San Diego State answered on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Todd Santos to running back Chris Hardy to make it 7–6 Iowa, closing the 1st quarter of scoring.
In the second quarter, Santos fired a 44-yard bomb to Matt Jakson, as SDSU took a 14–7 lead.
Todd Santos threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Monty Gilbreath, giving San Diego State a 21–13 lead at halftime.
San Diego State's kicker Kevin Rahill kicked a 21-yard field goal with 47 seconds left to put the Aztecs up 38–36.
Iowa's Kevin Harmon returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the SDSU 37-yard line.