field.
The Wildcats (1-6, 0-5 Big Ten) lost their fifth straight and saw their three-game winning streak against the Hawkeyes (6-2, 3-2) come to an end in front of a sparse homecoming crowd.
Combined with last week's blowout loss to Ohio State, Northwestern has been outscored 72-3 by its last two opponents.
Northwestern never cracked the red zone against Iowa. Quarterback Aidan Smith went 18 for 32 for 138 yards with an interception. Iowa outgained the Wildcats 302 yards to 202.
Northwestern managed only 70 total yards in the first half, after which the Hawkeyes led 10-0. A 50-yard touchdown pass from Nate Stanley to Tyrone Tracey, who spun out of a weak tackle attempt by Northwestern's Trae Williams, set the tone.
So did Smith throwing an interception on the Wildcats' third play of the game.
Keith Duncan's 40-yard field goal in the second quarter padded Iowa's lead. Mekhi Sargent's 1-yard touchdown run in the third made it 17-0, and Duncan added a 28-yard field goal in the fourth.
