Josh Helmer
November 25, 2022 6:55 pm CT
Even after a 3-4 start to the season that included an embarrassing 54-10 loss at No. 2 Ohio State, Iowa rallied by winning four straight to position itself in control-its-own destiny mode in the Big Ten West. Beat Nebraska in the regular season finale and the Hawkeyes were back off to Indianapolis for a return trip to the Big Ten Championship game.
There was every reason to believe that would happen, too. The Hawkeyes were favored by multiple scores and had won seven straight over the Huskers. Unfortunately, there were signs very early that things just simply weren’t going to go according to plan.
First off, Iowa started the day off minus star tight end Sam LaPorta and fullback Monte Pottebaum. Then, star Hawkeyes defensive back and punt returner Cooper DeJean went down on the game’s first defensive series.
Nebraska took advantage of that, picking on his replacement for three Casey Thompson touchdown passes. The first two went to Huskers wide receiver Trey Palmer with TJ Hall in coverage. Palmer had touchdown grabs of 87 and 18 yards.Then, Thompson connected with Marcus Washington as Nebraska beat Jamison Heinz in coverage for a 14-yard touchdown catch.
Three of those Nebraska scores were set up by Iowa miscues. Both Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla fumbled, resulting in a 21-yard field goal and then the second touchdown to Palmer. Ultimately, the death blow was a muffed punt by Arland Bruce that set up the Washington touchdown grab to start the third quarter.
Though backup quarterback Alex Padilla and Iowa fought back valiantly, ultimately, those early mistakes were just too much to overcome. Here was how Iowa fans and national voices responded on social media to the heartbreaking loss that ended Iowa’s hopes of a trip back to Indy.
For the seniors
For the seniors.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/a9kAiKvjQn
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 25, 2022
Iowa loses Cooper DeJean on the first defensive series
Oh no Cooper DeJean. Please be ok man.
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) November 25, 2022
Sam LaPorta and Cooper DeJean are arguably 2 of Iowa's 5 best players … now Iowa is without both.
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) November 25, 2022
Nebraska takes advantage
Trey Palmer tweeted that he woke up angry again today.
You know what that means: Another big day. 💥@treythekiid3 x @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/DHbCvFPbwH
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
DeJean loss kills Iowa
DeJean loss killing Iowa right now
— Hawkeye Recruiting (@Iowa_Recruiting) November 25, 2022
Petras fumble sets up another early Nebraska score
STRIP-SACK! 👀@HuskerFBNation recovers 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Fk6CoJwH17
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
That's a fumble. And this is officially a disaster.
— Go Iowa Awesome (@IowaAwesome) November 25, 2022
Sure Iowa fumbled but the brightside is with the defense on the field they are more likely to score
— Lucy Rohden (@lucysportsjokes) November 25, 2022
And again Nebraska makes Iowa pay
TD ➡️ Griddy
Trey Palmer breaks it out for the second straight week. 🕺 pic.twitter.com/weyiUjprmD
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
At least Iowa will send some All-Stars
The Big Ten has announced that in the event of a 4-way tie in the West, an all-star team of the whole division will be assembled to take on the winner of The Game.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 25, 2022
Petras exits with injury
Iowa QB Spencer Petras has been sidelined with an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/Q9QyWMwdHE
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
It's Padilla time
Hearing rumors it’s Padilla time…
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) November 25, 2022
Padilla time starts rocky
Does Padilla not take snaps in practice?
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) November 25, 2022
Padilla is Spanish for "fumbled snap"
— Ivan Pepperoni, an Ivan Bologna Parody Account (@PV_GIA) November 25, 2022
Guess Padilla isn’t better…
— Hawkeye Nation (@hawkeyenation) November 25, 2022
Maybe Iowa can get a good Black Friday deal
It’s Black Friday if Iowa hires a new offensive coordinator today they can probably get a good deal
— Lucy Rohden (@lucysportsjokes) November 25, 2022
Comeback feels insurmountable
The stat that Iowa's biggest comeback in this season was 3 points feels like it should be a permanent graphic because man that's hilarious.
