Iowa Loses Last-Minute Heart-Breaker to Michigan State 16–13

The Hawkeyes 12 game winning streak came to an end in the Big Ten Football Championship Game — but just barely and in the last minute of play. Each team only scored one touchdown — Iowa’s on an 85 yard pass from Quarterback C.J. Beathard to Tevaun Smith at the start of the 4th Quarter. The Spartans’ came at the conclusion of a monster 22 play drive with just 22 seconds left in the game. And there wasn’t enough time left on the clock for Iowa to counter.

If you like defense — or whether you don’t — this was a terrific football game and an instant B1G classic. National pundits who downplayed Iowa’s credentials all season should understand how good this team really is; if they don’t, they’re just plain football stupid.

Until the last drive by Michigan State, the stats were as even as the score. Iowa’s touchdown put pressure on the Spartans, and they responded at the end. Iowa’s Offense was hampered by the loss of Running Back Jordan Canzeri who went down with a game-ending ankle injury in the 1st Quarter.

Both of these teams are 12–1, 8–1 — and both will continue to play in the post-season. Michigan State will be in the College Football Playoffs. The Hawkeyes will have get a prime bowl slot. Which bowl will depend on how the CFP Committee ranks Iowa after this game and whether it remains ahead of Ohio State. The worst case scenario though should be a New Year’s Day bowl, which is a nice consolation prize — but it’s not what the Hawkeyes wanted.

You can certainly make the case that this has been the best season in Iowa Football history — and it’s first 12-win season. The Hawkeyes still have a chance to grab their 13th win and which ever opponent they will face should expect a dog fight in the bowl game.

Attendance at this game set a record for the Big Ten Championship Game — 69,985 — and many of them wore black and gold.