To say the Iowa offense struggled in the first half might be a gigantic understatement.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski did not complete a pass until two minutes left in the first half, and the offense struggled to move the ball downfield.
Gronowski finished the first half completely only five of 10 passes for 24 yards, and he threw an interception after throwing into double coverage.
The only points Iowa had at halftime came from a Kaden Wetjen 62-yard punt return touchdown as the offense continued searching for answers.
The third quarter was more of the same for the Hawkeye offense, and Gronowski turned the ball over again with a fumble on a bizarre play by the veteran signal caller.
He stepped up in the pocket after feeling pressure from Michigan State, but he was in between running and throwing and flipped it out to no one, and Michigan State recovered.
It was ruled a fumble and recovery by the Spartans, and they immediately turned it into a touchdown.
After Iowa went three-and-out on its next drive and punted the ball back, Michigan State scored another touchdown and took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The lead looked insurmountable for a struggling Iowa offense, but Gronowski turned it up a notch in the fourth.
Gronowski had under 100 passing yards and an interception heading into the final quarter, but finished the game with 147 and a touchdown pass to Jacob Gill.
Iowa cut the deficit to seven points after a field goal early in the fourth, and Gronowski's touchdown pass to Gill tied the game.
After forcing the Spartans' offense to punt, Gronowski drove the ball down the field with two exceptional passes to DJ Vonnahme and Reece Vander Zee to set up kicker Drew Stevens for the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Even though his numbers were solid in the fourth quarter, Gronowski was not happy with his game overall, and our grade for him reflects that.
Final grade: C