The good, bad and ugly in Iowa football’s field goal win over Michigan State

IOWA CITY — Saturday’s walk-off win over Michigan State can be summed up by Iowa football quarterback Mark Gronowski’s first words to the media postgame.

“Well, it wasn’t pretty, but we got it done.”

In a game reminiscent to a time jump back in 2023, the Hawkeyes found a way to beat the Spartans in the fourth quarter after a lackluster Senior Day that could’ve been one of the worst home finale losses in program history.

Kicker Drew Steven’s 44-yard field goal in the final seconds made sure that wasn’t the case.

“I think all of us had every faith that Drew would get it done,” Head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “You always remember your last game in your home stadium, especially a place like Kinnick. It's such a special place to play.”

The Senior Day victory had multiple Hawkeye seniors making impactful plays leading to the eventual win. But even with the euphoria — or more likely, relief — of a late win, it was clearly not Iowa’s best day.

Here are the key good, bad and ugly moments that led up to Stevens’ field goal that sent the 70,000 Kinnick faithful fans home happy.

The good

Reece Vander Zee’s catch

If sophomore receiver Reece Vander Zee doesn’t make this catch, Stevens doesn’t get to kick the game-winning field goal. The 29-yard grab along the sideline gave the Hawkeyes just enough distance to put Stevens in a comfortable position for a field goal.

Vander Zee finished the game with two catches for 46 yards, most of any Hawkeye against Michigan State.

It’s the play that set up Stevens, but also helped prove what Gronowski can do in high-pressure scenarions. The passing game was essentially non-existent leading up to the final quarter, and Vander Zee’s ability to make the catch in crunch time helps provide some positive in a less-than-stellar night through the air.

“If you ever get one on one opportunity with Reece Vander Zee, he makes plays left and right all the time in practice,” Gronowski said. “And just glad to see him come down with another game.”

The bad

McCray makes the defense pay

Iowa’s defense was without TJ Hall on Saturday, after the senior cornerback was injured the week prior against USC. Though one player won’t make up the entirety of the defensive pressures, Michigan State put together a drive at the start of the second half that put the Spartans in front.

“There's a couple things that happened right at the end of the first half and into the third quarter where I started getting concerned,” Ferentz said, “in terms of you miss opportunities, leaving stuff out there, and then are you going to be able to make that up?”

The touchdown pass, a 45-yard completion to receiver Chrishon McCray, was one of two touchdowns the Spartan caught against the Hawkeyes.

Iowa’s passing defense was ranked sixth-best in the county heading into this week’s matchup, having allowed 157.4 passing yards per game. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, it’s also how Iowa’s been beaten — deep, one-on-one matchups that their opponent made both on the road and at home.

The ugly

The lost turnover battle

Michigan State forced two turnovers against Iowa, including a fumble recovery that led to a touchdown. Typically, that’s a conversation that bodes much more positively for Iowa.

Sophomore defensive back Zach Lutmer had Iowa’s lone turnover of the game — his third interception this season.

Considering that Iowa had a lesser time of possession than Michigan State did, the turnovers could’ve had a much larger impact than it did. However, had Iowa lost the game and Stevens not secured his fourth-career game-winning kick, the turnover battle is something highlighted even more.

Fixable? Definitely, but it was a waving red flag against the Spartans.

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com, sign up for my weekly newsletter, Hawk Off the Press, at thegazette.com/hawks.