Iowa Football: Top Five Performances of 2015

No. 5 – C.J. Beathard vs. Iowa State

Oh look, it’s our fearless leader coming in at number five.

C.J. was a big part of why the Hawkeyes went undefeated in the regular season and why they were able to overcome a deficit against their in-state rivals, the Iowa State Cyclones.  It started early on in the second quarter with the game sitting at 10-3 in favor of the Cyclones.  Beathard had just gotten sacked and Iowa was setting up shop at their own one yard line.

Iowa came out in the I formation and figured to be running the ball.  Beathard faked the hand off and rolled to his right where he was looking downfield for an open receiver.  One problem, he couldn’t find one.  C.J. then took off and scampered 44 yards to the Iowa 45 to get the Hawks out of danger and pull the momentum back their way.

Iowa ran seven more plays on that drive en route to tying the game at 10.  However, that wasn’t the only moment C.J. had in this game.  When the second half started, the Hawkeyes again found themselves down by seven, trailing 17-10.

Beathard threw two touchdown passes, one in the early third and one late in the fourth to give Iowa a 24-17 lead.  Iowa would add another touchdown with about a minute or so left to ice the game at 31-17.  The Iowa defense didn’t allow a single point in the second half, but without C.J. stepping up and throwing two huge touchdown passes, we could’ve been in for a rough ending in Ames.  He finished the day 15-of-25 passing for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns to go along with 10 carries and 77 yards rushing.

This game also kept Iowa undefeated, which turned out to be bigger than we all could’ve even begun to imagine when the game concluded.

Next: Number Four