The Hawkeyes' offense was propelled by Johnson, who rushed for 147 total yards and scored two touchdowns. His explosive 75-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave Iowa a 20–17 lead, which they maintained until the final whistle. Quarterback Cade McNamara contributed 150 passing yards and a touchdown, while the defense held Michigan State to 283 total yards.
Michigan State's offense was led by quarterback Aidan Chiles, who threw for 256 yards and a touchdown. However, the Spartans' efforts were thwarted by Iowa's defense, which recorded multiple sacks and an interception. Kicker Jonathan Kim set a school record for Michigan State by converting six field goals, but it wasn't enough to overcome Iowa's late-game heroics.