ORLANDO, FLORIDA - Just when it looked as though coach Nick Saban would go out a winner at LSU, the Iowa Hawkeyes came up with a miracle finish. Drew Tate threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Warren Holloway on the final play Saturday, and No. 11 Iowa stunned No. 12 Louisiana State 30-25 in the Capital One Bowl.
Saban, who will become the Miami Dolphins' coach next week, threw up his arms in frustration and then watched as the entire Iowa team mobbed Holloway in the end zone.
The score capped a wild fourth quarter and spoiled a comeback by the Tigers, who overcame a 12-point deficit with 8 1/2 minutes left.
LSU freshman JaMarcus Russell came off the bench to spark the rally by throwing two touchdown passes. When he hit Skyler Green for a 3-yard score, the Tigers led 25-24 with 46 seconds to go.
After Tate completed two passes, a penalty pushed Iowa back to its 44 with 14 seconds left. Tate wound up and threw long to an open Holloway, who caught the pass in stride at the 10 and dashed to the end zone as time expired.
Iowa (10-2) won its eighth game in a row to reach double digits in victories for the third consecutive year under coach Kirk Ferentz.
Aside from their fourth-quarter rally, the Tigers (9-3) struggled on offense and special teams one week after Saban announced his resignation. He finished 48-16 in five years with the Tigers, leading them to a bowl game every season and to the BCS national championship in 2003.
Saturday
March 15th, 2025
11:40PM
