As the saying goes, it takes all three units to win a football game. The Iowa Hawkeyes desperately needed all three units at different times to handle the Michigan State Spartans in a 26-16 victory at home inside Kinnick Stadium.
The Hawkeyes kept the game just close enough after Cade McNamara went down with an injury early in the game and struck late after sticking together through all four quarters.
The defense was stout at all the right times, getting turnovers and fourth-down stops. The special teams was the difference-maker in the game, and the offense kept things afloat despite one nearly critical error.
All in all, the Hawkeyes pulled out a win in Big Ten play and moved to 4-1 on the season and evened up their Big Ten conference play record at 1-1. Here is how each unit is grading out in their very tough win over the Spartans.