Iowa flattens Minnesota: Hawkeyes dominate Floyd of Rosedale rival Golden Gophers in all three phases for win

Final: Iowa 41, Missouri 3 

College football's very own bronze pig trophy is staying in Iowa City. Iowa secured yet another rivalry win over Minnesota in dominant fashion, as the Hawkeyes owned every aspect of the game to improve to 2-0 against the Golden Gophers over the last two seasons. 

This also marks the second year in a row that Iowa has won by at least three possessions, though Saturday's result marks the Hawkeyes' largest margin of victory since 2008's 55-0 triumph over Minnesota. Iowa's win was never really in question. 

The Hawkeyes led wire-to-wire after quarterback Mark Gronowski scored a two-yard rushing touchdown to cap Iowa's first drive. That was the first of five touchdowns for Iowa, who got creative when it came to finding the end zone. 

Iowa had two quarterback rushing touchdowns -- one from Gronowski and one from backup Jeremy Hecklinski -- a touchdown passing, a punt returned for a touchdown and a pick-six. This is their first game with each of those touchdowns since a 2020 win against Michigan State. 

Meanwhile, Iowa's defense held Minnesota to just 133 total yards of offense. The Hawkeyes intercepted young Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey three times in one of the toughest starts of his career thus far. 

Perhaps most importantly, Iowa kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive. The now bowl eligible Hawkeyes have a huge test in two weeks against No. 6 Oregon and, with two losses, they cannot afford another setback. 

But win there and the path to the postseason is wide open. 

• Iowa now has a 12-2 record against Minnesota since 2012, including nine wins in the last 10 seasons. 
• Gronowski tied Iowa's single-season record for touchdowns rushing from a quarterback with his 11th of the year. 
• This also marked Gronowski's eighth straight game with a touchdown on the ground, which is the longest streak for a Big Ten quarterback since Antwaan Randle El in 1998-99. 
• Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck is now 1-8 in his career against Iowa, which is his worst record against any opponent. 

Late 4Q: Iowa 41, Minnesota 3 

Iowa has played complementary football all day, as the Hawkeyes are dominating in every phase of the game. They turned the latest interception from Cam Buffington into a six-yard rushing touchdown from backup quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski. Hecklinski is in the game since Iowa has such a comfortable lead with less than six minutes to play. 

Mid 4Q: Iowa 34, Minnesota 3 

Minnesota has now thrown as many interceptions as it has points scored. Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey tried to dump a ball off underneath, but he overthrew his intended target on a short route and delivered the ball right into the hands of Iowa's Cam Buffington. That was Lindsey's third interception of the day, one of which was returned for a touchdown earlier in the game. Growing pains for the young signal caller against a rival. 

Mid 4Q: Iowa 34, Minnesota 3 

Yards, that is. The Golden Gophers have just 88 total yards with around nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. That includes a loss of seven yards in the rushing game, as they've sorely missed star running back Darius Taylor after he apparently got hurt on his first carry of the afternoon. 

End 3Q: Iowa 34, Minnesota 3

All Iowa needs to do it sit on its sizable lead over the final 15 minutes. There isn't much, realistically, Minnesota can do at this point to dig itself out of the hole, even though Iowa hasn't done a whole lot offensively in the second half. 

Not that Iowa has had to do much. The Hawkeyes entered halftime with a 31-0 lead and a defense that allowed fewer than 100 yards over the first 30 minutes of play. They possessed the ball twice in the third quarter and ate over seven minutes off of the clock. 

They'd be happy to take more time than that in the fourth quarter. Minnesota did avoid the shutout by kicking a 33-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter. 

Late 3Q: Iowa 34, Minnesota 0 

Iowa seems content to sit on its big lead and drain the clock. Who could blame the Hawkeyes? Minnesota still has yet to show any signs of life on offense and no intentions of digging itself out of a massive hole that grew with a 46-yard kick from Drew Stevens. That was Stevens' second make of the day. 

Early 3Q: Iowa 31, Minnesota 0 

That's not the start to the second half Minnesota wanted. The Golden Gophers received the ball first and connected on their biggest play of the afternoon with a 14-yard pass from quarterback Drake Lindsey to wide receiver Lemeke Brockington. Then, a couple days later, Lindsey lofted a pass downfield to tight end Jameson Geers that was intercepted by Iowa's TJ Hall. That's the Hawkeyes' second interception of the afternoon. The good news for Minnesota is that Iowa did not return this one for a touchdown. 

