Iowa Football Game Report: Hawkeyes 14, No. 3 Michigan Wolverines 13

News, notes and anecdotes from Iowa's 14-13 victory over No. 3 Michigan.

Play of the Game

The Set Up – With just less than two minutes to go on Saturday night, hope looked lost for the Hawkeyes. Quarterback C.J. Beathard had just thrown an interception on a play action throw to Jerminic Smith, and Michigan took over at its own 16. But the Iowa defense, which held No. 3 Michigan to a season-low 201 yards, stood up again.

A Michigan 3-and-out led to a punt taken at the Iowa 40 by Desmond King. His return to the 49 was padded by a personal foul call against Michigan, that set up Iowa's final drive. With 1:23 to go, the Hawkeyes started from the Michigan 36, and needed just three plays to set up the biggest play of the season so far.

A screen pass from Beathard to Akrum Wadley for 10 yards and then two plays later a designed quarterback run from Beathard went for eight yards, a first down and perfect positioning in the middle of the field for true freshman kicker Keith Duncan. At the Michigan 15-yard line, Iowa was set up to remake history.

What Happened – After Iowa got its first down and ideal positioning on the field, Coach Kirk Ferentz let the clock run to 0:03 before calling timeout to send his kicker onto the field. As usually happens in that kind of situation, Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh also used his final timeout in an effort to ice Duncan.

But Duncan wasn't having any of that.

Duncan, who was 6 of 7 this season coming into the game – with a long of 41 yards – left no doubt. His impending kick and the situation the Hawkeyes found themselves in were reminiscent of two other all-time games at Kinnick Stadium.

Rob Houghtlin beat No. 2 Michigan, 12-10 in 1985. Daniel Murray beat No. 3 Penn State in 2008. And in 2016…

The Result – Duncan booted the 33-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired, handing Michigan its first loss of the season.

The Hawkeyes swarmed Duncan at midfield in celebration while thousands of Iowa fans poured over the walls of the grandstands and joined the scrum on the field.

Coming into Saturday night's game, almost no one who pays attention to college football gave Iowa a chance to win the game. The Wolverines were favored by 21.5 points (see below) headed into this game, and every expert who was asked expected a so-far-dominant Michigan to pick up where Penn State left off last week.

So much for 'experts.'

-Jeremiah Davis

Betting on Blue For Green

The late money at Las Vegas sports books was wagered on Michigan, not Iowa.

So was the early money.

At Caesars/Harrah's casino properties, the opening betting line was Michigan by 20 points over the Hawkeyes. The inched up during the week, but appeared to settle at 21.5 points this weekend.

Then came the news that Iowa starters Cole Croston, Greg Mabin and George Kittle were out for the game. And the line took a 2-point leap at 5:24 p.m., Central time. It climbed another half-point to Michigan by 24 at 5:59.

Iowa hadn't been such a prohibitive underdog since it was a 31-point underdog at Wisconsin in 1999, Kirk Ferentz's first season as the Hawkeyes' coach. Iowa lost that day, 41-3, rewarding Badgers bettors.

-Mike Hlas

Welcome Back, Tom

Tom Brokaw is one of America's most recognizable television journalists, having graced TVs across the country from 1966 as an anchor to now as a special correspondent for NBC News.

Brokaw attended the University of Iowa for one year before dropping out. The venerable anchor has said many times – and again this week while on campus – that he 'one year there, and I had a double major — beer and coeds.'

While Brokaw was back in Iowa City to meet with UI officials about donating historic papers and artifacts from his journalism career, he also made his way to the Iowa-Michigan game Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium. Brokaw was recognized at midfield during the first half with his family, and then made a brief appearance on the radio broadcast with Gary Dolphin and Ed Podalak. He discussed the recent presidential election as well as a little football during his time in the booth.

Brokaw's appearance at Iowa even made him a trending topic on Twitter.

No word on if Brokaw made an appearance at his booth at the Airliner Bar after the game.

-Jeremiah Davis

By The Numbers

2014 – The last season in which Iowa recorded a safety before Saturday night

497.4 – Yards per game for the Michigan offense coming into Saturday

201 – Total offense for Michigan against Iowa, a season-low

47.8 – Points per game for Michigan coming into Saturday

13 – Points scored by Michigan Saturday night, a season-low

9 – Team-leading tackles for Jaleel Johnson, who had one sack and the safety

4 – Runs of 10 or more yards by Akrum Wadley

3 – Pass breakups for Manny Rugamba, making his first career start

2 – Straight running into the kicker penalties that got Iowa a first down

2 – Fourth down conversions by Iowa, one of which a touchdown

1 – Interceptions for Manny Rugamba

1 – Interceptions thrown by C.J. Beathard, coming late in the fourth quarter

-Jeremiah Davis

Injury Report

The injury bug has followed the Hawkeyes throughout this season, and Iowa dealt with it again Saturday – once again mostly up front offensively.

Two of Iowa's injured players have been dealing with them for the better part of this season. Offensive lineman Cole Croston missed his third game this season dealing with a left leg injury, being scratched before kickoff. Tight end George Kittle, who also has been dealing with a leg injury, missed his first game of the season – he'd started all nine games before Saturday, but didn't finish multiple games dealing with the nagging injury. Keegan Render started in place of Croston on the offensive line and Peter Pekar started at tight end in place of Kittle.

Cornerback Greg Mabin was an unexpected addition to the injury list Saturday. He, too, was dealing with a leg injury. Mabin missed his first game of the season and broke a streak of 32 consecutive starts. Freshman cornerback Manny Rugamba started in place of Mabin, and collected two pass breakups – one in the end zone – that proved to be significant plays for the Hawkeyes.

The Hawkeyes lost a fourth and fifth starter during the game as well. Safety Miles Taylor took a hard hit during the first half and was taken back to the locker room to be put through the concussion protocol. Senior safety Anthony Gair replaced Taylor. Offensive lineman Ike Boettger went out of the game late in the fourth quarter with a leg injury as well, and was replaced by Levi Paulsen.

-Jeremiah Davis

Up Next

The Hawkeyes hit the road next week to face Illinois at Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. Iowa faces Illinois following the Fighting Illini's blowout loss to No. 7 Wiscosin, 48-7, at Camp Randall. The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) face the Illini (3-7, 2-5) on BTN. Kickoff time still is to be announced.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com