It was an instant classic when the Iowa Hawkeyes battled the Michigan State Spartans for the 2015 B1G Championship title. It was an outstanding defensive battle for three quarters, but in the end, it was the offense that stole the show.

Iowa (12‐1, 8‐0) fell to Michigan State (12‐1, 7‐1), 16‐13, Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium at the 2015 Big Ten Championship game.

After watching two stellar defensive teams duke it out for three quarters, both offensives stepped up in the final fifteen minutes. In the end, it was one of those rare games that both teams deserved to wake away with a win.

Iowa scored the first touchdown of the game as the fourth quarter got under way, but it was Michigan State's only touchdown that came in the last minute that secured the Spartan 16-13 win and Big Ten title.

It should also place MSU in the upcoming College Football Playoffs.

The first half of the B1G Championship Game was a smash mouth, strong defense, conservative offensive struggle. But that was not the complete story. Freaky plays highlighted a majority of the first thirty minutes.

Iowa intercepted the ball after the ball bounced off a Michigan State lineman. The Spartans intercepted the ball after the ball bounced off a player face down in the endzone (video below).

That was just only two of the crazy first half plays. To cap off the first two quarters, Michigan State ended  first half with a field goal attempt that bounced off the crossbar and back into the end zone. Iowa lead the game 6-3 as both teams headed to the locker room.

The third quarter saw more stingy defense by both sides. The Spartans mustered a couple of field goals to move into a 9-6 lead.

As the fourth quarter began, Iowa finally broke from a conservative offensive game play. CJ Beathard connected with Tevaun Smith for an 85-yard touchdown and the lead, 13-9 (video below).

Michigan State's final possession was a slow methodical march down the field with a 22 play, 82‐yard, 9:04 drive that wore down the Iowa defense. The game came down to a first and goal for the Spartans with 1:54 left on the clock to score. Iowa was out of time outs, so it was win or loss for both teams. LJ Scott's Michigan State pushed the ball across the goal line to take a 16-13 lead.

Iowa had :27 left to try and score at least a field goal to force over time, but the Hawkeyes' attempt at a perfect season fell short.

The Hawkeyes will find out which bowl game they will be invited to play in on Sunday, December 6.

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