LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Marshall Meeder was within days of walking away from football when Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods texted him to see if he wanted to become a Hawkeye.
Meeder had entered the transfer portal last spring after kicking three seasons at Central Michigan, and he was prepared to focus on finishing his engineering degree if no offer interested him.
After he barely cleared the crossbar with his first attempt of the season as time ran out Friday to beat Nebraska 13-10, Meeder was never more glad he told Woods yes.
Meeder’s opportunity for the 20th-ranked Hawkeyes came at the most pressure-packed moment after Drew Stevens had two field-goal tries blocked and had two kickoffs go out of bounds. When Meeder’s 38-yarder went through, teammates mobbed him and hoisted him on their shoulders.
He held the Heroes Trophy that goes to the winner of the rivalry game as the Hawkeyes celebrated at midfield while officials determined whether any time remained on the clock.
“It’s the same kick I’ve always made, just a little more pressure,” Meeder said. “I try not to let that get to me. I’ve done it a million times. No reason to mess something up now.”
Three of Iowa’s last five wins over Nebraska have come on late field goals. Miguel Recinos kicked a 41-yarder as time ran out in 2018 and Keith Duncan had a 48-yarder with one second left in 2019 that also denied the Huskers bowl eligibility.
“To lose in that fashion, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said.
The Hawkeyes (10-2, 7-2, No. 17 CFP), who clinched the Big Ten West title last week, earned a 10th win for the fourth time since 2015 and eighth under 25th-year coach Kirk Ferentz.
The Cornhuskers (5-7, 3-6) lost four straight to end Rhule’s first season at Nebraska. Their bowl drought will stretch to seven years, the longest among Power Five schools.
The Takeaway
Iowa: The Hawkeyes keep finding ways to win these low-scoring games. Iowa has scored 15 or fewer points in four of its 10 wins, most by a team since 1991, according to OptaSTATS. Its 216 points for the season are by far the fewest of any team with nine or more wins.
Nebraska: Turnovers bit the Huskers again. They committed three against the Hawkeyes and have a Bowl Subdivision-high 31 for the season. Nebraska has lost 24 in a row against Top 25 opponents since 2016.
Up Next
Iowa: plays No. 2 Ohio State or No. 3 Michigan in Big Ten championship game on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis.
Nebraska: Season over.
