Isaiah Bowser stood alone in the backfield in Iowa territory, only two yards separating the line of scrimmage from Northwestern’s first-ever Big Ten West title. He took the ball on fourth-and-2 and plowed forward for 4 yards, sealing the game and the division for the Wildcats. It was an improbable moment for Northwestern, and it was an even more improbable moment for Bowser.
For one, Bowser got the ball to finish off the game, not Northwestern’s record-holding quarterback. Plus it was Bowser, thought by many coaches to be a defensive player at the collegiate level, who was in the backfield, receiving his 31st carry of the game.