Hank Brown’s last-second touchdown pass lifts Iowa to 20-19 win over Michigan in Big Ten
At the same stadium where Michigan benefited from an extra second in a controversial win over Western Michigan, the Iowa Hawkeyes made the most of their final opportunity Saturday.
Iowa quarterback Hank Brown connected with Reece Vander Zee for a game-winning 16-yard touchdown as time expired, lifting No. 17 Iowa to a 20-19 upset of No. 18 Michigan.
“To be able to silence a stadium like that, there’s no greater feeling,” Brown said.
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Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) celebrates his 16-yard touchdown reception against Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Hawkeyes covered 91 yards on the game-winning drive, aided by an unnecessary roughness penalty against Michigan on third down near midfield. Brown’s 29-yard completion to Addison Ostrenga set up the winning touchdown with two seconds remaining.
“We prep for situations like these throughout the week in practice all the time,” Brown said. “Why do you prepare for it? For a moment like that.”
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Brown, though, didn’t want to bite when asked if the victory was justice for Western Michigan.
“I’m not going to speak on that,” he said after a chuckle.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood tries to jump over the line of scrimmage but is stopped on fourth-and-1 against Iowa during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Bryce Underwood threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan early in the fourth quarter — their second scoring connection of the game — but the Wolverines (3-1, 0-1) could not make enough plays on either sides of the ball to hold on for the win.
“We would’ve liked to run the clock out,” coach Kyle Whittingham said. “That was disappointing.”
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Iowa took its first lead early in the fourth quarter on Brown’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Vander Zee.
Reece Vander Zee of the Iowa Hawkeyes catches the game-winning touchdown in front of Smith Snowden of the Michigan Wolverines with no time left to win 20-19 at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 26, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Then Underwood dropped back, stepped up, rolled right and threw a long touchdown pass to Buchanan for a 19-14 lead. His 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete.
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Iowa lined up to go for it on fourth down at the Michigan 28 late in the game and left guard Leighton Jones was flagged for a false start. Facing a fourth-and-6, coach Kirk Ferentz chose to have Caden Buhr attempt a 51-yard field goal and it was wide right with 2:33 left.
Iowa’s Big Ten schedule continues next week with a road trip to Columbus to face Ohio State, while Michigan will look to regroup on the road against Minnesota.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
