Evanston, IL -- (Sports Network) - Jake Christensen threw for 299 yards and a touchdown to lead the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 28-17 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats in a Big Ten Conference showdown at Ryan Field.

Christensen completed 21-of-36 passes in the Iowa (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) victory, and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos caught eight balls for 119 yards. Trey Stross grabbed three passes for 91 yards and a score for the Hawkeyes.

Tyrell Sutton ran for 116 yards and a touchdown to lead Northwestern (5-5, 2-4). C.J. Bacher completed 27-of-54 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown, but his three interceptions contributed to the Wildcat loss.

Sutton gave NU an early 7-0 lead on a two-yard touchdown plunge that capped a seven-play, 73-yard opening drive.

The Wildcats took a 14-0 lead later in the same quarter on a two-yard strike from Bacher to Mark Woodsum.

Iowa finally found the end zone in the closing minute of the first half, on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Christensen to Stross.

The Hawkeyes tied the contest at 14 early in the third quarter, on a 16-yard touchdown run by Albert Young.

NU reclaimed the lead midway through the quarter with a 42-yard field goal by Amado Villarreal.

A two-yard scoring plunge by Damian Sims midway through the fourth gave Iowa a 21-17 advantage.

Sims found the end zone again later in the quarter, an eight-yard run that ultimately sealed the Wildcats' fate.

Iowa was never able to get the ground game going, as the Hawkeyes finished with just 70 rushing yards on 34 carries.