North Dakota State came into this game as the top ranked FCS team. The Bison proved early why they’ve now won against their last six FBS opponents. The Iowa Hawkeyes knew they couldn’t take this team lightly, yet they looked like a mere shell of themselves.
It was a tough game the whole way for the Hawkeyes. The Bison took an early 7-0 lead when C.J. Beathard threw a pick-six as he was being hit. While it wasn’t Beathard’s fault, it did have a huge impact on the outcome of the game. The Hawkeyes answered with two touchdowns of their own, leading the game 14-7 at half.