The Iowa Hawkeyes played in the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time on Dec. 5, going toe-to-toe with the Michigan State Spartans for four quarters in front of thousands of vocal fans in black and gold. Iowa grabbed the lead early in the fourth quarter following an 85-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Beathard to Tevaun Smith, but MSU's 22-play drive late in the game proved to be the difference in a 16-13 defeat.

Despite the loss, the Hawkeyes represented themselves well and earned a berth in the 2016 Rose Bowl. Iowa, which has not played in "The Granddaddy of Them All" since 1991, will face the Stanford Cardinal, champions of the Pac-12 Conference, on New Year's Day. So, as we wait for 2016 to arrive, take a moment to relive the intense title game through the images above.