Iowa-Nebraska gave us maybe the right finish to the Massive Ten West

It was a recreation that featured the bottom Over/Beneath in faculty soccer historical past, 14 punts, a pair of interceptions within the last minute, and a three-point victory that sealed the Beneath cashing ultimately.

And in some ways, it was a becoming send-off for the Massive Ten West.

Saturday in Lincoln, the Nebraska Cornhuskers hosted the Iowa Hawkeyes within the last Massive Ten West regular-season recreation for each groups. For the Hawkeyes, who had already punched a ticket to the Massive Ten Championship Sport, it was an opportunity to complete the season with ten wins regardless of averaging lower than 250 yards of offense this yr.

For the Huskers, it was an opportunity to enhance to 6-6 on the season and change into bowl-eligible for the primary time beneath new head coach Matt Rhule.

Ultimately, the sport had a bit little bit of every little thing, however largely these:

The primary factors got here early within the second quarter when large Iowa QB Deacon Hill plunged into the tip zone on a quarterback sneak to stake the guests to a 7-0 lead. The Hawkeyes prolonged that result in 10-0 when kicker Drew Stevens lined from 28 yards out.

However that’s when the Nebraska offense struck again, as quarterback Chubba Purdy related with receiver Jaylen Lloyd for a 66-yard landing go to chop into the Iowa benefit.

The Hawkeyes had an opportunity to increase their lead earlier than halftime, however Stevens had his second subject purpose try of the sport blocked, this time a attempt from simply 24 yards out. That noticed the groups enter the halftime break with the rating nonetheless 10-7.

It might not keep 10-7 for lengthy, because the Huskers protection compelled a fast three-and-out from Iowa, and Nebraska put collectively a formidable — for this recreation — drive that lasted 10 performs and lined 43 yards. The drive finally stalled, and kicker Tristan Alvano break up the uprights from 44 yards out to tie the sport at ten.

For a contest equivalent to this one, it wanted a weird ending, and these two groups delivered. The rating remained knotted at ten till the ultimate minute. Iowa had an opportunity to take the lead late, however a Hill go was intercepted by Nebraska defensive again Tommi Hill, and the Huskers took over on their very own 45-yard line with 31 seconds left and a timeout at their disposal:

Following a Purdy three-yard run on first down, the group finally burned their last timeout with the clock stopped, to try to get the appropriate play into the huddle.

No matter they despatched in, it didn’t work. Purdy threw a go proper to linebacker Ethan Hurkett — actually placing the throw proper on Hurkett’s face masks — and the defender returned the interception right down to the Nebraska 37-yard line:

On Iowa’s subsequent offensive snap, operating again Leshon Williams ripped off a 22-yard acquire, deep into Nebraska territory. Hill would take a knee on the following play to middle the ball for the following game-winning subject purpose try.

From backup kicker Marshall Meeder.

That’s proper, Iowa despatched in Meeder for the game-winning try, and it might be his first subject purpose try of the complete season.

He drilled it:

That kick not solely clinched a ten-win season for the Hawkeyes, nevertheless it despatched Beneath bettors in all places residence joyful.

Because the Massive Ten modified from the ill-fated “Legends and Leaders” format to the present East/West format, the Massive Ten West has been one thing of a bit sibling to the East. Within the 9 Massive Ten Championship Video games beneath this format, the representatives from the East have emerged victorious every time. Iowa is left to try to cease the East from making it ten-for-ten in per week when they are going to tackle the winner of tomorrow’s annual conflict between Michigan and Ohio State.

Nonetheless, for subsequent season the Massive Ten is altering issues as soon as extra, as USC, Oregon, Washington, and UCLA be a part of the convention. When the convention launched its schedule for the 2024 season, they introduced a transfer to a division-less format.

So whereas Iowa faces an enormous check subsequent week, their win at this time may need given us the send-off to the Massive Ten West that all of us wanted.