Iowa Edges Michigan 20-19 on Brown's Last-Second TD Pass
The short version
- Iowa beat Michigan 20-19 in the Big Ten opener in Ann Arbor on a touchdown as time expired.
- Hank Brown went 21 of 35 for 227 yards and two touchdowns, capping an 11-play, 91-yard game-winning drive.
- Reece Vander Zee caught the walk-off 16-yard score and led Iowa with five receptions for 66 yards.
- Braeden Jackson returned a kickoff 99 yards for Iowa's first touchdown of the game.
Hank Brown capped a 91-yard drive with a touchdown to Reece Vander Zee as time ran out, giving the Hawkeyes a one-point Big Ten road win.
Iowa defeated Michigan 20-19 on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, winning its Big Ten Conference opener in dramatic fashion. Quarterback Hank Brown directed a scoring drive in the final moments, connecting with receiver Reece Vander Zee on a touchdown as the clock hit zero.
The decisive sequence covered 91 yards over 11 plays, and Iowa needed only 106 seconds to travel that distance. Brown completed six passes during the march, including a 29-yard gain with two seconds showing that set up the winning throw.
Brown, who transferred to Iowa from Auburn, finished the afternoon 21 of 35 passing for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His performance in the clutch answered any lingering questions about whether he could lead the Hawkeyes offense.
Vander Zee, who played his high school football in Iowa, delivered the game-winner on a 16-yard reception that required him to keep both feet in bounds. Earlier in that same drive, he converted a first down with a 12-yard catch. He paced Iowa with five catches for 66 yards.
Vander Zee had already made his mark before the final drive, hauling in a 16-yard scoring pass from Brown during the fourth quarter that nudged Iowa in front 14-13 at the time.
Special teams also played a major role for the Hawkeyes. Braeden Jackson opened Iowa's scoring in the first quarter by taking a kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown. He is the son of former NFL player Fred Jackson.
Like Vander Zee, Jackson built his reputation as an Iowa prep star, playing at Ankeny Centennial. As a senior there, he set the school's all-purpose yardage record with 1,964 yards and reached the end zone 27 times.
Iowa entered conference play off a dominant 55-0 victory over Northern Illinois-style in-state opposition in Northern Iowa the week before, according to the source's related coverage. The win over Michigan gives the Hawkeyes momentum as Big Ten play continues.
Games to watch
