The Michigan State Spartans (6-2) traveled to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes (3-5) in a rainy affair. The Hawkeyes poured it on early, thanks to two touchdown passes to WR Andy Brodell. Before the Spartans knew it, they were down 14-0.

The Spartans got a field goal from K Brett Swenson, then finally ended their six quarter no touchdown streak with 21 seconds remaining in the first half. QB Brian Hoyer lobbed one to the back of the endzone, where WR T.J. Williams made a great jumping catch, making it 14-10 at halftime. Williams was in the starting lineup in place of WR Devin Thomas, who is out four weeks with an injury.

A Spartan field goal made it 14-13, but Brodell struck again, this time making a sweet juke move on 3rd and long, running 17 yards into the endzone for his third touchdown. After three it was 21-13 Iowa.

Swenson's third field goal (eight in two games) made it 21-16, and the Spartans were able to get the ball back with less than two minutes to go.

Led by QB Brian Hoyer, the Spartans drove down to the 10 yard line with less than a minute remaining. However, a botched play action ended up with Hoyer getting sacked and losing the ball, almost sealing the Spartans fate as Iowa had the ball with less than a minute left.

Three stops and three timeouts later, the Spartans were given one last chance. On the punt return, HB A.J. Jimmerson was able to return the punt 34 yards to the Hawkeyes 32 yard line.

On the very first play, QB Brian Hoyer hit backup HB Jehuu Caulcrick (who replaced HB Javon Ringer with an injury) on a remarkable 29 yard pass down to the three yard line. Caulcrick would punch it in on the very next play, giving the Spartans a 22-21 edge. A missed conversion kept it that way.

Iowa had one more shot, but QB Jake Christensen's pass was intercepted by SS Nehemiah Warrick, the second straight game Warrick helped end with an interception.

The Spartans were able to get a combined 110 yards from Ringer and Caulcrick on 25 carries, while Hoyer threw for 232 yards and a touchdown on 20 of 29 passing.

At 7-2 (4-1), the Spartans are the talk of the Big Ten. They've punched their ticket to the Bowl Season, but the final two games will be challenges against rivals Michigan and Penn State, both of which are at home.