Iowa's walk-off win vs. Nebraska was its wildest yet
No. 17 Iowa continued to defy modern football logic on Friday, earning a walk-off 13-10 win over Nebraska. Here are three reasons the Hawkeyes' 10th win of the season was their wildest yet.
Marshall Meeder immortalizes himself on first FG attempt: In a game featuring 14 punts between the two combatants, Meeder, a transfer kicker from Central Michigan who hadn't attempted a field goal this season, played the hero. Thrust into the pressure cooker in place of benched kicker Drew Stevens, Meeder nailed a 38-yarder with zeros on the clock to give Iowa the victory.
Joining the Iowa roster in August, Meeder nearly gave up football to pursue his engineering major. After not kicking a football in an official game in almost a calendar year, his one and only kick of the 2023 season secured Iowa a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Iowa's way of winning puts them in unique company: Despite having the worst offense in college football, Iowa continues to win close, low-scoring affairs. On Friday, they did it again, outlasting the Cornhuskers by three with only 13 points on the scoreboard. Per OptaStats, Iowa's four wins this season when scoring 15 points or fewer are the most since 1991, when both Alabama and Ball State accomplished the feat.
Iowa was outgained 264-257 by Nebraska and averaged more yards per rushing attempt (4.1) than passing (3.4) while finishing only 6-of-18 on third down. The defense recorded three turnovers on the day, including a clutch interception of QB Chubba Purdy by linebacker Ethan Hurkett with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter, setting up the game-winning FG.
The lowest over-under in CFB history hits: With 3:43 left in the second quarter, Nebraska scored, cutting an early Iowa lead to 10-7. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but Friday's contest featured the lowest over-under in college football history at 24.5 points. For those who bet the under, a first-half total of 17 points had to be concerning. However, both team's struggling offenses bailed them out.
Iowa and Nebraska combined for only two field goals in the second half, though it didn't come without nerve-racking moments. The Hawkeyes had two field goals blocked in the second half alone and the two teams also traded late-game interceptions with the game still tied at 10. The score could have looked different if the game went to overtime or a few field goals made their way through the uprights.
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