Report card grades from Iowa football’s loss vs. Michigan State

Defense Grade: D

This was a lousy performance from Iowa defensively. That’s been a rarity from the Hawkeyes over the years, but this just wasn’t one to feel good about.

Iowa did stiffen at times to force seven field goal tries from Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim. Entringer also made a nice play to come away with his first career interception and the first takeaway of the night.

However, MSU sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles entered as one of the Big Ten and nation’s most turnover-prone signal-callers, and Iowa didn’t make him nearly uncomfortable enough.

The Spartans also came into the contest with the country’s No. 102 rushing offense against Iowa’s 18th-ranked defense. It certainly didn’t look that way to those watching on Saturday night. Michigan State ran for 212 yards and racked up 468 yards of total offense.

It was also disappointing that Iowa’s defense couldn’t come away with stops after Iowa’s offense finally found a pair of touchdown drives to begin the second half. Instead, Iowa surrendered back-to-back Michigan State scoring drives after the Hawkeyes’ first two touchdown drives of the night.

The Hawkeyes missed tackles at all levels of the defense as Michigan State moved the football all night long.