By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Three-time Grammy nominee Pat Green performed during an emotional halftime ceremony on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

He was accompanied by both the Hawkeye Marching Band and the Panther Marching Band as they performed Green's song "Wave on Wave,” the anthem of the Iowa Wave to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Green has sold more than two million albums and released a string of 15 hits on the Billboard Country Single Chart.

Green performed from the stands near the South End Zone with 50 members of each band. The remaining band members also created images on the field for the children to view during the performance.

The Wave is now considered one of the greatest traditions in sports. It started last season and occurs after the first quarter when fans inside Kinnick Stadium, along with players and coaches from both teams wave to the patients who are looking from windows on the 12^th floor of the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Fant attack: Junior tight end Noah Fant didn't get off to the quick start that was expected from a preseason first-team All-America selection with just seven catches for 41 yards in the first two games.

He returned to form on Saturday against Northern Iowa by catching five passes for 99 yards and one touchdown, all of which came in the first quarter of Iowa's 38-14 victory.

Fant's touchdown came with 6 minutes, 7 seconds left in the first quarter and it also broke the record for most career touchdown receptions by an Iowa tight end with 14.

Injury report: Iowa played without three offensive starters against Northern Iowa as sophomore running back Ivory Kelly-Martin, sophomore receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette and sophomore guard Cole Banwart all missed the game due to injuries.

Kelly-Martin missed his second consecutive game because of an ankle injury after having started the season opener against Northern Illinois, while Smith-Marsette missed the Northern Iowa game due to a shoulder injury, which occurred in last Saturday’s 13-3 victory over Iowa State.

Banwart missed Saturday’s game due to an undisclosed injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by senior Dalton Ferguson.

Daddy Dalton: The past few weeks have been emotional and rewarding for Iowa offensive lineman Dalton Ferguson.

In addition to starting his first two games as a Hawkeye, the former Solon standout recently became a father to twin daughters.

Ferguson’s girlfriend, Rachael, gave birth to twin daughters on Sept. 7 at the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

“You can call yourself a dad, but this is something I want to earn," Ferguson said in a story posted on Hawkeyesports.com. "I want to be the best father I can, so I'm doing any little thing I can to help out."

Streaking: Iowa has won its last seven games against nonconference opponents.

In addition to Saturday’s win, Iowa also has defeated Northern Iowa and Iowa State this season, and recorded victories against Wyoming, Iowa State, North Texas and Boston College last season.

The 27-20 victory over Boston College came in the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

Eight maybe isn't enough: Receiver Tyrone Tracy on Saturday became the eighth true freshman to play for Iowa this season.

The Indianaapolis native made his college debut early in the fourth quarter as Ferentz emptied his bench.

Tracy's first catch as a Hawkeyes covered 22 yards and was thrown by backup quarterback Peyton Mansell.

The other true freshmwn to play this season are defensive back Julius Brents, defensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum, lineback Dillon Doyle, receiver Nico Raigani, running back Henry Geil and defensive backs Kaevon Merriweather and Riley Moss..

True freshmen are allowed to play in up to four games without losing a year of eligibility under a new rule implemented by the NCAA before the start of this season.

Shopping local: Counting kickers, punters and long snappers, Northern Iowa had 17 Iowans listed as first-teamers this week and the Hawkeyes had 15.

The city of Waukee was well represented on Saturday with a combined nine players from both teams. Not bad for a town with a population of around 20,000.