Nebraska vs. Iowa Game Report: Numbers and notes from the Hawkeyes’ 13-10 win

A closer look at Iowa’s 13-10 win Saturday night over Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium. Max Llewellyn’s strip sack led to Drew Stevens’ game-winning field goal as the Hawkeyes rallied to win Heroes Game.

Turning point: Llewellyn with the strip sack and fumble recovery leads to Stevens’ walk-off field goal

It was a very cold and very blue evening for Iowa most of the way. Nebraska led at halftime, 10-0, with the Hawkeyes accumulating just 20 yards of offense.

But a Nebraska muffed punt in the third quarter allowed Iowa to take over possession at the Cornhuskers 4. The Hawkeyes could not cash in with a touchdown, but Stevens made a 20-yard field goal to make it a 10-3 game with 4:30 left.

Kaleb Johnson’s electric 72-yard touchdown on a swing pass tied it for Iowa on the first play of the fourth quarter, after Stevens tacked on the extra point. It appeared overtime would be imminent as the clock ticked and neither team threatened offensively.

But Iowa defensive lineman Max Llewellyn got to Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola with pressure in the final minute, stripping Raiola of the ball on a sack and recovering it at the Cornhuskers 36 with 20 seconds left.

A pair of runs took the football exactly 1 yard to the Nebraska 35, with Iowa calling its final timeout. Stevens came on for a 53-yard field-goal attempt from the right hashmark, curling his kick just inside the right upright and through for the walk-off win.

Stevens was pulled from last season’s game against Nebraska after having two field goals blocked, with walk-on Marshall Meeder kicking a walk-off 38-yard field goal to give Iowa a (wait for it) 13-10 win.

By the numbers: Nebraska at Iowa

1 — First downs for Iowa in the first half

20 — Yards for Iowa in the first half

20 — Plays in the first half for Iowa

47 — Plays in the first half for Nebraska

164 — Yards in the game for Iowa

182 — Yards in the first half for Nebraska

334 — Yard in the game for Nebraska

Iowa football notebook

* Iowa wore all-black uniforms for Friday night’s game. The school asked fans to wear the color for a “Blackout” event.

* Iowa has won nine of the last 10 Heroes Games. The last seven were decided by seven points or less.

* The Hawkeyes have now won 21 of their last 24 games in November, dating to 2019.

* It was 64 degrees Friday in LaJolla, Calif., hometown of Iowa quarterback Jackson Stratton. The halftime temperature Friday night at Kinnick Stadium was 13 degrees, with a wind chill of 3.

* A fan in the south end zone held up a sign in the first half that read “Fire Mike McCarthy.”

Iowa football injury report

The pregame injury report for Iowa had a surprise in it. Rather a surprise that wasn’t in it.

That’d be quarterback Brendan Sullivan, who has been out since incurring an ankle injury three weeks ago in a game at UCLA. Sullivan was not among the six Hawkeyes players listed as “Out” against Nebraska.

Quarterback Cade McNamara (concussion) was listed as out for the game, along with cornerback Jermari Harris, linebacker Karson Sharar, defensive lineman Brian Allen Jr., offensive lineman Gennings Dunker and wide receiver Reece Vander Zee.

It was the second consecutive missed game for Dunker, who has been a starter the entire season. It has been speculated that Harris, who went through Senior Day pregame ceremonies, has opted out of the remainder of the season because of nagging injuries and to heal for workouts in preparation of the spring’s NFL Draft.

Defensive lineman Yahya Black appeared to injure his left knee on the third play of the second half. He jogged off the field and went to the medical tent, then later returned to the game.

Wide receiver Jacob Gill left the game and did not return after injuring his leg on a catch late in the third quarter.

Iowa’s next game

It’ll be a bowl game somewhere against someone.

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