STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Brad Banks threw four touchdown passes Saturday, including a six-yarder to C.J. Jones in the first overtime, as the Iowa Hawkeyes squandered a 22-point lead before escaping with a 42-35 victory over the 12th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams.
Fred Russell carried 35 times for 142 yards and one score for the Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who defeated the Nittany Lions for the third straight season and for the second straight year in overtime.
Penn State (3-1, 1-0) had endured back-to-back losing seasons, but the program appeared to be back on course after opening the year with three straight wins, including a lopsided triumph over Nebraska.
The Nittany Lions dug themselves a deep hole before tying the game on an eight-yard pass from Zack Mills to Bryant Johnson with 80 seconds left.
But Banks, a senior making his first Big Ten Conference start, kept his composure, finding Jones over the middle on the first possession of overtime. It was the second touchdown catch of the day for Jones, who caught seven passes for 46 yards.
Penn State moved to the Iowa five-yard line on its overtime possession before Mills' fourth-down pass under pressure fell incomplete.
Iowa overcame a huge game from Mills, who completed 23 of 44 passes for 400 yards and four scores.
The Hawkeyes led 35-13 early in the fourth quarter and appeared to be on the verge of putting the game way out of reach when Jovon Johnson returned an interception 33 yards to the Penn State one.
But Russell fumbled on the next play, giving the Nittany Lions life and starting their comeback.
Larry Johnson went up the middle for a 36-yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to 35-20.
Following a 12-yard punt by Iowa's David Bradley, the Nittany Lions capitalized with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Mills to Tony Johnson. Holder Chris Ganter ran in on the two-point conversion, cutting the lead to 35-28.
Penn State's defense held and Mills found Bryant Johnson in the back of the end zone for a game-tying touchdown.
