Cats make Big Ten title game

Trey Sermon escapes the tackle of Calvin Bundage during Oklahoma’s victory Saturday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Isaiah Bowser ran for

165 yards and a touchdown and Northwestern upset Iowa 14-10 on Saturday to clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship.

It’s the first Big Ten West division crown for Northwestern, which last won the conference title in 2000.

The Wildcats (6-4, 6-1) now await their opponent for the league title game next month in Indianapolis.

Bennett Skowronek’s acrobatic 32-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter gave the Wildcats a 14-10 lead.

After a first half that yielded just three total points on a field goal from Iowa kicker Miguel Recinos, the scoring ramped up in the second.

Bowser hit a hole for a

34-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game.

After Recinos missed a field goal to respond, Iowa safety Jake Gervase intercepted Clayton Thorson’s pass off a tip.

Iowa, ranked No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings, cashed in just two plays later with Nate Stanley’s 28-yard TD pass to Ihmir Smith-Marsette.

The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth, but Northwestern’s Cameron Ruiz forced Mekhi Sargent to fumble, and the Wildcats jumped on it.

Iowa had one final chance with under two minutes to go, but another fumble by Ivory Kelly-Martin ended its chances.

Stanley threw for

269 yards and a touchdown for Iowa (6-4, 3-4), losers of three straight.

ALONZO ADAMS/AP