The Iowa football team loses the Rose Bowl to Stanford, 45-16.

By Danny Payne
[email protected]

PASADENA, Calif. — It’s hard to believe this Iowa team got blown out and embarrassed. Given the way the Hawkeyes have played this season, it didn’t seem possible for the Hawks to lose a game this way. But, alas.

Here’s what happened during the first half, and there are some second-half thoughts below.

• The offensive line got worked over the entire game. We talk about this game having its ebbs and flows — this is the same offensive that’s been awesome all year. Sometimes, these things just don’t make sense (which explains Samuel Beckett); this is one of those times.
• I’m writing a story on that later, and I’m curious to see what the Hawkeyes have to say about the failures up front. We’ll see, I suppose.
• The touchdown pass to Matt VandeBerg was reminiscent of Beathard hitting Riley McCarron against Iowa State; however, that wasn’t in the end zone. It looked like a simple flag route.
• Akrum Wadley needs to be this team’s No. 1 back next season. Iowa can mix in LeShun Daniels Jr. and Derrick Mitchell Jr., but the guy is just so dangerous and has to be featured more. There’s so much to do when he’s playing.
• Marshall Koehn missed another extra point.
• Credit Stanford; it’s simply a better team. There isn’t any getting around it. More talent, better game plan, coaching was better, everything. The Cardinal showed they’re a better squad, and there wasn’t anything Iowa could do about it.
• Good for Kevin Hogan and Stanford. He seems like a genuinely good guy, and he impressed lots of folks here in the Rose Bowl. An outstanding senior season.
• According to the Rose Bowl information staff, Christian McCaffrey is the first player in the history of the bowl to have more than 100 yards rushing and more than 100 yards receiving. The kid is special.
• That’s all for now, we’ll have coverage throughout the night — five or six stories, slide shows, videos, the whole gambit. Thanks for following along all season; you guys rock, and we genuinely appreciate you consuming our work.
• Stats: