By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Some of you might find this hard to believe, but every once in a while I get it right.

This little voice in my head tells me something and then it happens, not often, but sometimes.

Like on Saturday for example as the Iowa football team was struggling just to complete a forward pass against last-place Michigan State, that little voice in my head kept saying Iowa would find a way to win.

Even in those darkest moments of despair, when defeat seemed inevitable with Iowa trailing by 10 points in the fourth quarter, that little voice just kept saying be patient, Iowa will figure this out, partly because of the opponent.

Iowa ultimately did figure it out, winning 20-17 on a 44-yard field goal by senior Drew Stevens as time expired on Senior Day at Kinnick Stadium.

The Iowa passing attack suddenly came to life in the fourth quarter as graduate quarterback Mark Gronowski threw for 117 of his 147 passing yards in the final 15 minutes.

Kaden Wetjen also had a 40-yard punt return that helped to set up Iowa’s game-tying 42-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter.

And the Iowa defense stood its tallest in the fourth quarter, holding the Spartans to four straight punts, including three 3-and-outs.

It was a total team effort on Iowa’s part, and a case in which the struggling Spartans just couldn’t finish the job.

My little voice was doubting Michigan State as much as believing in Iowa as the fourth quarter played out.

The Spartans certainly have some talented players, and they showed that they could compete with Iowa.

But they couldn’t complete the mission, and maybe part of it had to do with not believing they could complete it, sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Whatever the case, Iowa avoided what would have been a season-crushing loss.

Some would say the season already is crushed with four losses.

Okay. fair enough if that’s how you want to feel.

But if Iowa were to have lost to Michigan State under the circumstances, just imagine the post-game fallout.

The Kirk Ferentz naysayers would have seized the moment and said the loss to Michigan State was indisputable proof that the game has passed him by.

Gronowski would have been called a huge bust.

And Iowa would have been 6-5 and mired in a three-game losing streak heading into next Friday’s game at Nebraska.

Iowa avoided potential disaster against Michigan State.

One game doesn’t make or break a season, but a loss to the Spartans would have certainly changed the outlook moving forward.

Iowa still has a chance to win nine games this season, which would be respectable.

It isn’t what fans had envisioned for this season, but that’s the risk with being a fan.

You want so much for something special to happen, and when it doesn’t happen, it’s tough dealing with the disappointment.

But again, imagine the disappointment if Iowa would have lot to the Spartans.

As for how the game would play out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I predicted that Iowa would be motivated by the emotion from Senior Day and would then jump all over the Spartans and cruise to an easy win.

However, it became apparent right away that beating Michigan State wouldn’t come easy as Iowa had zero, that’s right, zero passing yards after the first quarter.

The game would be a struggle from start to finish and give credit to the Michigan State players for putting forth a spirited effort under tough circumstances.

Iowa will now shift its focus to the 7-4 Cornhuskers, who are making progress under head coach Matt Rhule, but still have a ways to go as evidenced by Saturday’s 37-10 loss at Penn State.

This shortened week of preparation is always a challenge for both teams.

But in Iowa’s case, it’s preparing to face the challenge with positive energy, while the Cornhuskers have to be hurting a little bit after not just losing at Penn State, but losing by a wide margin.

That little voice is starting to say that Iowa’s chance for yet another win over Nebraska looks pretty good.

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