Game Report: Iowa vs. Northwestern

Numbers game

5 - Consecutive seasons Iowa led Northwestern by double digits

2 - Iowa wins in those five seasons

21 - Career touchdown catches by Marvin McNutt

41 - Most points scored by Iowa in a game against Northwestern since 2002

3 - 100-yard games for Iowa sophomore running back Marcus Coker

Rolling 21

Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt tied the school record for touchdown receptions after hauling in a 35-yard touchdown strike. With 8:51 left in the game, McNutt ran a deep crossing route. Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg play-faked to running back Marcus Coker, then found McNutt wide open inside the 10. McNutt caught the pass and sprinted into the end zone.

McNutt's touchdown tied Tim Dwight and Danan Hughes for Iowa's record at 21. McNutt is a senior from St. Louis.

Bucking trends

In Iowa's three previous losses to Northwestern, Iowa led by double digits only to fall apart in the second half. In 2008, Iowa led the Wildcats 17-3 before losing 22-17. In 2009, Iowa took a 10-0 first-quarter lead but lost 17-10. In 2010, the Hawkeyes built a 17-7 fourth-quarter lead only to see Northwestern rally for two touchdowns in a 21-17 loss.

Iowa took a 17-0 lead Saturday only to see the Wildcats tie the game 17-17. But Iowa outscored Northwestern 24-14 to finish the game.

Miller time

Sophomore safety Tanner Miller thwarted a Northwestern scoring threat and tied for the longest interception return in Iowa history. With the Hawkeyes leading 3-0, Miller picked off a Dan Persa pass at the 2-yard line and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown to give Iowa a 10-0 lead. Miller's return tied Adam Shada (2006) for the longest in Iowa history.

Miller is no stranger to the end zone. At Mid-Prairie he scored 32 touchdowns as a junior and once scored six in a game. Both are Mid-Prairie school records.

Catching on

Iowa junior wide receiver Keenan Davis caught big passes on back-to-back plays to give Iowa a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Vandenberg hit Davis for a 31-yard completion to move the ball to the Northwestern 47. On the next play, Davis torched Northwestern defensive back Demetrius Dugar down the middle for a 47-yard touchdown pass.

Bernstine solo

Iowa senior safety Jordan Bernstine was the only Hawkeye who played in Iowa's most recent victory against Northwestern. Bernstine was a true freshman in 2007 and played special teams in Iowa's 28-17 win at Evanston. Bernstine red-shirted in 2009.

Scheduling up

Iowa and Northwestern were scheduled to rotate off one another's schedules for 2011 and 2012 before Nebraska joined the Big Ten. The schools were then placed in the Legends Division and will play annually.

Iowa originally was scheduled to open Big Ten play at Wisconsin, at home against Illinois, at Penn State and at Purdue.

New starts

Iowa junior Steve Bigach and senior Tom Donatell earned their first career starts as injury replacements at defensive tackle and linebacker, respectively. Bigach replaced Tom Nardo and Donatell stepped in at outside linebacker for Tyler Nielsen, who shifted inside for James Morris.

Up next

Iowa plays host to Indiana next week for homecoming (11 a.m., BTN). Iowa has won three straight in the series, but two of the wins were in strange fashion. In 2009, Indiana led Iowa 21-7 in the third quarter and were driving for another touchdown. Indiana quarterback Ben Chappel's pass bounced off multiple players before Iowa safety Tyler Sash snagged it midair and raced 96 yards for a touchdown. Iowa then scored 28 fourth-quarter points to win 42-28.

Iowa won 18-13 last year, but only when Indiana wide receiver Demarlo Belcher dropped a touchdown pass on the game's final play.

Indiana is 1-6 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have given up 100 combined points in the last two games in losses to Wisconsin and Illinois.