IOWA CITY, Iowa, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Ladell Betts rushed for 171 yards and a touchdown and Kyle McCann throw three touchdown tosses Saturday as Iowa defeated Minnesota, 42-24, to become bowl eligible for the first time since 1997.
The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-4 Big Ten) took a 28-3 halftime lead and held on in an offensive shootout in their final Big Ten contest of the season.
Iowa closes its season next week at Iowa State.
Minnesota fell to 3-7 (1-6), despite outgaining Iowa, 475 yards to 473. The Golden Gophers were paced by Asad Abdul-Khaliq, who complated 20 of 34 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.
McCann completed a nine-play, 65-yard opening drive with a five-yard run to give Iowa a 7-0 lead with 10:25 to go in the first quarter. Jeremy Allen scored on a one-yard toss from McCann five minutes later and rushed in from one yard out with 14 seconds left in the quarter to give the Hawkeyes a three-touchdown lead.
The Gophers added three second-half touchdowns behind Abdul-Khaliq, but their defense could not stop the Hawkeyes, especially on the ground. Iowa finished with 267 yards rushing.