Game Report: Iowa 40, Minnesota 35

OPENING SALVO

Iowa RB LeShun Daniels was the Hawkeyes' original starter, then suffered a sprained ankle in game two at Iowa State. He returned to the starting lineup against Minnesota and rewarded the Hawkeyes with a powerful performance. Daniels rushed for 195 yards on 26 carries and scored three touchdowns.

'We tried to get him back for the week or two there, and that wasn't LeShun,' Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'He was running OK. But last week I thought he looked a lot better, and (Saturday) he looked really good, especially on that last touchdown. That was quite a run.'

The 'last touchdown' featured on a 51-yard carry with 2:01 left in the game. Iowa had a heavy formation with two tight ends and Macon Plewa in the game. Minnesota countered with almost a goal-line defense, putting five men on the line of scrimmage, three at linebacker and both safeties within six yards of the line of scrimmage. Daniels started right on an off-tackle play, then cut inside off Plewa's block. Daniels sidestepped safety Adekunle Ayinde's tackle attempt and raced untouched for the score.

'The defense that they were running, we expected that,' Daniels said. 'We were talking about that, just making adjustments on the sideline. We expected them to run, the offensive line got the defense cut, the fullback — I think it was Macon — led up in there and got a block on a linebacker and it opened up a nice hole in there. All I had to do was make a play on the safety.'

BY THE NUMBERS

10 — Most consecutive Iowa wins to start a season in school history

9 — Games Iowa has scored at least 27 points

3 — Trophy wins for Iowa in as many games

0 — Trophy wins last year

1 — Magic number to claim West Division title

REPORT CARD

B-plus — There will be a trophy on the table for this team the next two weekends. Maybe even the next three weekends.

— Marc Morehouse

B — Why do I get the feeling Iowa students are going to rush the field after this Saturday's game against Purdue.

— Mike Hlas

B — Floyd has plenty of company at the new football complex.

— Scott Dochterman

GAME BALL

Iowa QB C.J. Beathard. He doesn't produce gaudy statistics, but he performs in the clutch. Twice he produced 90-yard drives against the Gophers. On Iowa's first offensive series, he took the Hawkeyes from their 9 to a touchdown in 17 plays, culminating on a LeShun Daniels 3-yard run. Three drives later, Iowa took over at its 3 and drove 10 plays in 3:08. Iowa now has five drives of 90-plus yards this season.

'It's not easy,' Beathard said. 'That's a tribute to the offense, just playing tough and working their butts off. We kind of grinded it out there with long drives. Those were big drives in the game.'

Beathard doesn't produce gaudy statistics, just big plays. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 213 yards with no touchdowns. But he rushed for 50 yards and two scores.

'Just some of the plays tonight, hurt or not, are just incredible plays for a quarterback to make,' Iowa center Austin Blythe said. 'He's just the kind of competitor that's going to put it out there for his team.'

BRING THE NOISE

No. 5 Iowa has become a polarizing team when it comes to national rankings. Some argue that Iowa's lack of marquee wins should prevent it from contending for a playoff berth. Others look at Iowa's spotless record, coupled with road victories at ranked opponents Northwestern and Wisconsin, as a testament that Iowa deserves its spot.

The players try to block out 'the noise' but they also consume the storylines. They've got more at stake than anyone and they're intrigued by what people say about them.

'It's kind of funny. Last week everybody was going against us and this week those guys were talking good about us,' Iowa wide receiver Tevaun Smith said. 'It's kind of funny to see that. Yeah, we do listen a little bit, turn it up and see what we have to say. But at the end of the day, we know what we have to do in order to be successful.'

'We obviously watch ESPN and we hear about it and we see it,' Beathard said. 'It's impossible not to see that stuff. It's cool, it's better to be in that situation than not to be in that situation. But we know that if we lose any of these next games, we're right back where we were. So we've just got to continue to win. People care about us, oh, man, they're undefeated, they're this and that. I the second we lose a game, it's like we're nothing.'

HOG TIED

Iowa's players walked arm-in-arm toward Floyd of Rosedale, which was positioned on Minnesota's sideline. Iowa center Austin Blythe somehow shifted to the far left side of the line and once the Hawkeyes reached the hash marks, Blythe bolted for the pig. He reached the iconic trophy first and hoisted it for everyone to see.

'Somebody came up and told me it was on the 20 on the north side,' he said. 'So as a senior I wanted to go over and get it. Last chance, so said, why not?'

UP NEXT

Iowa (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) plays host to Purdue (2-8, 1-5 Big Ten) at 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN2). It's the teams' 86th meeting. If Iowa wins, it claims a spot in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 5 in Indianapolis.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com