By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Wild things seem to happen when Iowa and Penn State square off in football.

From Daniel Murray’s game-winning field goal in 2008 to Adrian Clayborn’s blocked punt that he returned for a touchdown in 2009 to a game-saving interception by Iowa safety Ryan Hansen in double-overtime in 2000 to maybe the greatest individual performance by a running back at Kinnick Stadium in 2017 put for by Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, the rivalry has certainly provided drama, and often has impacted the Big Ten race.

But never has it been better from a hype standpoint than Saturday’s much-anticipated matchup at Kinnick Stadium.

No. 3 Iowa versus No. 4 Penn State.

An 11-game winning streak versus a nine-game winning streak.

Tight End U versus Linebacker U.

This game has all the makings of an instant classic and ultimately could prove to be my favorite Penn State-Iowa game by the time it’s over.

And that would be saying a lot because there are so many classic games from which to choose in this rivalry.

But right now, Iowa’s 21-20 victory at Penn State on Oct. 19, 1996 ranks on top of my list for lots of reasons, some of which I’ll share right now.

I was working for the Iowa City Press-Citizen at the time, and it was only my second trip to Happy Valley, the first being in 1994 when a young and overmatched Iowa squad lost 61-21 to one of the best teams in Penn State history.

In 1996, there was at least hope, and some optimism.

Iowa was 4-1 and coming off an impressive 31-10 win at Indiana the week before.

It was raining when I arrived in State College on Friday, and the rain never stopped for the entire weekend.

The sun was nowhere to be found. It was wet and gloomy.

My hotel room was connected to a bowling alley, and we slept three in a room; myself, a photographer and a member of the Iowa media who needed a place to stay.

It was cramped in the room, and we couldn’t go outside because it was pouring down rain.

I thought about going bowling until I remembered that I had never bowled before and wasn’t a big fan.

So, the highlight of the evening was eating dinner, although, I can’t remember where that occurred.

It was raining when I went to sleep and still raining when I awoke the next morning.

I remember thinking Saturday morning that the game couldn’t get here soon enough.

The forecast looked bleak for the game, and it would prove accurate.

The game, on the other hand, didn’t disappoint.

Iowa overcame not only the horrible weather conditions, but also a 20-14 halftime deficit, thanks mostly to a gritty defense that held Penn State to 76 yards and four first downs in the second half.

Iowa also overcame an injury to starting running back Sedrick Shaw, thanks mostly to Tavian Banks, who ran 26 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns – including the game-winner with 12 minutes, 39 seconds left to play.

Tim Dwight did his part, too, with an electrifying 83-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter. He also set up Banks’ 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter with a spectacular 65-yard reception.

Story continues below

Linebacker Matt Hughes and safety Damien Robinson each had 14 tackles for Iowa, which defeated Penn State for the first time since 1983.

“It’s extremely difficult to win up here, and to win the game the way we did is super,” Iowa coach Hayden Fry said afterwards.

There still was a mystique surrounding the Penn State program in 1996.

The Jerry Sandusky child-rape tragedy still was over a decade from being exposed and the Penn State program under the legendary Joe Paterno still was considered a shining example of how a college football dynasty should function.

In fact, Sandusky was the Penn State defensive coordinator and linebacker coach in 1996. He didn’t retire until after the 1999 season.

Little did we know how wrong in 1996 the perception was about Penn State football away from the field.

The current Penn State team under head coach James Franklin is flirting with elite status, but so is Iowa as the higher ranked team.

In 1996, Penn State was ranked 10^th, while Iowa was among the teams receiving votes, but wasn’t ranked.

The Iowa players performed the Hokey Pokey in the locker room in celebration.

“What a happy group of young men,” Fry said. “They deserve to celebrate. I’m so proud of them.”

Bobby Elliott was in his first season as the Iowa defensive coordinator following Bill Brashier’s retirement in 1995, and this game was a high point for Elliott’s defense.

Penn State quarterback Wally Richardson only completed 10-of-30 passes and was sacked five times.

Iowa’s pressure and physicality caused Penn State to unravel on offense in the second half, and the Iowa offense and special teams did their part.

It was a total team victory under extremely difficult circumstances, from the weather to the opponent to trailing at halftime on the road.

I was so excited after having covered the game that I didn’t even mind hearing sounds of bowling pins being knocked over as I sat in my hotel room afterwards.

I started thinking this Iowa team with a 5-1 record could be special, but then Ohio State defeated the Hawkeyes 38-26 the following Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa would go on to finish 9-3 in 1996, with its other two losses to Tulsa and Northwestern.

The 27-20 loss at Tulsa in week three was inexcusable, but Iowa also learned a valuable lesson that day, which was to never travel on the day of the game.

The Tulsa players considered that a sign of disrespect and rallied behind it.

But on a wet and dreary Saturday in October, the 1996 Iowa football team rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion.

And now a quarter century later, that game still stands above all other Iowa-Penn State games, at least for me.

Now the question is will Saturday’s game change my thinking?