AMES — Before this high-stakes Cy-Hawk week began, Kirk Ferentz would have gladly signed up for the score to be tied up, 13-13, entering the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium.

Especially after the way this one started, the reality of 13-13 and a chance felt like a miracle for the Iowa football team.

In his 27 years as Iowa’s head coach, Ferentz has always operated with the mindset of playing close games and relying on his defense to pull them out. That’s why he was on the doorstep of becoming the Big Ten Conference’s winning coach coming into this nationally televised “Big Noon” showdown on FOX.

And in that vein, when you put yourself in tight games, one unlucky bounce one way or another can decide the outcome. Especially in this rivalry game. We remember the 2019 punt-return gaffe

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