Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16
Saturday, December 29, 2001
Final Score: Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16
Game Recap
The 2001 Sylvania Alamo Bowl was a matchup of the Big Ten’s top scoring offense against the Big 12’s top passing attack. But rather than an offensive shootout, defense and special teams took center stage as Iowa edged Texas Tech 19–16 before a sellout crowd of 65,232.
The game came down to the final play when Iowa defensive back Bob Sanders intercepted Kliff Kingsbury’s pass in the end zone to seal the Hawkeyes’ victory. Kingsbury threw for 309 yards but was intercepted three times.
Iowa leaned on two unlikely heroes—kicker Nate Kaeding and backup running back Aaron Greving. Kaeding made four field goals, including the game-winning 47-yarder with 44 seconds left, while Greving rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown to earn Offensive MVP honors.
Texas Tech tied the game at 16–16 with a 37-yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining, after head coach Mike Leach opted not to attempt a 4th-and-1 conversion. That decision gave Iowa enough time to march down the field and set up Kaeding’s game-winner.
Game Details
- Attendance: 65,232
- TV Rating: 3.8
- Payout: $3,110,250 (combined)
- Offensive MVP: Aaron Greving, RB, Iowa
- Defensive MVP: Derrick Pickens, DL, Iowa
- Sportsmanship Award: Anton Paige, WR, Texas Tech
- Head Coaches: Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Mike Leach (Texas Tech)
- Final Records: Iowa (7–5), Texas Tech (7–5)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
- IOWA – Nate Kaeding 36-yd FG
2nd Quarter
- IOWA – Aaron Greving 1-yd run (Kaeding kick)
- TECH – Greathouse 50-yd FG
3rd Quarter
- TECH – Wes Welker 20-yd pass from Kingsbury (Treece kick)
- IOWA – Kaeding 31-yd FG
4th Quarter
- IOWA – Kaeding 46-yd FG
- TECH – Treece 23-yd FG
- TECH – Treece 37-yd FG
- IOWA – Kaeding 47-yd FG (game-winner)
Final: Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16
Team Stats
| Category | Iowa | Texas Tech |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 20 | 20 |
| Rushing (Att-Yds) | 44-178 | 20-80 |
| Passing (Comp-Att-Int, Yds) | 19-26-0, 161 | 29-49-3, 309 |
| Total Offense (Plays-Yds) | 70-339 | 69-389 |
| Avg. Gain Per Play | 4.8 | 5.6 |
| Time of Possession | 35:03 | 24:57 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 6/16 (27%) | 6/14 (30%) |
Individual Leaders
Rushing
- IOWA: Greving 25-115; Allen 7-36; McCann 7-26
- TECH: Kingsbury 9-42; Williams 9-30
Passing
- IOWA: McCann 19-26-0, 161 yds
- TECH: Kingsbury 29-49-3, 309 yds
Receiving
- IOWA: Hill 6-49; Clark 4-30; Dodge 4-26; Allen 3-38
- TECH: Francis 5-90; Glover 6-77; Welker 6-62; Peters 8-60