Game Report: Iowa Hawkeyes 23, Penn State Nittany Lions 20

Here’s a closer look at No. 3 Iowa’s 23-20 win over No. 4 Penn State on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

Turning point

Everyone knows this one. It’ll be part of Hawkeye lore.

Charlie Jones fair caught a punt at the Penn State 44 with 6:35 let. Iowa trailed at the time, 20-16.

On first down, quarterback Spencer Petras play-action rolled to his right. Nico Ragaini was lined up in the left slot and began a slant route.

Ragaini then suddenly cut back to his left, toward the left sideline and was wide open. Petras pulled up, delivered a strike back across the field, Ragaini caught it at the 17, absorbed a push from a Penn State defender at about the 3 but dove into the left corner of the end zone for the touchdown.

The extra point made it 23-20 Iowa. That was your final score.

By the numbers

4: Interceptions by Iowa in this game.

6: Consecutive wins for Iowa over ranked opponents.

11: Penn State penalties, the majority of them false starts caused by the overwhelmingly loud Kinnick Stadium crowd.

12: Consecutive wins overall for Iowa.

16: Interceptions by Iowa this season.

Notebook

Mom always knows

Nikkie Britt of Indianapolis, the mother of Iowa sophomore offensive lineman Justin Britt, has quickly become a Twitter favorite of Hawkeye fans.

“Good morning Hawkeye Nation,” she tweeted Saturday. “I expect all fans in the stadium to make so much noise today, that Penn State can't hear their own thoughts. Make sure you understand the assignment & Hawkon.”

Outside Kinnick waiting for the team buses to arrive Saturday, she was asked to give a sound bite for Game Report.

She thought about it for a few moments, then said “Defense wins this game.”

Her son is an offensive player, but she said “I live in reality.”

Battle for Floyd of Rosedale likely won’t be a night game

Iowa athletics director Gary Barta said Thursday the Minnesota-Iowa matchup Nov. 13 is “likely going to be a day game." He didn't entirely rule out a night game, though.

Both schools would have to agree to request a night game for it to happen, Barta said.

"We haven't chimed in either way," Barta said.

Barta also said "nothing's been even close to determined" on whether to do an eight-game or nine-game conference schedule with the addition of Alliance games.

Decisions about any non-conference matchups, including the Cy-Hawk series, will wait until the conference decides on a schedule length. He said he wants to continue the Cy-Hawk series, if possible.

"We certainly know the value it has to the state," Barta said. "Once we know the final decision in the Big Ten, then we'll have to make that decision."

In the house

Representatives from the Citrus Bowl and Orange Bowl were in the house Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. National Football League scouts from the Chicago Bears, Miami Dophins, San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers also were there.

Former Iowa safety and successful Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops was introduced to the Kinnick Stadium crowd to a rousing ovation. Stoops was celebrated for his induction into the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame.

“I appreciate the great Hawkeye fans here. It’s fun to be back,” Stoops said on FOX.

A plethora of Iowa recruits at the stadium included Southeast Polk’s Xavier Nwankpa. He’s a five-star safety who this week narrowed his final three schools to Iowa, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Nwankpa, who blocked a last-second field goal Friday night to preserve his team’s 21-20 win over Cedar Rapids Prairie, was making his official visit to Iowa City.

Remember when

This was the first time a Big Ten Conference game between two opponents ranked in the top five that weren’t Michigan or Ohio State since 1962. Since Nov. 24, 1962, to be specific.

Third-ranked Wisconsin beat No. 5 Minnesota that day, 14-9.

Injury report

Starting cornerback Riley Moss injured his left leg late in the second quarter after making a diving interception near midfield. Moss got back to his feet immediately following the pick, then grabbed at his knee and went back to the ground before limping off.

Moss has four interceptions this season. He was replaced at corner by junior Terry Roberts.

Fullback Monte Pottebaum went down for a bit in the final two minutes but came off the field under his own power.

Penn State, of course, went without starting quarterback Sean Clifford the final half after he was injured throwing an incomplete pass late in the second quarter on a hard, clean tackled by blitzing Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. Clifford fell hard to the ground on his left shoulder.

He was replaced by true freshman Ta’Quan Roberson.

Up next

It’s homecoming for Iowa next Saturday. It hosts Purdue in a 2:30 p.m. game that will be televised by ABC. The Boilermakers are 3-2, their wins over Oregon State, Connecticut and Illinois. The losses were by 14 to Notre Dame and seven to Minnesota. Purdue had a bye this week.

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