Iowa football vs. Nebraska score: Live updates, highlights, analysis

No. 16 Iowa scored 22 unanswered points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, to beat Nebraska 28-21 and win the Heroes Trophy for the seventh straight year.

The victory also keeps the Hawkeyes alive for a spot in the Big Ten West championship game. They clinched at least a share of the division title but need Minnesota to beat Wisconsin on Saturday for a trip to Indianapolis.

The Hawkeyes improved to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten. The Huskers finish the season 3-9, 1-8. All nine losses were by single digits, eight by one score.

» Box score: No. 16 Iowa 28, Nebraska 21

» Recap: Iowa gets big plays from defense, special teams to avoid upset at Nebraska

» Hlas column: “Special teams” doesn’t begin to describe Iowa’s

» Game Report: Numbers, notes and more from Iowa’s win over Nebraska

» Feature: Iowa QB Spencer Petras beats flu, Nebraska in same week

» Gallery: 50 photos from Iowa’s win over Nebraska

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4th Quarter updates

0:43 4th: Iowa 28, Nebraska 21

Nebraska drove to the Iowa 28, converting a fourth-and-2 from the 34 with a 6-yard Logan Smothers pass to Samori Toure with a minute left. But two plays later, Smothers threw it right to Iowa’s Jermari Harris, who intercepted it in the end zone to clinch the Iowa win.

2:58 4th: Iowa 28, Nebraska 21

The Iowa offense finally found the end zone with less than three minutes left to take its first lead of the game, and it’s only fitting that it came via a 2-yard Spencer Petras quarterback sneak.

Tyler Goodson's 55-yard run got the Hawkeyes to the Nebraska 14. It was a six-play, 76-yard drive that stunned the home crowd.

7:21 4th: Iowa 21, Nebraska 21

Caleb Shudak came through again, kicking a 44-yard field goal to tie the score. That makes him 4-for-4 in the game and 22-for-25 this season. It was an eight-play, 36-yard drive for the Hawkeyes after the safety that included a third-and-8 conversion with a Spencer Petras pass to Charlie Jones to move into field-goal range.

9:56 4th: Nebraska 21, Iowa 18

Cue the Iowa defense scoring points. Lukas Van Ness pressured Logan Smothers in the end zone, and the freshman quarterback was flagged for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety.

10:37 4th: Nebraska 21, Iowa 16

All Iowa’s offense did after the turnover was lose 2 yards and go three-and-out. It might be up to the defense or special teams to make another game-changing play, with Nebraska starting its next drive at its 7.

12:14 4th: Nebraska 21, Iowa 16

And now a fumble. Four plays after the blocked punt for a touchdown, Nebraska mishandled an exchange and Logan Lee recovered the fumble for the Hawkeyes at the Iowa 46.

14:16 4th: Nebraska 21, Iowa 16

Special teams gave Iowa its first touchdown of the game. Henry Marchese blocked a Nebraska punt and Kyler Fisher grabbed it and took it back 14 yards for a TD.

3rd Quarter updates

0:27 3rd: Nebraska 21, Iowa 9

Another Iowa drive into Nebraska territory ended without a touchdown. All six Iowa drives, in fact. Caleb Shudak is now 3-for-3 in the game with a 36-yard field goal on fourth-and-11. It was a 10-play, 57-yard drive.

5:54 3rd: Nebraska 21, Iowa 6

The Huskers quickly capitalized on the turnover with a nine-play, 94-yard drive. Logan Smothers ran in a 1-yard touchdown, his second TD of the game.

The quarterback completed a 27-yard pass to Austin Allen to spark the drive, then a 40-yarder to Omar Manning despite being hit while he threw to set up the TD. That moved his line for the game to 7-for-7 for 125 yards while also rushing for 78 yards in his first career start.

