College Football: Iowa defeats Nebraska, 13-10

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – Iowa (10-2, 7-2) defeated Nebraska (5-7, 3-6), 13-10, in the Heroes Game on Friday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. 

A he fought quarter interception from the  Iowa defense set up a winning field goal as time expired in this defensive slugfest.

The Hawkeyes regain control of the Heroes Trophy for the eighth time in nine seasons.

It is the sixth straight year the game has been decided by seven points or less.

Iowa finishes the regular season with a 3-1 record in rivalry trophy games.  

The Hawkeyes are 27-9 in their last 36 rivalry trophy games.  

It is the seventh time the Hawkeyes have notched their 10th victory during the regular season, including five under head coach Kirk Ferentz and two under Hayden Fry.

It is the 11th time Iowa has reached the 10-win mark in program history (1985, 1987, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2019, 2021) – the eighth time under Ferentz.

Iowa has won 18 of its last 19 games in November.

The Hawkeyes are 5-1 in games decided by seven points or less in 2023.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• K Marshall Meeder connected on a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired to give Iowa the 13-10 victory.
  • It was Meeder’s first career attempt as a Hawkeye in his first career game.
  • Meeder made 30-of-45 FG attempts in his three-year career at Central Michigan, including 5-of-11 last season.
• QB Deacon Hill completed 11-of-28 passes for 94 yards.
  • Hill had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter – his second of the season.
• RB Leshon Williams rushed for 111 yards on 16 attempts.  It is his third 100-yard game this season (and career).
  • Williams had a 53-yard run in the second quarter, which is tied for his second longest and the team’s fourth longest run of the season.  Iowa has five 50+ yard rushes in 2023. 
  • He had a 22-yard run on the final drive to set up the game-winning field goal.
  • Williams has led the team in rushing seven times in 2023.
• TE Steven Stilianos had a 37-yard reception – tying a career-long (at Lafayette) – to set up Iowa’s first touchdown drive.
• DL Ethan Hurkett recorded his first career interception on the final Nebraska drive and returned it 10 yards to the Nebraska 37 to set up Iowa’s game-winning field goal.
  • Hurkett also led the team with a career-high nine tackles (five solo), including 1.5 TFL.  
• LB Jaxon Rexroth forced a fumble on a Nebraska punt return in the first quarter and LB Karson Sharar recovered, giving Iowa possession on the Nebraska 17.  It was the first career forced fumble for Rexroth and first fumble recovery for Sharar.
• DB Sebastian Castro forced a Chubba Purdy fumble in the second quarter.
  • It is the second forced fumble of the season and fourth of his career.
• LB Jay Higgins had eight tackles, giving him 140 tackles for the season.  They are tied for the seventh most in program history with Dave Clement.

MISCELLANEOUS 

• Iowa made a game-winning 38-yard field goal – its second game-winning field goal this season (at Northwestern).
  • It is the third time since 2018 that Iowa has had a game-winning field goal against the Huskers. 
    • Miguel Recinos (2018), Keith Duncan (2019)
• The Hawkeyes rushing attack finished with 163 yards against the nation’s No. 5 rushing defense.  The Huskers allowed 86.5 rushing yards leading into the game.
• Iowa forced three turnovers – two fumbles in the first half and a fourth-quarter interception. 
  • It was Iowa’s first forced fumble since Week 7 at Wisconsin and the first multi-turnover game since Week 7 in Madison.
  • It is the second-most turnovers the team has forced in a game this season (4 vs. Michigan State).
  • Iowa turned the three turnovers into six points.  The team has a 46-20 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Iowa’s defense forced a punt on Nebraska’s first offensive series.  The Hawkeyes did not give up a point on an opening drive during the regular season.
• The Hawkeyes allowed 264 yards – the 26th consecutive game allowing fewer than 400 yards.  It is the longest active streak nationally.
• Iowa’s defense has allowed one touchdown or less in 10 of the 12 games of 2023 and 19 of the last 25 games.
• Iowa has allowed 14 or fewer points in 18 of its last 25 games.
• Iowa’s defense has allowed just three touchdowns in the last six games. 
• Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. The Hawkeyes have played 313 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 230 times (149-81). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 83 times (47-36).

INSTANT REPLAY

1) Deacon Hill touchdown rush (ruled a TD) – confirmed

2) Chubba Purdy fumble (ruled a fumble) – confirmed

3) Deacon Hill scramble for a first down (ruled short) – confirmed 

4) Jermari Harris tackle (ruled legal) – confirmed

5) Chubba Purdy run – spot ruled short – confirmed

UP NEXT 

The Hawkeyes return to action Dec. 2, traveling to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game.  Iowa will face the winner of Saturday’s Michigan/Ohio State at 7:15 p.m. (CT) at Lucas Oil Stadium.