Another beautiful, sunny, January 1st in Pasadena and Stanford is back in the Rose Bowl. With all of the pageantry and pregame hype out of the way Stanford won the toss and elected to receive. The Rose Bowl would start with the matchup we wanted to see, the Stanford offense against the Iowa defense.
On the very first play from the line of scrimmage Kevin Hogan, in his third start in the Rose Bowl throws a strike to Christian McCaffrey for a 75-yard touchdown. 11 seconds into the game and Stanford was up by seven. The Iowa offense took the field hoping to respond. After a each team had a false start Iowa went three and out.
On the Cardinal's second possession it took a few more plays but once again Iowa had no answer for Christian McCaffrey and the Stanford offense. After several explosive plays from McCaffrey it was Kevin Hogan who finished off the drive with an easy run as McCaffrey drew 9 Iowa defenders in the opposite direction. Only half way through the first quarter and the Cardinal was up 14-0.
On Iowa's second possession the Hawkeyes' offense began moving the ball down field against Stanford's bend but don't break defense. That was, of course, until Quenton Meeks, who has a knack for finding the ball, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. With about four minutes left in the first quarter the Cardinal were up 21-0 to wrap up the first quarter.
Christian McCaffrey started the second quarter in much the same way he started the first. Within the first minute of the quarter Iowa punted the ball and Christian McCaffrey went 63-yards for the touchdown, his second of the game. Stanford extended their lead to 28-0. The rest of the second quarter was relatively quiet save for a bit of trickeration by Stanford when Kevin Hogan faked a fumble and threw a deep touchdown pass to Rector for a touchdown putting Stanford up 35-0. McCaffrey would go on to break the total yards record in a Rose Bowl game, as well as rush for over 2,000 yards this season.
Lost in the Stanford offensive explosion was an impressive defensive performance by the Cardinal. Aziz Shittu had a career day in his final game, Ronnie Harris recorded his first career sack, Quenton Meeks had the aforementioned pick six. In the third quarter, however, Iowa was able to add a field goal snapping the potential shutout. The Hawkeyes would also go on to score a pair of touchdowns in the 4th quarter closing the lead to 38-16.
With less than 2 minutes left in the game and a 22 point lead David Shaw dialed up a deep touchdown pass from Hogan to Rector to properly cap off Kevin Hogan's amazing career at Stanford. Stanford wins the 2016 Rose Bowl 45-16.
Comments
This game
was more impressive than I could have possibly imagined. McCaffrey, Hogan, Shaw, the defense: spectacular performance all the way around. I could not be prouder of this team. We are not a football factory and yet we achieve at a level that is absolutely elite. My hat is off to Shaw and the team. They deserved this and should celebrate long into the night.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 01.01.16 5:48pm
Oh yeah, there will be plenty of celebrating going down
I know I’ll be celebrating!
By nickdempsey on 01.01.16 5:51pm
Absolutely.
It was such a demolishing that we basically appeared to become bored with the game midway through the third.
By Visionary_ensemble on 01.01.16 5:59pm
Yes it was (from an Iowa fan)
I think Stanford would have ended with close to the same score, even if McCaffery were sitting on the bench the whole game (although the Stanford scoring would have not come so quickly, and the second stringers wouldn’t have gotten as many minutes in the second half). Stanford’s other weapons just would have gotten more use.
That was an absolutely dominating game. The first half was as flawless of a football half as I can remember. And I am shocked at how good the Stanford defense was. The linebackers always were unblocked at the point of attack. I think Beathard is going to have nightmares of white and red monsters for the rest of his life.
Excellent pounding of my beloved Hawkeyes. Congrats.
By iowabeakster on 01.01.16 6:49pm
It all came a bit unexpected
The defense was really excellent, and the offense did what it needed to do, which was mix it up and be creative. Shaw had an excellent game plan, and the troops executed accordingly. When that all falls into place, this team is tough to beat. Congratulations on an excellent season, and see you next year (maybe in the Rose Bowl or the CFP).
