Iowa beats Minnesota 21-16

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Even a home win over the Big Ten's worst team couldn't come easy for Iowa.

Albert Young rushed for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns, Jake Christensen added 157 yards passing the Hawkeyes became bowl eligible with a 21-16 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

Iowa (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) reclaimed the "Floyd of Rosedale," a bronze pig given annually to the winner, with its sixth victory in seven tries over rival Minnesota (1-10, 0-7).

Iowa had rallied from early 14-point deficits for wins in each of the past two weeks to keep their bowl hopes alive. The Hawkeyes reversed the trend against the Gophers, racing out to a 21-7 lead before nearly giving it away.

Minnesota scored with 1:38 left, and Iowa needed a stop on a 2-point conversion and an onside kick recovery to seal its third straight win.

"We're not playing perfect, but we're playing better. The constant is that the attitude has been good," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "The bottom line is we're executing a little better."

Iowa finishes the season against Western Michigan next week in search of its seventh win, which it will likely need to clinch a bowl bid.