Honestly, if you were watching the most recent matchup between these two at Kinnick Stadium, you probably had a few moments where you wanted to turn off the TV. That's just the nature of iowa football michigan state. It is rarely pretty. It is almost always a physical, soul-crushing grind that makes you wonder why we love the Big Ten in the first place.
But then, the fourth quarter happens.
On November 22, 2025, Iowa looked absolutely buried. They were down 17-7. The offense was stuck in the mud—Mark Gronowski had managed a measly 24 passing yards in the entire first half. The Spartans, led by freshman Alessio Milivojevic, were carving up a usually stout Hawkeye secondary. It felt like one of those games where the Kinnick magic had finally run out. Then, Kaden Wetjen decided he wasn't losing on Senior Day.
The Game That Saved the Season
Most fans think the 2025 meeting was just another low-scoring slugfest. It was actually a historical anomaly. Wetjen's 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter didn't just give Iowa a lead; it made him the program's all-time leader in return touchdowns. Even with that spark, the Hawkeyes went five straight quarters without an offensive touchdown. Think about that. Over an hour of game time without the offense crossing the goal line.
Then the flip switched.
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In the final few minutes, Gronowski found Jacob Gill for a 13-yard strike to tie it. After the defense forced yet another stop—basically bullying the Spartans' front line—Drew Stevens stepped up. A 44-yard walk-off field goal. 20-17. It was Stevens' second walk-off on Senior Night in as many years. If you're a Michigan State fan, that’s a special kind of heartbreak.
Why the Iowa Football Michigan State Matchup is Historically Weird
People talk about "Sickos" football, but this series is the original blueprint. Take the 2015 Big Ten Championship. It wasn't a high-flying shootout. It was a 22-play, 82-yard drive by the Spartans that took over nine minutes off the clock just to score the winning touchdown. It was beautiful and miserable all at once.
The record currently sits at 25-23-2 in favor of Iowa (though that depends on if you count the vacated 2024 Spartan win). It is one of the most balanced, unpredictable series in the conference. You can’t rely on the "better" team to win.
- 2020: Iowa blows them out 49-7 in an empty stadium.
- 2012: A double-overtime slog where Iowa wins 19-16 in East Lansing.
- 1953: The first-ever meeting, which also happened to be Michigan State's first game as a Big Ten member.
There’s a weird symmetry here. Kirk Ferentz actually got his very first Big Ten win against Michigan State back in 2000. It's like the Spartans are the measuring stick for whether Iowa is actually "Iowa" that year.
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The Coaching Carousel and New Identities
Going into 2026, the vibe is shifting. Michigan State just hired Pat Fitzgerald—yeah, that Pat Fitzgerald—and the reviews are all over the place. Some analysts like Josh Pate are calling it a home run, while others at ESPN ranked it dead last in the coaching cycle.
Why does this matter for the rivalry? Because Fitzgerald knows how to beat Kirk Ferentz. He did it for years at Northwestern with limited resources. If he can bring that "punch you in the mouth" mentality to East Lansing, the iowa football michigan state games are going to get even more violent.
On the other side, Iowa is dealing with a massive transition. Mark Gronowski is gone. The quarterback room is a question mark again. But the defense? Under Phil Parker, they finished 2025 ranked 9th in the country for scoring defense, allowing only 14.9 points per game. They are the brick wall that every Spartan offensive coordinator fears.
Breaking Down the 2025 Stats
If you want to understand why these games feel so close, look at the box score from November.
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Michigan State actually outgained Iowa 335 to 301. They had more passing yards (255 vs 147). They had more first downs. Usually, that’s a recipe for a win. But Iowa wins the "hidden" game. 147 punt return yards. That is an absurd stat. Kaden Wetjen basically acted as a one-man offense when the actual offense was failing.
The Spartans' inability to finish drives has been their curse. They went 0-8 in Big Ten play in 2025. Losing 20-17 to a 7-4 Iowa team was the final nail in the coffin for that specific era.
What to Watch for Next
If you're betting on or watching this matchup in the future, throw the "points over" out the window.
- Special Teams is the Decider: In three of the last five meetings, a kick or a return has been the difference.
- The Third Quarter Lull: Both these teams have a habit of disappearing after halftime before a frantic fourth-quarter finish.
- The Transfer Portal Chaos: Keep an eye on guys like Evan Boyd. The movement between these two schools and their regional rivals (like Iowa State) is changing the scouting reports every single week.
The 2025 game was ugly, but it was also the essence of Big Ten football. It was grit, wind, cold, and a kicker with ice in his veins. As the conference expands to include West Coast teams, this specific rivalry serves as a reminder of what the heart of the Midwest looks like on a Saturday afternoon.
To really get ahead of the 2026 season, start tracking the defensive line rotations for both teams. Michigan State's new staff is prioritizing "heavy" fronts to stop the zone run, which is exactly what Iowa wants to do. If the Spartans can't shore up their special teams coverage, guys like Wetjen—or whoever takes his mantle—will continue to be the deciding factor in these one-score games. Keep an eye on the spring portal; Iowa's search for a consistent signal-caller will determine if they can finally put up more than 20 points against a rebuilding Spartan defense.