— BHGPunts (@BHGP) November 25, 2022
No context
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 25, 2022
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 25, 2022
Scheduled tweet
Iowa started with the ball in Nebraska territory. They are now punting from Iowa territory.
This is a scheduled tweet.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 25, 2022
Thank you, halftime
My god thank you for halftime
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) November 25, 2022
Shaping up to be an all-time Iowa meltdown
This is shaping up to be one of the biggest Iowa meltdowns of all-time which, given where we were four weeks ago, is saying one hell of a lot.
— Todd Brommelkamp (@ToddBrommelkamp) November 25, 2022
From bad to worse
🚨 MUFFED PUNT 🚨@HuskerFBNation takes over in the RED ZONE 👀 pic.twitter.com/U9km5NXh6b
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
24-0
It's 24-0. 💥@_MarcusW11 x @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/y6gUfbqaNB
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
Stunned
I’m stunned. Didn’t expect this type of effort considering what’s on the line. This team has dug deep quite a bit this season, but if they’re going to enjoy a Big Ten West title tonight, they’re going to need to dig deeper than ever before in the second half. #Hawkeyes
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) November 25, 2022
Total disaster
This is a total disaster for Iowa.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 25, 2022
When the folks in Purdue find out the score
Finding out the Iowa/Nebraska score pic.twitter.com/CeJikCQfTh
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) November 25, 2022
You are missed, Scott
I miss you pic.twitter.com/vk68rdrhUC
— Lucy Rohden (@lucysportsjokes) November 25, 2022
Silver lining?
The bad news for Iowa is that this would be a humiliating loss, one of the most embarrassing in years.
The good news, Iowa, is you’d definitely be able to fire at least one Ferentz after this fiasco.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) November 25, 2022
An all-time egg
Iowa is laying an all time egg right now. Sheesh
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) November 25, 2022
Iowa starts its rally
Iowa's on the board. 🙌
Kaleb Johnson (@Kj_Superman2) answers with an explosive play. pic.twitter.com/UZeqDHgmHE
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
And Lachey
Jake Butt singled out the big TE at the top of the screen.
Luke Lachey, the big TE, reeled in the @HawkeyeFootball TD. pic.twitter.com/x6XnNPB0Ww
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
Klemp forces a Nebraska fumble
Are you kidding me? Iowa recovers the fumble at the Nebraska 27 yard line
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 25, 2022
FROM THE MEAN STREETS OF JEWELL, IOWA!!! #Klemp #Hawkeyes
— Troy Banning (@TroyBanning) November 25, 2022
A 1-score game in Kinnick
THE KICK IS GOOD! 😤
WE HAVE A 1 SCORE GAME IN IOWA CITY! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jHouRcgL12
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
How does this get overturned??
Catch or no catch?
It's under review right now.
Catch = first down
INC = 4th down pic.twitter.com/W8qmXrK3Gy— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 26, 2022
Nebraska ends Iowa's last-gasp hopes
Nebraska INT‼️@HuskerFBNation goes into Iowa City and denies its rival the B1G West title and snaps its skid in the rivalry. pic.twitter.com/wUNjEy0Lv4
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 26, 2022
Yeah, imagine
This is tremendous. Imagine being an Iowa fan and losing to the worst Nebraska team in your lifetime.
— Josh Peterson (@joshtweeterson) November 26, 2022
Changes, please
Changes must be made to this archaic offense. They won 7 games in spite of it this season thanks mostly to perhaps the best defense in Iowa history.
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) November 26, 2022
Enjoy it
SMOKING THAT IOWA PACK TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/h0KXyr3gkM
— Barstool ‘Skers (@BarstoolHusker) November 26, 2022
I don't want Iowa to lose...but
1. I don't want Iowa to lose.
2. I don't want Iowa to lose. Just wanted that to be clear.3. If they are going to lose, I would prefer that the offense continues to look absolutely horrific, if only to have maximum heat this offseason.
4. I don't want Iowa to lose.
— Jon D. Miller (@jondmiller) November 25, 2022
Here's the latest scenarios
The updated Big Ten West 🏆 scenarios: #B1Gstats pic.twitter.com/Yw47S1vzw2
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 26, 2022
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