IOWA CITY, Iowa — In a thrilling finish, Drew Stevens nailed a 53-yard field goal as time ran out, leading Iowa to a 13-10 victory over Nebraska on Friday night.
Stevens’ opportunity arose when defensive end Max Llewellyn forced a fumble from Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, which was promptly recovered by Iowa at the Huskers’ 36-yard line with just 20 seconds remaining. Kaleb Johnson then rushed twice, bringing the clock down to a mere three seconds before Stevens stepped up to make the decisive kick.
“Drew’s a beast,” Llewellyn exclaimed. “What a kick.”
This moment was particularly significant for Stevens, who had been sidelined last season during a similar scenario against the Huskers, where he was replaced by Marshall Meeder for the game-winning attempt in a 13-10 win.
“I was really looking forward to this one,” Stevens admitted. “Now, I can say that.”
He reflected on how it felt to be overlooked last year. “It’s tough watching someone else do your job, especially after putting in so much training,” he expressed. “So yes, this one feels amazing. I had faith in myself.”
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz recognized the contrast from last year, stating, “Stevens got benched last year, so this is a dramatic turnaround. We had complete confidence in him this time.”
Following last year’s setback, Stevens focused on improving his performance, achieving success with 19 out of 22 field goals, including five successes in Iowa’s convincing 29-13 win at Maryland the previous week.
“I felt a lot of doubt around me after last season,” Stevens acknowledged. “So that definitely served as motivation.”
The Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) found themselves trailing 10-3 as the fourth quarter began. However, they tied the game with just under 15 minutes remaining when Johnson, receiving a short pass from quarterback Jackson Stratton, dodged five tackles to sprint 72 yards for a touchdown.
“He was evading defenders like he always does,” Stratton noted. “He’s an incredible running back. I was just trying to help, but he’s extremely fast.”
Leading at halftime, Nebraska (6-6, 3-6) had a solid 10-0 advantage. John Hohl contributed with a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run from Dante Dowdell just before the half concluded.
The Hawkeyes struggled offensively throughout the first half, managing merely one first down and a scant 20 yards, with three-and-outs on of their first six possessions.
“Clearly, Nebraska had the momentum at halftime,” Ferentz remarked. “But despite being down 10-0, our guys really focused.”
A stroke of luck landed for Iowa in the third quarter when Nebraska’s Vincent Shavers Jr. mishandled a punt, allowing Iowa to recover at the 4-yard line of the Huskers. However, the Hawkeyes managed just two yards in three plays, settling for a 20-yard field goal by Stevens.
Despite outgaining Iowa 334 yards to 164 and achieving 20 first downs against Iowa’s five, Nebraska couldn’t capitalize due to turnovers. Johnson, the second leading rusher in the nation, was limited to just 45 yards on 17 carries during the game.
“I can hardly imagine how frustrating this is for the seniors, especially losing like this against Iowa after the way we played,” lamented Nebraska coach Matt Rhule.
Looking at the broader implications, Nebraska struggled despite moving the ball well throughout the game, with turnovers proving detrimental. They were successful in limiting Johnson until the pivotal touchdown pass. This marked a disappointing continuation of their rivalry struggles, with the team having lost nine out of the last ten encounters.
Iowa’s offense faced challenges as Stratton, who started the season as the fourth-string quarterback, was making only his second start. The turning point came when Johnson, previously contained, broke free for a crucial touchdown.
As for what’s next, both teams await the announcement of their bowl game destinations.