IOWA CITY — Senior 197-pounder Mitch Bowman led off with an upset victory and the No. 3 Iowa wrestling team strung together five-straight wins in the middle of its 26-9 win over No. 14 Purdue on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Bowman was giving away 13 pounds to 11th-ranked Christian Brunner, but opened the dual with a pair of first-period takedowns and added a second-period reversal to earn a 7-5 decision. Bowman, a 184-pounder, won for the second time this season at 197.

Bowman was one of two Hawkeyes wrestling up a weight in a lineup that was missing five projected starters. Carter Happel, a 141-pounder, won 2-0 at 149 with the benefit of a second-period escape and one point for riding time.

Happel’s victory at 149 was sandwiched between decisions by Austin DeSanto (133) and Max Murin (141), and a pair of bonus-point victories from Kaleb Young (157) and Alex Marinelli (165).

The Hawkeyes trailed 6-3 in the team score before rattling off those five consecutive wins.

Marinelli totaled more than four minutes of riding time, four takedowns, and four nearfall points to clinch the dual with a 14-3 major decision at 165.

Purdue got back on the board with a decision at 174, but Cash Wilcke ended the dual with a 12-4 major decision at 184.

With half of its lineup in street clothes, Iowa won its 21st consecutive Big Ten Conference opener.

“You never know what’s going on in that wrestling room and we are going to rely on these guys for the near term,” Hawkeye head coach Tom Brands said. “It’s the lineup you’re going to see and we have to be making hay with that lineup. I don’t know how many teams can throw five backups in there and win in seven different weights.

“It’s a culture. You hear the word a lot from programs on the rise that they need a better culture, or from good programs with one established. We love our guys and they feel that they’re loved.”

The Hawkeyes host Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

No. 3 Iowa 26, No. 14 Purdue 9

At Iowa City

197–Mitch Bowman (IA) dec. Christian Brunner, 7-5; 285–Jacob Aven (P) dec. Aaron Costello, 3-1 SV1; 125–Devin Shroder (P) dec. Perez Perez, 4-2; 133–Austin DeSanto (IA) dec. Ben Thornton, 5-2; 141–Max Murin (IA) dec. Nate Limex, 5-0; 149–Carter Happel (IA) dec. Parker Filius, 2-0; 157–Kaleb Young (IA) pinned Griffin Parriott, 3:37; 165–Alex Marinelli (IA) major dec. Cole Wysocki, 14-3; 174–Dylan Lydy (P) dec. Myles Wilson, 7-3; 184–Cash Wilcke (IA) major dec. Max Lyon, 12-4.