Rapid Recap: Iowa Falls 26-21 at USC After Fast Start
Iowa walked into the Coliseum looking ready to make a statement. They jumped out to a 14 to 0 lead behind sharp execution, a clean opening script, and a defense that had USC searching for answers. For a quarter and a half, it looked like the game might tilt Iowa’s direction.
Then everything shifted.
USC outscored Iowa 26 to 7 the rest of the way and closed out a 26 to 21 win in Los Angeles. The Hawkeyes fall to 6 and 4 and return home next week to face Michigan State on November 22.
How the Game Turned
Iowa controlled the opening stretch through discipline, toughness, and balance. Mark Gronowski found the end zone on a short touchdown run to continue his season-long streak of rushing scores. The defense followed that with disruptive play, pressure, and tight coverage. When Iowa pushed the lead to 14 to 0, the energy on the sideline felt like a team ready to seize control on the road.
USC answered with a long drive for a touchdown, then added a field goal to narrow the gap before halftime. Even so, Iowa still held a 21 to 10 lead at the break and had outgained USC. It felt like a game the Hawkeyes could close out with a similar script in the second half.
Instead, USC took all the momentum. Their receivers began winning matchups all over the field. Short, manageable situations turned into chunk plays. The Trojans put up 9 unanswered points in the third quarter to pull within 2. By the time the fourth quarter opened, Iowa was defending every blade of grass.
The key sequence came early in the final frame. USC capped a physical drive with a one-yard touchdown dive to take a 26 to 21 lead. Iowa needed a long response drive to steady things and give the defense a break. Instead, field position, missed throws, and third and medium situations kept stacking up. Drives stalled. USC kept the field tilted. Iowa never found the rhythm it had early in the game.
Missed Chances Add Up
The frustrating part for Iowa is how many opportunities slipped away. There were open plays downfield that could have flipped possessions. There were missed throws that left yards sitting out on the field. There were third and five to seven yard situations that kept appearing, and USC defended most of them well.
The first half showed what Iowa could do when timing and execution clicked. The second half showed how quickly a game can swing when that timing fades. USC played faster, won perimeter matchups, and slowly ground down the Iowa defense with repeated long possessions.
Defense Fought to the End
Even with the rough stretch in the middle of the game, the Iowa defense refused to fold. They held USC to field goals when they could, created pressure, and kept the team within striking distance until the final minutes. They were on the field a long time in the second half, and the cumulative load showed.
The early push from the defense was strong enough to put Iowa in position to control the game. The problem was the offense could not match that level after halftime.
What Comes Next
Iowa returns home next week for a critical matchup with Michigan State on November 22. It is a chance to steady the season, reset momentum, and earn a seventh win before heading into the final stretch.
The formula will not change. Cleaner execution. Fewer missed opportunities. More consistency in the passing game. Iowa has shown it can play winning football. The next step is sustaining it for four full quarters.
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