EAST LANSING, Mich. — He didn’t have a single reception until the final drive. In fact, it was only three weeks prior against Arkansas State that Marvin McNutt even learned what it felt like to catch a touchdown pass in a game.

But on a seven-yard slant route, the Iowa sophomore made perhaps the biggest play of the season for the Hawkeyes.

With the seventh-ranked Hawkeyes’ hopes of remaining unbeaten on the line, McNutt delivered in crunch time, reeling in a touchdown reception as time expired in Iowa’s 15-13 win over Michigan State at Spartan Stadium.

“I told myself coming out just to run a perfect technique, do what you’ve been taught, and it worked,” McNutt said. “I felt like I got a good release and looked in, and Rick [Stanzi] threw a perfect strike.”

The victory was significant on many fronts. It put Iowa at 8-0 for the first time in school history. It also keeps the Hawkeyes in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

But one of the biggest observations one could take is the transition of McNutt, from a quarterback who could barely see the field one year ago to a wide receiver making one of the biggest plays of the Kirk Ferentz era.

Junior kicker Daniel Murray can relate. The Iowa City native boomed a 31-yard field goal through the uprights at Kinnick Stadium to lead the Hawkeyes to a 24-23 win over Penn State last year that began Iowa’s ongoing 12-game winning streak.

This time around, Murray got to talk about McNutt coming through for Iowa in the clutch.

“It’s a special feeling,” he said. “For me, last year, Penn State, I’ll remember that forever. I think this is one thing that will make it, or define, [McNutt’s] career. From where he goes from here is something that he’ll always be working on, but I think he’ll always remember this game.”

McNutt’s grab on the game’s final play even got noticed by a defense that uncharacteristically allowed Michigan State to take the lead with 1:37 left on a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins to wideout Blair White.

“For him to come in late and step up big, it’s awesome,” senior linebacker Pat Angerer said. “That guy has been through a lot, and for him to step up and make a play, it’s unbelievable.”

In the box score, only two catches for 23 yards receiving stand alongside McNutt’s name. But that second reception will forever be a part of Hawkeye lore.

“We knew whoever we put out there and whoever ran that route was going to do a great job,” Stanzi said. “To see Marvin, being the big body that he is and the skill sets that he has, he’s got defenders thinking fade and his quickness is something that people underestimate, and he was able to break inside.”