Riley Moss thought he was ‘done.’ Instead, he has at least one more home game at Iowa.

IOWA CITY — Moments after experiencing the thrill of an interception against then-No. 4 Penn State, cornerback Riley Moss’ emotions quickly shifted to dread and fear.

He thought he was “done.”

A few seconds after using his adrenaline to spring his feet — “it happened so quick” — Moss fell with a knee injury.

“It definitely scared me because I've never hurt my knee before,” Moss said, “and I was thinking worst-case scenario — ACL.”

Thankfully for Moss and the rest of the Hawkeyes, it wasn’t his ACL. It was his PCL.

Instead of missing the rest of his senior season, he missed just three games. Even with the three-game absence, Moss is tied for sixth in the FBS with four interceptions.

Iowa’s 27-22 win over Minnesota was his first game back. He had two tackles in the win.

Watching Iowa’s losses to Purdue and Wisconsin and the narrow win over Northwestern from the sidelines wasn’t easy.

“It was tough,” Moss said. “I’m just glad I was able to travel with my boys and help them on the sideline and kind of give them encouragement.”

Moss, a senior, has not decided whether he will return for his extra year of eligibility because of COVID-19.

“I’m staying open-minded until the end of the season,” Moss said.

When Moss steps onto the field to the tune of “Back in Black” ahead of Saturday’s Senior Day game vs. Illinois, he’ll be approaching it like his last home game, though.

“I'm mentally prepared for it to be my last time,” Moss said. “If it isn’t, it isn’t, and then I’ll get another shot.”

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