This seems like an annual trend in the Penn State-Iowa series.  For the 14th time in 22 meetings, the visiting team came up with the victory.

On Saturday, it was the Nittany Lions (3-1) losing at home to the Buckeyes (4-0), 21-10.

The game was controlled by dominating defensive performances from both clubs.  The total yards for the two teams was close – Iowa had 298 and Penn State gained 307.  In the end, it was Iowa’s defense that not only held Penn State to its lowest point total in two years, but also came up with all of the big plays in a 4th quarter that saw them put 16 points on the board to decide the game.

At the start of the game, all indications pointed to the Lions steamrolling another over-matched opponent.  They scored on their first possession via a 79-yard strike from Daryll Clark to Chaz Powell.  The crowd in Beaver Stadium went nuts.

But the Hawkeyes recovered, with its defense only yielding another field goal to the offensively explosive fifth-ranked team.  At the conclusion of the first quarter, Penn State held a 10-0 lead.  And that would prove to be all the points that they would score.

The Lions took a 10-5 lead into the decisive 4th quarter.  Then the roof fell in.  They had a punt blocked and returned for a TD.  Clark had a pass intercepted and returned 38 yards – which set up another TD.  Running back Evan Royster fumbled (which didn’t directly lead to any points).  Clark had another pass intercepted – this turnover Iowa converted into a field goal.

This type of collapse seems rare at home, but this was a Penn State that was undoubtedly shocked by its inability to put points on the board.  In the first three games of this season, they averaged 30 points a game…albeit against hapless defensive teams like Akron, Temple and Syracuse.

Or maybe this grouping of Iowa players has Penn State’s number.  Last year, Iowa pulled out a 24-23 victory over a Penn State group that was ranked third.  Last year’s contest was late in the college football season and eliminated all hopes that the previously undefeated Lions would compete for the national championship.

The good news for this year’s Lions team is that they have plenty of time to recuperate and make a huge splash in the national BCS scene.

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