Iowa beats Nebraska to end perfect regular season at 12-0

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – Iowa was able to overcome its arch nemesis Nebraska in the season finale, take home the Heroes Trophy and finish a magical regular season with a perfect 12-0 mark.

Iowa had just one turnover – a muffed punt return – as Nebraska committed four. Michigan State will be Iowa’s opponent in the Big Ten Championship game on December 5 after the Spartan’s demolition of Penn State Saturday.

Iowa (12-0, 8-0) defeated Nebraska (5-7, 3-5), 28-20 at a cold Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

The Hawkeyes are 12-0 for the first time in school history. The Hawkeyes have won a school-record 12 games.

Iowa completes an undefeated regular season for the fifth time in school history, and first time since 1922: (1899, 8-0-1; 1900, 8-0-1; 1921, 7-0; 1922, 7-0).

Iowa won five road games for the fourth time in school history (1982, 1991, 2002).

Iowa is 8-0 in the Big Ten for the second time under Kirk Ferentz (2002, 8-0).

QB C.J. Beathard is 13-0 as Iowa’s starting quarterback, a record that includes a 6-0 mark on the road, a 7-0 mark at home, and an 9-0 mark in the Big Ten. He is the only quarterback in school history to win his first 13 career starts.

Omaha native LB Cole Fisher recorded his first career interception.

In perhaps the play of the game, DE Parker Hesse recorded his first career interception and returned it four yards for a touchdown. The Hawkeyes have returned four interceptions for touchdowns (Josey Jewell, 34; Bo Bower, 88; Desmond King, 88). The last time Iowa returned four interceptions for a touchdown in the same season was 2010 (Hyde x2, Prater, Binns).

DB Maurice Fleming made his second career start. Fleming started in place of DB Desmond King, who sat out the first quarter after missing a team meeting. King had started 36 consecutive games.

RB Jordan Canzeri scored two touchdowns (runs of 28 and 68 yards) on consecutive plays from scrimmage in the third quarter. It is Iowa’s sixth and seventh scoring drive this season of two or fewer plays. Canzeri has 12 rushing touchdowns this season, the sixtht highest single-season total in school history.

Canzeri became the 14th player in program history to rush for 2,000 yards in a career (2053) Canzeri had 17 carries for 140 yards, the fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season and seventh of his career.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 127 wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference, eighth all-time. Ferentz has 76 Big Ten wins, tying Robert Zuppke (lllinois) for seventh all-time.

Hawkeye fans: Thank YOU! See you in Indianapolis! https://t.co/sg4AQCcWKD

— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) November 28, 2015

Social Media Rundown From Heroes Trophy Win Over Nebraska: https://t.co/m9EzlOh4nS pic.twitter.com/HMjxOLmuDA

— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) November 28, 2015

Start your Saturday with a look back at Friday's @HawkeyeFootball win! https://t.co/85GOcZwktI

— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) November 28, 2015