Kirk Ferentz reacts to Big Ten win 200 in Iowa victory over Washington

Cade McNamara connected on two touchdown passes, while Kaleb Johnson added two rushing touchdowns in Iowa's impressive 40-16 victory against Washington. This triumph also signifies head coach Kirk Ferentz's 200th career win in the Big Ten Conference, earning him the second spot in the conference's all-time rankings, trailing only Ohio State's Woody Hayes, who has 205 wins.

Here’s some of what Kirk Ferentz had to say after the win.

Intro

Kirk: Certainly it's just a great feeling. Night and day from losing. There's nothing harder than that. I am happy for our team. Really proud of the guys.

The biggest thing this week was getting back on our feet and going back to work because the schedule is not going to go away. Really pleased with the way the guys prepared, the way they kept focused on things that were important. Certainly today it showed, and they competed the full 60. It wasn't perfect, but it was a great effort by everybody.

To that point, I thought we played good complementary football today. When we do that, it gives us a chance to have good outcomes. Whether it be the kicking game, which we thought we had some opportunities there. Rhys punted really well. That first punt was a big thing for us.

Obviously the field goals. Drew did a great job there…A huge play in the game in my mind was Jermari's interception. They're driving the ball to about the 25, something like that, and he came up with that pick. Then we come back and get a field goal off that.

So just a lot of good complementary football, guys feeding off each other a little bit. Just proud of the way the guys responded and have responded this way.

On Kaleb Johnson

Kirk: Yeah, I have said this a couple of times, but it just ties in with the theme. Year three tends to be a year in general terms where guys really start to get traction, and he's done some good things over the last couple of years, but the consistency right now in not only what you see on the game field, but the way he prepares, the way he practices, he's doing a great job.

On getting 200 wins

Kirk: The honest answer is I was more focused on us getting four. I didn't want to think about being at 3-3 right now, and that's just how it works in season. Everything is week-to-week…

One thing in any league and certainly in the NFL and certainly in college football, if you lose back-to-back, that just makes things hard…as far as the 200 part, you have to be lucky. You have to be in the right place, first of all. You have to be with a lot of good people, and that's coaching staff and support staff. A lot of people are involved in this. I've worked with nothing but great coaches my entire career. I've been lucky wherever I've been.

Watch the full press conference below.