Iowa score vs Penn State takeaways: No.3 Hawkeyes win battle in top five behind dominant defense



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Coming back from a two touchdown deficit in the first half, the No.3 Iowa used a stellar defensive effort with a few key breakaways on offense to secure a 23-20 victory over No.4 Penn State, keeping his perfect record and College football playoff hopes are intact. The Hawkeyes followed the same script they’ve used for years to be successful, relying on defense and special teams to put their offense in position to strike.

Iowa forced four Penn State turnovers, all interceptions. he also used punter Tory Taylor to pin the Penn State offense in terrible field positions all day, five of Taylor’s punches were placed inside the Penn State 20-yard line and three finished inside Penn State 5.

The Hawkeyes took a 3-0 lead early after one of those punters gave the Nittany Lions the ball on their 1-yard line. Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was intercepted, giving Iowa a great field position for a quick score. The offense stalled afterwards, allowing PSU to take control of the game, but things changed when Clifford left late in the first half with what appeared to be an upper body injury. Ta’Quan Roberson replaced Clifford but couldn’t move Penn State’s offense in the second half, putting together only basket practice.

Iowa did not regain the lead until QB Spencer Petras (17 of 31, 195 yards, two touchdowns) rolled to his right, stopped and returned across the field to a Nico Ragaini wide open, who then ran for the end zone to score the go-ahead touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter.

Iowa improved to 6-0 with the win, its sixth in a row over a ranked opponent. This marks the longest streak in the program’s history dating back to 1960. It was also the Hawkeyes’ 12th consecutive victory, a feat accomplished for the first time since 2015, and their first victory against an opponent among five. first since defeating Ohio State in 2017.

CBS Sports will be back with take-out from the game.



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