Saturday Blitz
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Stanford wins Rose Bowl behind Christian McCaffrey’s record day vs Iowa

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs for a touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter in the 2016 Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs for a touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter in the 2016 Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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A record-breaking performance from Christian McCaffrey leads the Stanford Cardinal to a blowout win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Rose Bowl.

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey scored on a 75-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage to deliver a one-punch knockout vs the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Rose Bowl.

It was over after the Heisman runner-up sent the 12-1 Hawkeyes to the mat with a Rose Bowl record 21 points after the first quarter and 35 points at halftime.

Quarterback Kevin Hogan had an eight-yard touchdown run after Iowa had a three-and-out and Quenton Meeks had a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown on the ensuing possession in the first quarter. McCaffrey got his second touchdown of the afternoon with a 63-yard punt return to make it 28-0.

The punt return made him the fifth player in the last 20 years to have touchdowns throwing, running, receiving and on punt and kick returns.

He topped 300 all-purpose yards for the sixth time and set a Rose Bowl record with 368 all-purpose yards and extends his FBS single-season record 3,864. McCaffrey had 172 rushing to top the 2,000-yard plateau yards on the year and 105 receiving to become the first player in Rose Bowl history with 100 yards in both.

Things got uglier for Iowa when Hogan faked a fumble and connected with Michael Rector for a 31-yard touchdown before the half. The duo made Iowa look bad again when they hooked up for a 42-yard score with 1:52 left in the game to make it a 45-16 final.

In the third quarter when Iowa scored a touchdown on a Matt VandeBerg reception from C.J. Beathard, they missed the extra point. It was that kind of day for Iowa in the Rose Bowl.

Iowa didn’t quit with 16 second half points to only 3 from Stanford, but that only mattered if you bet on the second half line.

Lost in the Christian McCaffrey Show was the impressive performance from the Stanford defense that hounded Beathard all game and had seven sacks and only allowed 51 rushing yards.

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But, the big takeaway from the game is what McCaffrey can do for an encore in his junior season next year and if it will be enough to win the Heisman and take Stanford to the College Football Playoff.

Stanford ends the year 12-2 and Iowa finishes 12-2 after beginning the year with 12 straight wins.

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