Cousins threw interceptions on back-to-back possessions in the first half, with one being returned for a touchdown by cornerback Micah Hyde, and the other leading to an Iowa touchdown to go ahead 23-0.

“When you have an interception and runback for a touchdown, things start to snowball on you,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “We will respond and be ready to play next week and move forward.”

Cousins also was intercepted on the first possession of the third quarter and finished 21-for-29 with 198 yards and a touchdown.

Iowa safety Tyler Sash intercepted Cousins’ first pass, ran 6 yards and pitched it to Hyde, who crossed the field and avoided at least three potential tackles and scored on a 66-yard touchdown return.

On the next possession, MSU was driving when Cousins threw a bad pass that was intercepted at the Iowa 15-yard line and returned to the MSU 43-yard line.

With Iowa pouncing on every opportunity, the Hawkeyes scored on that drive, took a 30-0 halftime lead and gave MSU no chance.

“On those three interceptions, I was trying to do too much,” Cousins said. “Iowa’s defense is a bend-but-don’t-break defense, and when you’re only getting a few yards at a time, and you get a chance to chuck it deep, you always want to try to force it in there. Iowa’s defense got the better of me on that one.”

Cousins hit junior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham for a 6-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to account for MSU’s only score, but he’ll need to get past a poor performance with the Spartans hoping to get back on track next week against Minnesota.

“Turnovers (were) certainly a big key factor in this one. … You can’t shoot yourself in the foot with turnovers and penalties,” offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said. “(Cousins) is a young man that’s very resilient, though.”

Rucker plays

Senior cornerback Chris L. Rucker, who was reinstated to the team Thursday, entered on the third drive of Saturday’s game. However, Rucker didn’t have much of an impact on the outcome of the game. Sophomore cornerback Mitchell White started in place of Rucker and injured freshman Darqueze Dennard.

Rucker was released Thursday from Ingham County Jail after serving eight days for violating his probation.

Dantonio announced Thursday it would be Rucker’s decision on whether or not he would play.

“I’ve focused on that enough now,” Dantonio said after Saturday’s game on whether or not Rucker’s playing was a distraction for the team. “We’re not going to focus on that anymore today.”

Martin doesn’t

Injured junior wide receiver Keshawn Martin dressed but didn’t play Saturday after leaving in the first quarter of last week’s game against Northwestern.

Redshirt freshman Bennie Fowler played well in Martin’s absence, catching three passes for 19 yards and making some difficult grabs.

The Spartans sorely missed Martin’s playmaking ability, however, as Iowa’s pass rush forced quick throws from Cousins.