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No. 3 Hawkeyes go to 12-0 with 28-20 victory over Nebraska

Author: the associated press
Published: Updated:
MGN

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Iowa had just finished its first perfect regular season in 93 years, but there was no over-the-top celebration after the clock struck 0:00 to end its 28-20 victory over Nebraska on Friday.

The Hawkeyes (12-0, 8-0, No. 4 CFP) locked arms and ran to the south end zone to pick up the Heroes Trophy that goes to the winner of this game. Then it was off to the corner to salute their fans before heading to the locker room.

There’s still work to be done to make this season even better. Next stop, the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis where they’ll play for their first conference title since 2004. Win there, and a spot in the College Football Playoff is a very real possibility. Maybe even a certainty.

Jordan Canzeri ran for 140 yards on 17 carries and broke long touchdown runs on back-to-back series in the third quarter on a raw afternoon when a gusty north wind made for a 12-degree wind chill.

The Hawkeyes were far from dominating, generating only 250 total yards and going 0 for 9 on third downs. But they did enough against the sloppy Cornhuskers (5-7, 3-5) to remain one of two unbeaten teams. Clemson is the other.

Canzeri ran off left tackle two straight times for two touchdowns, the first one going 29 yards and the second 68 yards for a 28-17 lead.

Iowa picked off Tommy Armstrong Jr. four times, with defensive end Parker Hesse returning one 4 yards for the Hawkeyes’ fourth interception for a touchdown this season.

The Hawkeyes, who clinched the Big Ten West Division title last week, went undefeated in the regular season for the fifth time in program history and first since going 7-0 in 1922.

The Huskers, who started 3-6 under first-year coach Mike Riley, had their third losing season since 2004 and lost four times at home for the first time since 1961.

The Huskers needed a win to assure bowl eligibility. They still might play in the postseason if there aren’t enough six-win teams to fill the 80 bowl spots.

Undisciplined play cropped up again and was devastating to Nebraska.

Iowa’s first touchdown was set up by two Nebraska personal fouls, its second touchdown was Hesse’s interception return, and its third was set up on punter Sam Foltz’s late hit on Desmond King at the end of a punt return.

The Hawkeyes ran only 44 plays from scrimmage to Nebraska’s 83. The Huskers finished with 433 yards.

King, the national co-leader with eight interceptions and a Jim Thorpe Award finalist, was suspended for the first quarter for being late to a team meeting. He muffed a punt early in the second quarter that led to Nebraska’s first touchdown and was called for a late hit in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska pulled to 21-17 on Imani Cross’ 4-yard run in the middle of the third quarter.

Canzeri then ripped off his 68-yard touchdown run to make it an 11-point game.

The Huskers got a 42-yard field goal from Drew Brown to pull to 28-20, but Henry Krieger Coble recovered the onside kick, and the Hawkeyes ran out the clock.

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