Caden Buhr kicked a 42-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to lift No. 21 Iowa to a 16-13 victory over Iowa State on September 12, 2026, at Kinnick Stadium. The dramatic finish broke a late tie and redemption for the Hawkeyes in the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry clash.
A crowd of 69,250 fans watched the Hawkeyes escape with a narrow win that kept their early-season record unblemished at 2-0 as Hawk Central documented.
Caden Buhr Delivers the Winning Kick for Iowa
The hero of the evening was an unheralded walk-on who seized his moment under the brightest lights. Caden Buhr, a kicker from Bettendorf, converted all three of his field goal attempts on the night. He connected from 45 yards out in the first half before adding crucial strikes from 32 and 42 yards away in the final quarter noted Hawk Central. Instead of Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy celebrating another late heroics moment, it was Buhr getting hoisted into the air by his teammates.
“Words can’t describe that feeling. You’re out on the field. You’re with your teammates. You’ve dreamed of this your whole life. It was pretty cool.”
The clutch performance stood in stark contrast to the offensive struggles that preceded it. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz acknowledged the gritty nature of the contest reported Hawk Central.
Hank Brown and the Hawkeye Offense Grind Out the Clock
Quarterback Hank Brown directed the offense for the entire game, finishing 21-for-30 passing for 191 yards while contributing 22 rushing yards and the team’s lone offensive touchdown according to Hawk Central. Though the passing game faced steady pressure and the running attack managed just 93 yards on the ground, Brown avoided turnovers and engineered a methodical seven-play, game-winning rushing march after taking over at the Iowa 45-yard line with 4:28 remaining.
Reflecting on past struggles, including a difficult finish against Indiana a year prior, Brown credited the trust he built with his teammates noted Hawk Central.
“I learned that I can lean on my guys. I’ve got 10 guys around me that are studs that I know are going to fight for all 60 minutes, and they’re not going to give up until there’s zeroes on that clock.”
Tony Diaz and Defensive Standouts Shine in Rivalry Battle
While the ground game stalled—holding running back Kamari Moulton to 57 yards on 15 carries reported Chiefs Wire—transfer wide receiver Tony Diaz continued his explosive start to his Hawkeye career. The UTRGV transfer hauled in eight receptions for 95 yards, giving the offense a reliable vertical threat following an 84-yard debut noted Chiefs Wire. Defensively, linebacker Cam Buffington anchored Phil Parker’s unit with a team-high 15 tackles, keeping the Cyclones to just three points after halftime stated Chiefs Wire.
Left tackle Trevor Lauck summarized the collective relief in the locker room after the narrow escape reported Hawk Central.
“This win was really good for us. We know that they’re gonna give us their best shot, and that’s what they did. Definitely good to be on the other side of that. It’s just crazy that they all come down to field goals.”
The Hawkeyes will look to build on their performance next week when they host Northern Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.
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