Iowa Football: 3 takeaways from last-second win over Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes waits for the teams to come on the field in the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

2. This game was very Iowa

This game is as Iowa and Kirk Ferentz as it gets. They jump out to a big lead, and hold on at the end. The Hawkeyes have won three of four games, and all of those — including a close loss to Wisconsin — were one-possession games (they beat Illinois by nine).

Of their 12 games, eight of them have gone to the wire and were decided by one possession. This game was no different. The Hawkeyes defense made the plays in the second half to hold off the Huskers and give themselves an opportunity to win the game at the end.

Games like this are a combination of their conservative play-calling, and their overall lack of explosion offensively.

Quarterback Nathan Stanley wasn’t very good in this one, either. This was a referendum on his ability as a quarterback as well. The Nebraska pass defense surrenders over 200 passing yards per game and quarterbacks complete 60 percent of their passes. Not awful, but a quarterback of Stanley’s ilk should put up good numbers against this defense. His numbers, however: 11-for-24 for 99 yards and zero touchdowns.

However, Stanley made two NFL-caliber throws to get his team in field goal range for the win. Which Stanley is the right one? The world may never know.

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