By Jeff Tarnungus on 01.01.16 7:10pm
Thanks for the classy comments
Same to the other Iowa fans that have commented. As someone else noted, being at the game with Iowa fans yesterday was a much different experience from being there with MSU fans two years ago. Granted, Stanford won, but I get the sense you guys would have been more gracious in victory, too. Good luck next year!
By Clutch on 01.02.16 2:51pm
All Iowa fans care about
Is being given due respect. Not them individually but the team. Iowa fans have a chronic case of fan base insecurity and nothing makes them happier than external validation of the team, especially from an opposing fan base.
By BizarroMax on 01.02.16 3:57pm
See y'all next season
Keep on winning
By CreatureOfTheNight on 01.01.16 6:04pm
Yes. It's been a great season
after such a strange start. Looking forward to what Shaw and Co. will serve us next year. That man is a wizard.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 01.01.16 6:05pm
That first half was perfection
Reminded me of the second half of the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech
By Bored25 on 01.01.16 6:05pm
By Bored25 on 01.01.16 6:08pm
Freaking love this team
Such an awesome performance
By John Nguyen on 01.01.16 6:11pm
Iowa fan here
Congrats on the win. Your team shit-stomped us early and never let up. IA laid an egg.
Not much else to say, except that we’ll be back next year dammit! Hope we meet up again!
Anyways, congrats on the Rose – your team definitely deserves it!
Happy New Year!
By Dammit01 on 01.01.16 6:14pm
Thanks
This game did not play out as I had expected, and I have no explanation for it. On another day, we might have had a different result. Much respect for the Hawkeyes and their season. Ferentz and the Hawkeyes have a solid program, and I wish you much luck next year.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 01.01.16 6:18pm
Thanks back
I’m sorry if my post @ BHGP upset you. Not my intention. That’s not what Hawkeye fans are about.
Honestly I didn’t know much about Stanford until this year. I know you’ve had great players, but you’re not on the map every year, just like IA isn’t.
I’m glad we played a game, sad we lost, but want you to know IA fans, for the most part, are class acts.
By Dammit01 on 01.01.16 6:59pm
Never doubted that.
Iowa is a great program, and the fans have been pretty cool in the lead-up to, and aftermath of, this game.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 01.01.16 7:13pm
Hope
to continue that. Stanford is my new third favorite team. IA, OU, then Stanford.
Take care in all you do.
Dumb Hawkeye fan
By Dammit01 on 01.01.16 7:37pm
Stanford looked good all over, all three phases.
By Mike Pitzler on 01.01.16 6:21pm
Wow talkabout a rout. This team was easily playoff material
With ronnie back, the defense held its part while the offense did it’s thing. Great win and momentum heading into next season
By layman on 01.01.16 7:36pm
I have no idea how our defense
was so absurd.
By Visionary_ensemble on 01.01.16 8:00pm
Having healthy pieces back and match up against pro-style
It is just very understated how much ronnie harris meant to this team. A lockdown corner is worth 2 defenders in a side of the field. Getting him and holder back, the LBs were unleashed with full capacity without having to hesitate and help the corners or double team receivers and HBs out of the backfield. However I didn’t expect our DL to be so dominant against the Iowa OL. In general stanford matches up very well against pro-style teams and off late have been very dominant against the spread teams too.
By layman on 01.01.16 10:15pm
Yes it certainly seemed
like our secondary was actually serviceable with Ronnie back yesterday. Save for Kodi getting burned yet again, of course.
By Visionary_ensemble on 01.02.16 3:06pm
Justin reid might be in the thick of the competition next year
He started a few games when stanford adopted a 3-safety dime look and even during the championship game he was excellent in defending those deep threats and slot receivers
By layman on 01.03.16 12:22am
Hawkeye fans here incredibly gracious
By scotty256 on 01.02.16 1:06am
They were at the game as well
Friendly, fun, gracious fans. A big contrast to what I experienced with the MSU fans two years ago. A classy group both before, during and after the game were the Iowa fans.
By Brendan Ross on 01.02.16 5:10am