Penn State might be #Unrivaled in the Big Ten, but the Nittany Lions have built a hugely entertaining rivalry with Iowa over the past two decades. Consider that the teams played their first overtime games against each other, matched Heisman Trophy finalists against each other and delivered one of the Big Ten's great final scores. They even introduced the term "smelled a rat" into the conference lexicon.
Iowa returns to Penn State on Saturday for the first time since 2020. The Hawkeyes are 7-8 at Beaver Stadium, where they will play in their second "White Out" game. Penn State fans no doubt will be welcoming, particularly after the Lions' 2021 trip to Kinnick Stadium, a game in which Iowa fans booed what they considered phony injuries. Penn State coach James Franklin disagreed, saying, "I'm trying to protect college football."
The Penn State-Iowa series has produced some memorable moments and tight games, particularly at Beaver Stadium. So let's recap the Hawkeyes' 11 visits to Penn State since 1993, when the Lions joined the Big Ten.
1994: Penn State 61, Iowa 21
One of the many depth charges Penn State's 1994 offense delivered during a 12-0 campaign. The Lions scored 35 points in the first quarter, and Iowa didn't cross midfield until it trailed by 42. Eleven (!) different Penn State ball-carriers combined for 309 yards rushing. "I wonder what it’s like to be on the other side of the field," Penn State tailback Ki-Jana Carter said after the game. "I wonder what they are thinking."
1996: Iowa 21, Penn State 20
The Lions were No 3 after a 5-0 start that included a season-opening win over USC. Then it rained, figuratively after the fine start and literally against Iowa. The Lions lost two of their next three games, getting floored by Ohio State and falling to Iowa two weeks later on a miserable, rainy, snowy day at Beaver Stadium. Iowa coach Hayden Fry punctuated the game with a trick play, calling a halfback pass from freshman Rob Thein that led to the game-winning touchdown.
2000: Iowa 26, Penn State 23 (2OT)
Neither team was world-beating this season, but they still produced this stoic gem. Iowa (1-8) secured coach Kirk Ferentz's first road victory as freshman kicker Nate Kaeding made four field goals, including the eventual game-winner in overtime (a first for both teams). Iowa's Ryan Hansen intercepted Penn State quarterback Rashard Casey to finish it. This game was the launch point of Ferentz's career after a 2-19 start.
2002: Iowa 42, Penn State 35 (OT)
This wild ride featured two Heisman Trophy finalists: Iowa quarterback Brad Banks finished second in the voting, and Penn State running back Larry Johnson Jr. was third. It began with Penn State spotting Iowa 14 points off turnovers, and the Hawkeyes took a 26-7 halftime lead. But Zack Mills led a stirring comeback, throwing for a then-school record 399 yards and four touchdowns, three in the fourth-quarter Penn State rally. But Banks hit C.J. Jones for the 6-yard OT game-winning touchdown in overtime. Joe Paterno famously ran down referee Dick Honig to protest receiver receiver Tony Johnson being ruled out of bounds at the Iowa 2-yard line on the Lions' only overtime possession.
2004: Iowa 6, Penn State 4
The jewel by which all Penn State-Iowa games are to be judged, which produced the decision that lives on Ferentz's Rushmore. Instead of punting from the back of his end zone in the fourth quarter, Ferentz took an intentional safety and put the game on his defense with 8 minutes left. Very next play: Iowa's Antwan Allen intercepted Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson. Iowa even waved off a short field-goal attempt in the last 2 minutes to goad Penn State into jumping offsides. And it worked! It was a miserable day for Penn State, with two quarterbacks combining for four interceptions on an offense that generated just 163 yards. And Robbie Gould, Penn State's longest-active NFL player, missed two field goals, including a 25-yarder in the second half. As noted in the video below, the 2004 World Series between Boston and St. Louis began the same day as the Penn State-Iowa game. Boston won 11-9, outscoring the Lions and Hawkeyes combined.
2007: Penn State 27, Iowa 7
After four straight miserable home losses to Iowa, the Lions rebounded against a not-so-great team. Penn State rolled up 489 yards of offense, with Rodney Kinlaw gaining 168 on the ground, and the defense held Iowa to 48 yards rushing. It was a big day for Kinlaw, who fumbled early but bounced back to score two touchdowns. But this game merely was a bridge to more disappointment.
2009: Iowa 21, Penn State 10
Iowa broke Penn State's championship hearts in back-to-back seasons. A year prior in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes edged No. 3 Penn State 24-23, that team's only regular-season loss. In 2009, Iowa stunned the unbeaten and fifth-ranked Lions in their Big Ten opener when Adrian Clayborn returned a fourth-quarter blocked punt for a touchdown. After taking a 10-0 first quarter lead, the Lions gave up a safety, punted twice, were intercepted three times, allowed the special teams touchdown and fumbled.
2011: Penn State 13, Iowa 3
Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg had thrown for nearly 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first four games, but the Lions rattled him into a 50-percent completion rate and two interceptions. In the fourth quarter, Gerald Hodges sacked Vandenberg, forcing a fumble, and Matt McGloin hit tight end Kavin Haplea for the game's only touchdown.
2016: Penn State 41, Iowa 14
The Lions' Big Ten title run was in full swing by the time the Hawkeyes arrived at Beaver Stadium, and they got run over. Saquon Barkley totaled 211 all-purpose yards, scored twice, and Trace McSorley threw two touchdown passes in the blowout. Backup quarterback Tommy Stevens got into the action as well, scoring on a jet sweep.
2018: Penn State 30, Iowa 24
The last time Penn State and Iowa met at Beaver Stadium as ranked opponents was pretty dramatic. Trace McSorley, who missed three first-half series after hurting a knee, returned in the second half with a brace and a burst. He dragged that brace 51 yards for a touchdown on the Lions' first possession of the second half, reviving an anxious crowd. Iowa had first-and-goal at the Penn State 3-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but Nick Scott intercepted Nate Stanley to seal the win.
2020: Iowa 41, Penn State 21
A forgettable day during a forgettable season, yet even this one had some fire. After being benched for Will Levis, Sean Clifford reclaimed the quarterback role in the second half and threw touchdowns on his first two passes, including a 68-yarder to Jahan Dotson. Alas, Clifford's third throw was intercepted (albeit via a tipped pass), and he threw a pick-6 in the fourth quarter. The loss dropped Penn State to 0-5 for the first time in school history.
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