Remarkable stat shows just how dominant Iowa's defense has been the last two seasons

Stifling the Northwestern Wildcats, 20-0, on Saturday in Evanston, Illinois, the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes improved to 6-2 in 2019.

The Hawkeyes’ second shutout of the season, the first took place vs. Rutgers on September 7, Kirk Ferentz’s team achieved history by becoming the first B1G program to post multiple conference shutouts in consecutive years since Wisconsin in 1982-83.

Elias Sports Bureau shared the accomplishment on Twitter:

.@HawkeyeFootball, which blanked Maryland & Illinois in 2018 and Rutgers & Northwestern in 2019, is the first @B1Gfootball team to pitch multiple shutouts in conference play in two consecutive seasons since Wisconsin in 1982 & 1983. #Hawkeyes

— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) October 26, 2019

Entering Saturday, Iowa was already in the top-five nationally surrendering just 11.6 points per game. With another stout performance, opposing offenses are now averaging just 10.1 PPG against defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Phil Parker’s unit.

Dropping back-to-back games to No. 19 Michigan and No. 6 Penn State on October 5 & 12, the Hawkeyes have now won two straight.

Looking to keep their recent success going, Iowa will travel to Madison to face No. 13 Wisconsin on November 9.