Game Report: Iowa vs. Minnesota

By the numbers

11 - Consecutive trophy game defeats for the Golden Gophers before beating Iowa

10 - Consecutive trophy game victories for Iowa before losing to Wisconsin and Minnesota

130:54 - Time elapsed between Minnesota touchdowns against Iowa, dating to 2007 and ending in the 1st quarter

9 - Third-down conversions for the Gophers in 16 attempts

25 - Touchdown passes for Iowa QB Rick Stanzi this season to 4 interceptions

Report card

F - Not enough lipstick at Maybelline for this pig.

- Marc Morehouse

D-minus - Worst finish since the last episode of “Seinfeld.”

- Mike Hlas

F - It's a good thing for Iowa that it doesn't play Iowa State next week or the Hawkeyes would be trophy-less.

- Scott Dochterman

Game ball

Minnesota's offensive line. The Gophers dominated the line of scrimmage with 216 rushing yards, the most against Iowa since Ohio State rushed for 229 last year against Iowa. The Gophers rushed for three touchdowns and blasted for 14 rushing first downs.

“I wasn't surprised,” Minnesota running back Duane Bennett said. “I go to work with those guys every day. It's just a testament to what we put in during practice. Those guys go to work every day, they do a lot of work, offensive and defensive line. So to come in and say I was surprised, that's the least of my worries.”

Minnesota interim coach Jeff Horton credited tackle Dom Alford, who held Iowa All-American defensive end Adrian Clayborn to two tackles.

“We did a great job of neutralizing him,” Horton said.

Hawkeye dive

Minnesota ran off 22 consecutive plays and led 10-0 before the Hawkeyes took the field on offense. The Gophers won the toss, elected to receive and drove down the field in 11 plays and kicks a field goal. Then, the Gophers recover an onside kick. Minnesota ran another 11 offensive plays before quarterback MarQueis Gray rushed for a 14-yard touchdown.

Finale for the season finale?

Iowa and Minnesota will continue as annual rivals into the future in the same Big Ten division. The schools have met every year since 1931 and 104 times overall. Minnesota leads 60-42-2 overall and 40-34-2 all-time for the Floyd of Rosedale traveling trophy.

The schools' game next year is set for Oct. 29 again in Minneapolis, the first time since 1983 the teams will play before November. In 2012, the teams play Sept. 29 in Iowa City, the first time in series history they will play before October.

The schools traditionally ended their season against one another, but Iowa plays Big Ten newcomer Nebraska in the season finale for at least the next two seasons.

Budget time

Iowa's postseason destination is undetermined, but the school knows its budget for the upcoming bowl locations.

If Iowa competes in the Outback Bowl - which has the second selection among non-BCS Big Ten teams - the Hawkeyes receive a $1.75 million budget and is financially responsible for 11,500 tickets. If the Hawkeyes attend the Gator Bowl, which chooses after the Outback, Iowa receives the same budget but is responsible for only 11,000 tickets.

Should Iowa slide to the Phoenix-area Insight Bowl, its budget would boost to $1.8 million but it would be responsible for 12,750 tickets. Those numbers are universal for all Big Ten schools.

Horton hears from who?

Legendary Minneapolis-area columnist Sid Hartman took over the Gophers' postgame press area following the game, touting Horton for the Gophers' vacancy.

Hartman shouted to see Minnesota Athletics Director Joel Maturi both before and after Horton's news conference.

“That's my campaign from here on out. Keep Jeff Horton coach,” Hartman said.

Horton, who replaced Tim Brewster midway through the season said, “I'll take it. If they offer, I'll take it.”

Injury time

Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater injured his left ankle on Minnesota's second offensive series and did not return. Iowa cornerback Micah Hyde suffered a head injury later in the game and did not return.

Greg Castillo and B.J. Lowery finished the game at cornerback.

Bowled over

For the first time this season, there was not a bowl scout in attendance at an Iowa game.