Game Report: Michigan State 16, Iowa 13

OPENING SALVO

This one hurts. This one hurts a lot. Every year Iowa has lost at least one game since 1922. But the higher you soar, the more painful the drop.

The Hawkeyes (12-1) dropped a 16-13 slugfest to Michigan State (12-1) with the Big Ten championship at stake. Iowa led until the final 27 seconds of the fourth quarter, and it came down to one play at the goal line. Michigan State made it, and Iowa didn't.

'As a competitor, losing is never fun,' Iowa center Austin Blythe said. 'But Michigan State played a good game, and everybody on our team gave it 100 percent effort. I think you can live with the outcome playing that way than you could if you had just laid down. But at the same time it's going to hurt a lot.'

The loss cost Iowa an appearance in the College Football Playoff along with its unblemished record. That's something Iowa can't get back. You could feel the players' anguish and see their welled-up eyes in the moments that followed.

'I think everyone can honestly say they gave their all and left it all on the field,' Fisher said.

BY THE NUMBERS

22 — Plays on Michigan State's final drive

27 — Seconds left after the Spartans' touchdown

52 — Second-half plays by Michigan State

16 — Second-half plays by Iowa

1 — Iowa losses with C.J. Beathard as starting quarterback

REPORT CARD

B — The effort that both teams put into those final 5 yards could've built a pyramid.

— Marc Morehouse

B — The higher you climb, the harder you fall.

— Mike Hlas

B-plus — One fingernail shy of a baker's dozen.

— Scott Dochterman

GAME BALL

Iowa's defense. In yet another slam-ball classic against Michigan State, the Hawkeyes came up with stop after stop. The Spartans ran 79 plays to Iowa's 51, outgained the Hawkeyes 365-268 and held a 22:54-7:06 margin in second-half time of possession. Yet, that wasn't quite enough for the win.

'It was a great, competitive football game,' Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'They had it when they needed it. We couldn't quite get off the field. It's that close. It's how close the game was. I think that's how the margins between the two teams is.'

'That was probably the most demanding physically and emotionally than any other game we played this year,' Fisher said.

2 PLAYS DECIDE THE GAME

In a game of inches, two critical plays helped determine the outcome.

With 3:57 left in the second quarter and a 6-3 lead, Iowa faced third and goal at Michigan State's 5-yard line. Iowa tight end George Kittle ran to the goal line, and broke left in front of Michigan State linebacker Jon Reschke. Kittle split safety Montae Nicholson and middle linebacker Riley Bullough near the middle of the field. As the ball hit Kittle's hands, Bullough drilled the tight end. The ball bounced up, caromed on to Bullough and sat suspended on his shoulder. Safety Demetrious Cox pulled the ball off Bullough's shoulder for the interception and touchback to prevent another Iowa score.

MSU faced third-and-goal at the Iowa 1 with 27 seconds left in the game. Running back L.J. Scott followed fullback Trevon Pendleton to the right, and Scott appeared to have an easy score ahead. But he was stood up at the 1-yard line by Iowa cornerback Desmond King, and then hit by linebacker Cole Fisher. Scott held up long enough to twist his body and lean the ball over the goal line for the game-winning touchdown.

'Me and Desmond both had him wrapped up, it seemed like,' Fisher said. 'I think my momentum took him across a little bit, and he spun and gave him enough momentum to stretch the ball across the goal line.'

'(Scott is) a very big back,' King said. 'I guess he wanted it more, and he executed well on that play. His effort, he stretched ball out with his effort.

'I felt like we had him ...'

THE FINAL DRIVE

Michigan State's game-winning drive started on its 18-yard line with 9 minutes, 31 seconds left. The series took 22 plays, 82 yards, five third-down conversions and one fourth-down conversion. Michigan State ran on its final 12 plays and drained 9:04 off the clock. It was epic.

'They broke down,' Michigan State guard Donavon Clark said. 'It was a long drive, we just did what we have to do to win.'

'Hats off to them, they finished the run,' Iowa defensive end Nate Meier said. 'They got the extra inch. We just ran out of time.'

GOING THE DISTANCE

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard hit wide receiver Tevaun Smith with an 85-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. The play gave the Hawkeyes a 13-9 lead, which the team kept until the final seconds.

'It was a post,' Smith said. 'I knew I could beat the guy with my speed. I was beating him over the top. The ball took a little while to get there and we were hand-fighting, and I got good timing on the ball. He missed it, and I scored that touchdown.'

'C.J. put it right out there on the money,' Ferentz said. 'Tevaun finished the play. Gave us a spark in the second half.'

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