Halftime -- Grip and Grunt

This was exactly what you'd expect from the  Big Ten's two most conservative coaches.

The No. 7 Hawkeyes and Michigan State arm-wrestled to a 3-3 halftime tie before 74,411 fans at Spartans Stadium on Saturday night.

Never team showed much offense, daring or creativity. But that's what you expected going into a percentage football game between percentage coaches.

Michigan State struck first with Brett Swenson's 34-yard field goal with 3:39 left in the first quarter. The drive died when Iowa cornerback Amari Spievey tackled fullback Andrew Harken for a 3-yard gain on a third-and-4. The Spartans drove 45 yards on eight plays.

The Hawkeyes answered on their next possession.

Running back Adam Robinson carried six times for 36 yards to fuel a drive that really got a boost from a 23-yard screen pass to freshman running back Brandon Wegher. The bad news, Wegher cut back into traffic and took a shot on the shoulder and didn't return.

With first down at MSU's 20, the Hawkeyes went Robinson minus-1, Robinson for 5 and a Ricky Stanzi sack for a 4-yard loss. Daniel Murray booted an ugly 37-yard field goal that barely made it over the crossbar.

So, 3-3.

Iowa tried only seven passes with Stanzi completing 3 of 7 for 35 yards. He was sacked twice. Robinson finished the half with 62 yards on 15 carries.

Iowa was 1 of 6 on third down; while Michigan State was 2 of 7.

On a third-and-2 from Iowa's 30, Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn sacked MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins for a 10-yard loss, knocking the Spartans out of field goal range with 4:08 left in the first half.

Iowa's field position keep the Hawkeyes cautious with starting spots of 31, 20, 25, 17 and 10.