By Teddy Greenstein
Northwestern ended Iowa's national-title hopes with an improbable 17-10 victory at Kinnick Stadium.
Improbable because NU's defense surrendered a 74-yard touchdown pass one minute into the game and because of the health issues that plagued both of its quarterbacks.
Dan Persa ran just well enough, and Mike Kafka threw just efficiently enough to help coach Pat Fitzgerald earn the first signature victory in his four-year tenure.
The Wildcats celebrates with fans after the 17-10 victory. (AP / Charlie Neibergall) Iowa entered the game 9-0 and No. 4 in the BCS standings. And the Hawkeyes' 13-game winning streak was second in Division I to Florida's 18.
Northwestern improved to 6-4, 3-3 in the Big Ten, and became bowl eligible.
The victory also gave the Wildcats their third straight win in Iowa City.
All Bears news delivered to your mailbox on Friday and Monday mornings. 
If Persa hadn't gone in and passed for a touchdown, Northwestern would not have won! Give the back-up his credit. He's a gresat passer, but so far that talent has been underrated.
ok for all you saying no one cares about NU's football program, well today EVERYONE who cares about Iowa's football program also cares about NU's. This is because Iowa is no longer an elite. Also please stop referring to Iowa as the 4 "seed", this is not basketball, this is there ranking, there is no seeding in FCS. I have grown up rooting for NU, football, basketball, whatever. I purchased season tickets with my own money in seventh and eighth grade. Even though I am a freshman at another prestigious university, I am proud to call myself a die hard NU fan.
To All you Iowa crybabies, Northwestern is 9 and 5 against you since 1995. Since 95 we have won three Big Ten titles. You have not. So why are you so surprised when a better football program comes into your house and beats you for the third strait time? Iowa lost because NU outplayed them like they always do. Get used to it because it isn't going to change. Also if we were in the middle of no where in a state with nothing else to do we would probably sell out all our games too.
They're an embarrassment to the Big Ten and a joke as a #4 seed. The most overrated team in the history of sports.
Hey IOWA weasel,
It was your basketball coach who lied to ILLINOIS
and put our state school - who went to Tennessee..
Infact it was proven ..
So after all these years NW was losing, you were hiding
ANd IOWA.. Corn field team..
Well IT IS A PAYBACK to you IOWA cry bebbies..
Get OFF... Go to IOWA..
Great win, I thought Iowa was overrated, but that possibly the Cats were underrated. Ha! Love that the hawks were beaten and that there are bitter postings regarding such. Deal with it hawkeye fans, at least you have other sports to fall back on, like all your pro sports teams...uh, never mind.
congratulations to northwestern. i wonder though how many comments are made by those who never played the game.
To No one cares
Why are you such a hater? If you think there are no die-hard NU fans, then you need to get out of your mom's basement and go to a game, the die hards are there.
And no, we never fill the stadium, but that's because we're a school with 1/5 the alumni of the other Big Ten schools and we don't have posers jump on the band wagon.
To Cat Fans, enjoy the win. To Hawkeye fans, move on and beat OSU.
NO one in Chicago EVER claims to be a die-hard NU fan?? Get a clue!! Here's one!!
Just goes to prove that NU isn't that bad.......ahd the Iowa Hawkeyes certainly are not that good.
Iowa losing Stanzi only made the game even given that Kafka couldn't even run and the Cats had to use back up QB most of the game. Cats could've beaten PSU last week if Kafka hadn't pulled his hammy. Defense played great. 3 straight in Iowa City! Deal with it.
Who cares about Northwestern! No one will ever give two stinks about this football program. And no "Hawk til Death" no one EVER claims to be a die hard NW fan in Chicago. Fact is, no one can give a kaputs about them. I'm just glad the joke that is Iowa is busted. They're an embarrassment to the Big Ten and a joke as a #4 seed. The most overrated team in the history of sports.
This is only a signature win if Iowa has their quarterback, and they were getting it handed to them until Stanzi went out. Regardless they won, but Northwestern fans will continue to leave the stadium by 4th quarter, because no one cares enough to stay. I can't tell you how many times I've been there with the place 3/4 empty. The majority of people around Chicago don't root for NW anyway unless they are really good, then they claim their diehard fans.
b on November 7, 2009 4:03 PM
Iowa losed the game, NW didn't win!!
Forgive me I am wrong. At the end of the game, the team with the most points win. Have you ever seen a football game before? If Iowa lost, should they be investigated for deliberately throwing a game? Now if you tell me you are losing your mind, I;ll accept that.
YES! NORTHWESTERN! I hope Chicagoans start taking this football team seriously. Pat Fitzgerald runs a great program. I'd love to see sellout crowds at Ryan Field.
GO CATS!
Now, time to take care of that team on I-57 200 miles to the south...
A huge thank you to the 'Cats.
Thank you for sparing America the possibilty of having to witness a Big Ten team getting destroyed in the BCS title game.
Looks like they'll have to settle for getting destroyed in the Rose Bowl, instead.
Once again, Thanks Northwestern Wildcats!
Iowa losed the game, NW didn't win!!
As an ex-Chicagoan who has lived in Iowa for what seems like forever, this is especially sweet. To quote an obnoxious Hawkeye announcer of the past, "ILOVEITILOVEITILOVEIT!"
ONIK OINK OINK
After teasing partial performances against Michigan State, Indiana, and Penn State, the Wildcats put together a complete game. Great win for a team that has improved dramatically over the course of the season.
Way to go Wildcats! No team I like beating more than Iowa
Go CATS!!!!! Great victory today.