Iowa (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) snatches victory from the gaping jaws of defeat with a game-winning 44-yard field goal by Drew Stevens to give the Hawkeyes a dramatic 20-17 win over Michigan State (3-8, 0-8 Big Ten) on Senior Day.
After quite possibly the worst game Iowa has played all season, Mark Gronowski led the Hawkeyes’ offense to 10 unanswered points thanks to stellar play by the defense in crunch time.
With the win, Iowa avoids likely the worst loss in the Kirk Ferentz era and improves to 7-4 on the season and 5-3 in the Big Ten.
On the other end, Michigan State loses its eighth straight game and remains winless in the Big Ten ahead of its season finale next Saturday. With frustrations boiling in East Lansing, this loss may have been the last straw for head coach Jonathan Smith.
L FOR MSU
Final: Iowa 20, Michigan State 17
Hawkeyes win!
Drew Stevens kicks a game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expires!
IN HEAVEN, THERE. IS. NO. BEER!!!
0:48 4th QTR: Iowa 17, Michigan State 17
Iowa gets another crunch-time stop!
Hawkeyes have two timeouts with the ball on their own 21-yard line.
Potential chance at a game-winning field goal.
1:29 4th QTR: Iowa 17, Michigan State 17
TOUCHDOWN HAWKEYES!
The game is tied on a Gronowski 13-yard pass to Jacob Gill for the score!
2:37 4th QTR: Iowa 10, Michigan State 17
Hawkeyes’ defense gets another stop.
Wetjen returns the kick 43 yards to the MSU 42-yard line.
Can Iowa finally reward its seniors on defense with a touchdown to tie the game?
3:45 4th QTR: Iowa 10, Michigan State 17
After starting with an excellent field position, Iowa turns the ball over on downs through two sacks and an incomplete pass on fourth down.
7:26 4th QTR: Iowa 10, Michigan State 17
Iowa gets another stop! Offense will start with excellent field position as the Spartans shanked the punt.
The ball is placed at the MSU 37-yard line.
8:20 4th QTR: Iowa 10, Michigan State 17
To absolutely no surprise, Iowa goes three-and-out.
Iowa punts the ball back to MSU, where the Spartans will take over from their 32-yard line/
10:01 4th QTR: Iowa 10, Michigan State 17
Hawkeyes get a HUGE stop!
Hawkeyes have a chance to tie the game with a touchdown if the offense can execute a scoring drive.
11:27 4th QTR: Iowa 10, Michigan State 17
Offense finally wakes up to get a crucial score to bring some life back into the stadium with a 26-yard field goal that sneaks inside the uprights.
Defense needs to hold MSU to a punt now.
End of 3rd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 17
1:13 3rd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 17
Michigan State touchdown.
This is absolutely horrid play by the Hawkeyes, as the defense is the only unit making plays.
Ferentz may need to make a change at QB to spark the offense.
6:58 3rd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 10
Another lackluster offensive drive by Iowa goes nowhere.
Boo birds are out in full force.
8:58 3rd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 10
MSU takes the lead on a 45-yard deep pass that beats the Iowa cornerback.
This is a nightmare for the Hawkeyes.
10:04 3rd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 3
Dreadful turnover by Gronowski as he pitched the ball forward straight to an MSU defender.
12:56 3rd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 3
MSU is forced to punt after its possession to open the second half dries up.
Iowa starts from its own 26-yard line.
Wetjen Makes History
Kaden Wetjen now has the most combined kick return touchdowns (4 punt, 2 kickoff) in school history, passing Tim Dwight.
The first quarter score is Wetjen’s fourth career punt return touchdown and his third this season, which is tied for the second most in a season in Big Ten history.
Halftime: Iowa 7, Michigan State 3
Drew Stevens’ 53-yard field goal is no good as Iowa fails to convert on a Zach Lutmer interception.
Iowa is entering the halftime break with a 7-3 lead, which is a nightmare for the Hawkeyes considering who they’re playing.
Zutmer Interception!
1:09 2nd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 3
Iowa’s promising drive dries up AGAIN!
Dakin punts to the MSU 10-yard line.
2:54 2nd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 3
MSU gets on the board with a 27-yard field goal.
HUGE red-zone stop by the Hawkeyes!
IOWA MUST WAKE UP!
Hawkeyes are literally sleepwalking on offense right now.
9:13 2nd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 0
Another Iowa drive that stalls on minimal yardage plays that ends in a sack.
The Hawkeyes are struggling to crack the Spartans’ defense.
Dakin punts to the MSU 13-yard line.
14:12 2nd QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 0
MSU avoids having to kick to Wetjen by having its quarterback punt to the Iowa 14-yard line.
Time to wave!
End of 1st QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 0
3:38 1st QTR: Iowa 7, Michigan State 0
Hawkeyes’ defense stands tall. MSU punts to Wetjen again.
TOUCHDOWN IOWA!
Wetjen returns the punt to the house to pass Tim Dwight for the most return touchdowns in Iowa program history!
5:16 1st QTR: Iowa 0, Michigan State 0
After an incredible Wetjen return, Gronowski throws a deep pass that is intercepted in double coverage at the 6-yard line of Michigan State.
MSU will take over at its own 6-yard line.
BRUTAL!
5:26 1st QTR: Iowa 0, Michigan State 0
Iowa forces a punt to Wetjen, who nearly returns the kick to the crib. Unfortunately, he was tackled by the punter at the MSU 44-yard line.
Hawkeyes will start with excellent field position.
7:15 1st QTR: Iowa 0, Michigan State 0
Iowa scores a touchdown on a fumble, but the call is reversed to MSU possession.
7:29 1st QTR: Iowa 0, Michigan State 0
Gronowski is sacked on a third-down-and-4. Iowa forced to punt again.
10:58 1st QTR: Iowa 0, Michigan State 0
Iowa gets a solid defensive stop to force a punt, but that kick was unfortunately downed at the Iowa 1-yard line.
13:26 1st QTR: Iowa 0, Michigan State 0
Iowa runs itself out of an opening drive on a pair of incomplete passes that stalls the momentum.
MSU gets the ball at its own 34-yard line on a 28-yard Dakin punt.
15:00 1st QTR: Iowa 0, Michigan State 0
Michigan State kicks off to Iowa, with the ball sailing out of the back of the end zone.
Iowa starts the game at its own 25-yard line.
Pregame Flyover
Time to rock
Seniors leaving their legacy
Fired Up and Ready
Pregame Arrival
Dialed in
One Last Time
Iowa vs. Michigan State availability report
Iowa’s pregame availability report revealed that the Hawkeyes will be without starting cornerback TJ Hall.
It’s Go Time!
Iowa football 2025 schedule
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football wins on walk-off field goal vs. Michigan State: Recap, analysis
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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