Half: Iowa 31, Minnesota 0 

It's all Iowa so far in its 119th meeting against Minnesota. The Hawkeyes have dominated in every phase of the game. They've also gotten creative when it comes to scoring touchdowns. Not only do they have a touchdown rushing and a touchdown passing, but Iowa's defense got into the fun with a pick-six courtesy of defensive back Zach Lutmer. 

Not to be outdone, punt returner Kaden Wetjen gave Iowa its fourth touchdown of the day with a 50-yard punt return early in the second quarter. Kicker Drew Stevens also added his own contribution on a 34-yard field goal. 

Minnesota, meanwhile, managed 44 total yards of offense in the first half. That includes -9 yards rushing. To make matters worse for the Golden Gophers, coach P.J. Fleck said at halftime that star running back Darius Taylor, who has been dealing with injury all year, will not be back in the second half after logging just one carry over the first 30 minutes. 

Mid 2Q: Iowa 31, Minnesota 0 

For the first time all afternoon, Iowa had to punt. The Hawkeyes did it from deep in their own territory, too, as Minnesota's defense made a stand on third-and-13. The Golden Gophers couldn't make it easy on themselves, though. They would have had solid field position, but a holding call on a punt that wasn't even returned backed them up to their own 33-yard line. 

Early 2Q: Iowa 31, Minnesota 0 

Iowa is finding every way it can to score a touchdown against Minnesota. The Hawkeyes have already scored a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown and an interception returned for a touchdown. Now, star return man Kaden Wetjen is getting in on the action. After the Hawkeyes forced Minnesota into yet another three-and-out, the Golden Gophers made the ill-advised decision to punt directly to Wetjen. Wetjen made them pay with a 36-yard return that ended in the end zone. 

Early 2Q: Iowa 24, Minnesota 0 

Iowa's offense really is different this season. The Hawkeyes tacked onto their three-possession lead with an explosive 29-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Mark Gronowski and wide receiver Reece Vander Zee. Gronowski threw a perfect ball to Vander Zee, who made a nice adjustment in the end zone with a defensive back draped all over to secure the scoring catch. Gronowski is now 6-of-9 for 100 yards and the touchdown. He also has a rushing touchdown already. 

Iowa has 24 points. Minnesota has 12 offensive yards on seven plays. 

End 1Q: Iowa 17, Minnesota 0 

It's all Iowa thus far in the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale. The Hawkeyes have dominated in all three phases of the game thus far. They've scored on both of their possessions -- a two-yard touchdown run from quarterback Mark Gronowski and a 34-yard field goal from kicker Drew Stevens -- and the defense got in on the action with a long pick-six from defensive back Zach Lutmer. 

Minnesota, meanwhile, has a total of 12 yards in its three offensive possessions. The Golden Gophers have yet to collect a first down, as two of their drives have ended in three-and-out. They may want to try getting star running back Darius Taylor more involved. He had just one carry over the first 15 minutes. 

Late 1Q: Iowa 17, Minnesota 0 

Nothing has gone right for Minnesota thus far. The Golden Gophers have possessed the ball three times. Two of those drives ended in a three-and-out. The other resulted in a pick six for the Hawkeyes. The punt following Minnesota's latest three-and-out was also blocked, which allowed Iowa to take over at Minnesota's 45-yard line. 

Late 1Q: Iowa 17, Minnesota 0 

Iowa's defense saw the offense put some points on the board and decided to get in on the fun. On first-and-10 from Minnesota's 16-yard line, Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey lofted an ill-advised pass into double coverage. Hawkeye defensive back Zach Lutmer intercepted the floater and returned it 34 yards to the end zone, breaking a tackle in the process. 

Minnesota has run just five plays for a total of five yards on offense. The Hawkeyes have already scored three times. 

