Florida scored early in the game, with quarterback Chris Leak throwing a 70-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kelvin Kight to take a 7–0 lead. Iowa equalized following a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nathan Chandler to wide receiver Maurice Brown, knotting the score, 7–7.
Early in the second quarter, kicker Nate Kaeding made a 47-yard field goal, to give Iowa a 10–7 lead. Chandler later rushed 5 yards for a touchdown to extend the Hawkeyes' lead to 17–7. Before halftime, Kaeding connected on a 32-yard field goal to increase the lead to 20–7.
Early in the third quarter, Matt Melloy recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for an Iowa touchdown and a 27–7 lead. Florida kicked a 48-yard field goal to pull within 27–10. A Fred Russell touchdown run pushed Iowa's lead to 34–10. Kaeding later connected on his third field goal, this one from 38 yards, increasing the lead to 37–10. Chris Leak's 25-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Baker made the final margin 37–17.