As if Kaden Wetjen’s toe landing slightly out of bounds wasn’t brutal enough, Iowa football’s final comeback chance vs. USC vanished in another frustrating way.
With the Hawkeyes trailing 26-21 with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Trojans had to convert a 3rd-and-5 to avoid giving Iowa the ball back with an opportunity, albeit slim, to quickly drive for a game-winning touchdown.
But Iowa assistant coach Seth Wallace, who wasn’t immediately identified or named during the incident, according to columnist Chad Leistikow, was then called for an unsportsmanlike penalty, gifting USC the game-clinching first down.
Oddly, the broadcast didn’t appear to mention the penalty and the game quickly ended thereafter as the Trojans ran out the clock.
Asked about the penalty during his postgame press conference, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said: “Looked to me like one of our assistants got out on the field and apparently, you know, literally stepped over the line.”
This story has been updated with a quote from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa football unsportsmanlike conduct penalty cements win for USC
Reporting by Gus Martin, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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