How it Happened: No. 11 Indiana escapes with a 20-15 road victory at Iowa

A win is a win, and Indiana embodied that sentiment with an ugly 20-15 victory at Iowa.

The Hoosiers matched Iowa’s play style, which ended up being run-first, scrappy and at times frustrating, but they escaped with the victory nonetheless. IU was certainly tested in the tough road environment that Kinnick Stadium presents, but it came out 5-0 and 2-0 in Big Ten play.

The Hawkeyes dropped to 3-2 and 1-1 in conference play, as they were able to set the tone throughout the game, but their weaknesses showed even when it seemed like the Hoosiers were out of sorts. Iowa gained just 284 yards to Indiana’s 337, as late in the game the Hawks couldn’t find a big play to win.

Fernando Mendoza passed for 233 yards on 13-for-23 passing, but made the play when it mattered — the go-ahead score to Elijah Sarratt. The Hoosiers rushed for 104 yards and just 2.7 yards per attempt in an overall disappointing day for the ground game.

The defense certainly stepped up, allowing just 13 points and keeping the Hoosiers in the game despite the offensive struggles. In the end, IU got it done and is 5-0 for the second straight year.

With that, here’s how it happened:

Indiana gets out to early lead after two key plays

For the second straight week, Indiana found itself up 7-0 within the first few minutes of the game. This time, though, the Hoosiers executed two huge plays en route to an early lead.

Iowa got the ball first, but just two plays into its opening series, Mark Gronowski threw an interception to Amare Ferrell. Isaiah Jones got to the quarterback and impacted the throw, resulting in Ferrell being in the right place at the right time to secure the takeaway.

With its first drive of the afternoon beginning on the Iowa 26-yard line, the Hoosiers’ offense wasted no time and scored a touchdown two plays later. Mendoza found Omar Cooper Jr. on both plays of the opening series, with the second going for a 14-yard touchdown.

In a hostile environment, Indiana wasn’t fazed early on. After an impressive defensive play that resulted in an incredible opportunity, the offense didn’t flinch and took advantage. With a 7-0 lead to begin the game, Indiana’s poor performance throughout most of the first half resulted in the game being tied at 10, as opposed to Indiana trailing through 30 minutes.

Indiana may not have had the first half it was looking for, but the first four plays were key in Indiana staying in the game despite a frustrating showing otherwise.

Hoosiers seem to match Iowa’s style of play

We all know Iowa’s brand of football, and that was the exact style that was seen throughout most of the game. The Hawkeyes were able to control the tempo on offense while disrupting what the Hoosiers were able to do when IU had the ball.

Mendoza didn’t look like the same player who threw for five touchdowns in Week 4, as the Iowa defense kept the Hoosier offense off balance. Even when Mendoza was able to get a clean pocket and step into the throw, he missed some completions that he wouldn’t have missed in Indiana’s previous two games.

When the Hawkeyes were on offense, they were able to play their style of football, and even though they weren’t extremely successful, that’s the Iowa football experience. It never expects to be in a shootout, and if this one was high-scoring, the Hoosiers would have won with ease.

The third quarter went scoreless in true Iowa football fashion, as the Hoosiers just couldn’t get anything going on the offensive side of the ball. The Hawkeyes’ defensive line was keeping up with everything IU was throwing at it, while the linebackers and secondary made sure that when Mendoza dropped back, IU couldn’t generate an explosive play.

While they were able to secure a big play in the end, the vast majority of the game saw the Hoosiers adjusting to Iowa’s preferred style as opposed to Indiana dominating the action. This wasn’t the ideal result in terms of play style, as Iowa was able to impose its will despite the final score.

Mendoza finds Sarratt for the win

After a frustrating second half for the Hoosiers, things got worse when Mendoza threw what looked like an extremely costly interception with less than three minutes to go. The Hoosiers were given new life when Drew Stevens missed a 42-yard field goal, and they seized the opportunity.

In just five plays, Indiana was able to score the go-ahead touchdown. On 3rd-and-10 from the Iowa 49-yard line, Mendoza connected with Sarratt, and the receiver was able to break two tackles with no one else in front of him.

Sarratt sprinted toward the end zone, and once he crossed the goal line, Indiana was ahead 20-13. Indiana simply couldn’t move the ball well almost all game long, but when it mattered, the offense stepped up.

For as poor as the Hoosiers were in taking advantage of opportunities outside of the first four plays, the go-ahead score made up for it. In a matchup that IU mightily struggled with, it got it done when it mattered, and that’s what great teams do.

It wasn’t a pretty performance, but Indiana leaves Iowa City a victor after an impressive third-down play that ended up being the difference.

Final stats

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