Late 1Q: Iowa 10, Minnesota 0 

Iowa looked bound for the end zone for the second time in as many drives but, as it has many times this season, Minnesota's defense stiffened up in the red zone to force a 34-yard field goal from kicker Drew Stevens. It still marks a two-possession lead for the Hawkeyes, who have been able to move the ball with relative ease thus far. They've already held the ball for almost 10 minutes, compared to just 1:43 for Minnesota, and they're averaging 6.7 yards per play. 

Early 1Q: Iowa 7, Minnesota 0 

After Iowa opened Saturday's game with a 75-yard touchdown drive that took almost five minutes off of the clock, its defense got off to an equally impressive start. The Hawkeyes allowed the Golden Gophers to get five yards on their first two plays and buckled down from there, forcing Minnesota into a quick three-and-out. A nice return from Kaden Wetjen will give Iowa solid field position at its own 38-yard line on its second drive. 

Early 1Q: Iowa 7, Minnesota 0 

Iowa couldn't have asked for a better start from its offense. The Hawkeyes struck first behind the legs of quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has emerged as one of the best rushing options in the Big Ten while revitalizing Iowa's offense. He scored his 11th rushing touchdown of the season from two yards out, trying the single-season Iowa record for most touchdowns rushing from a quarterback in the process. 

It might seem risky to rely on Iowa's offense to put up enough points, but these rivals have opposite trends ATS this season, with Iowa at 4-1-1 and Minnesota at 1-4-1. The Hawkeyes giving up more than a touchdown is a bit rare, with seven of the last 10 meetings decided by seven points or fewer. While Minnesota found its rushing attack against Nebraska with 186 yards -- up from a combined 133 in the previous three Big Ten games -- Iowa's stout run defense, allowing just 2.8 yards per carry and roughly 92 yards per game, should keep the Golden Gophers in check. That defensive advantage, combined with Iowa's consistency ATS in the series (7-2-1 since 2015), makes the Hawkeyes a comfortable pick. Pick: Iowa -8.5

Minnesota's Darius Taylor leads all active FBS players with 10 career games with at least 150 yards from scrimmage. He got his first rushing touchdown of the season last week against Nebraska, rushing for a season-high 148 yards. Iowa counters with transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has 10 rushing touchdowns -- tied for most among FBS quarterbacks -- and recently set the NCAA record for most career wins (54) by a starting quarterback. The former South Dakota State star won two FCS national championships.  

The Iowa-Minnesota rivalry features one of college football's most unique traditions: the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. It dates back to 1935, after a controversial 1934 game where tempers ran high due to the treatment of Iowa running back Ozzie Simmons, one of the few black players in college football. To ease tensions, the governors of Minnesota and Iowa made a friendly wager involving prize pigs. Minnesota won 13-6, and the pig -- named Floyd after Minnesota governor Floyd Olson -- was later immortalized as a bronze trophy awarded annually to the winner.

Minnesota has won seven national titles in its history, but none since 1960. If we consider only the modern era of college football (since the BCS began in 1998), Minnesota has finished with a winning conference record eight times in 27 seasons. Coach P.J. Fleck is responsible for four of them, and is two wins away from his fifth.

What Fleck has done at Minnesota reminds me a lot of what Hayden Fry and then Kirk Ferentz have done at Iowa. He's taken a Big Ten program that isn't considered one of the league's best and consistently found ways to exceed expectations every season. Coincidentally, that's who Fleck's Gophers will face this week in one of the Big Ten's traditional rivalry games.

B1G Time: Overlook P.J. Fleck and Minnesota at your own peril, it's even worse than it looks at Wisconsin

Tom Fornelli

When Iowa landed Mark Gronowski out of the transfer portal, the Hawkeyes believed they had finally found a quarterback who could open up the passing game. That hasn't happened. Instead, Iowa has increasingly relied on the other half of Gronowski's game -- his legs -- to move the ball.

The former South Dakota State transfer and two-time FCS national champion is tied for the most rushing touchdowns (10) by an FBS quarterback this season, just one shy of the Iowa single-season record for a quarterback set by Wilburn Hollis in 1960.

As Iowa heads into its rivalry matchup with Minnesota for the Floyd of Rosedale Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS, the focus will almost certainly be on running the football -- and perhaps giving Gronowski more opportunities to break off big gains.

Mark Gronowski was expected to elevate Iowa's passing game. Instead, the transfer QB is thriving on the ground

Cody Nagel