10:12 3rd: Nebraska 14, Iowa 6

Spencer Petras entered the game at quarterback and Iowa was in position to score on its first possession of the second half, but Tyler Goodson fumbled and the Huskers’ Luke Reimer recovered at their 6. That stopped a nine-play, 69-yard drive. Iowa did most of its work on the ground; Petras threw only two passes, completing one.

2nd Quarter updates

0:39 2nd: Nebraska 14, Iowa 6

Iowa was lucky to avoid a third-and-10 interception and got another three points from Caleb Shudak with a 48-yard field goal.

Caleb Tannor read Alex Padilla and batted away his third-down pass. It was an eight-play, 45-yard drive for the Hawkeyes that was aided by a roughing the passer penalty to move into Nebraska territory. Padilla followed that with a pass to Sam LaPorta for an 11-yard gain.

4:20 2nd: Nebraska 14, Iowa 3

Jaquez Yant leaped over the pile and into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run to increase the Huskers’ lead. That capped a run-heavy 13-play, 75-yard drive.

Nebraska had success with the option, including QB Logan Smothers keeping for a 24-yard gain to the Iowa 5. Smothers rushed seven times on the drive for 43 yards and completed his only two pass attempts for 11 yards.

10:39 2nd: Nebraska 7, Iowa 3

Caleb Shudak kicked a 51-yard field goal to get the Hawkeyes on the board. Iowa appeared to convert a third-and-4 prior to that with a 10-yard Alex Padilla pass to Sam LaPorta, but a flag was thrown late for illegal formation. The ensuing third-and-9 pass was broken up. This was a seven-play, 27-yard drive.

13:36 2nd: Nebraska 7, Iowa 0

Iowa’s defense forced two straight three-and-outs after Nebraska’s opening touchdown. Quarterback Logan Smothers tried to run for the first on third-and-3 but was stopped for a 1-yard gain by Noah Shannon. Iowa got the ball back at its 40.

1st Quarter updates

0:23 1st: Nebraska 7, Iowa 0

Iowa forced a three-and-out inside the Nebraska 10, but the offense couldn’t take advantage. Ty Robinson sacked Alex Padilla for a loss of 7 on second down and the Hawkeyes punted from their 39 — a Tory Taylor punt that resulted in a touchback for a net of 19 yards.

4:29 1st: Nebraska 7, Iowa 0

Iowa appeared to answer Nebraska’s touchdown drive with an opening scoring drive of its own, converting a fourth-and-goal to tie the score. But Alex Padilla’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta was overturned with video review determining LaPorta did not have control of the ball.

Tyler Goodson set it up with a 12-yard run on a third-and-goal draw play, but the Hawkeyes ultimately came up empty. The drive was 74 yards on 11 plays.

9:18 1st: Nebraska 7, Iowa 0

A delay-of-game penalty before the first play from scrimmage wasn’t a good sign, but it was smooth sailing from there for the Huskers and replacement quarterback Logan Smothers. The redshirt freshman scored on a 2-yard TD run to complete a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

The Huskers converted a fourth-and-1 from their 49 and third-and-1 from the Iowa 40 with short runs, and Smothers delivered a 28-yard pass to a wide-open Samori Toure to set up the score.

Pregame storylines

The Hawkeyes, of course, need a win to reach the 10-win plateau. They also need a win to keep their hopes of an outright Big Ten West title and spot in the conference championship alive. That would happen with a Wisconsin loss to Minnesota on Saturday.

With Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez out, The Gazette’s John Steppe predicts an Iowa win.

Be sure to read John’s features on Iowa QB Alex Padilla and true freshman receiver Arland Bruce IV as well.

The Huskers were early favorites until that injury news, but Mike Hlas points out that yardage isn’t winning. Winning is winning.

Here are some Iowa-Nebraska Fun Facts and the rest of our staff picks.

How to watch Iowa vs. Nebraska (Nov. 26, 2021)

Time: 12:30 p.m. CT Friday

TV: Big Ten Network

Live stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Listen online: The Varsity Network