There was nothing especially sexy about it.

Quarterback Rashard Casey, known for firing passes like speeding bullets, rifled an attempt to his favorite target. Tight end Tony Stewart, known for his sure hands, bobbled the football.

And it fell into Ryan Hansen's hands.

"I was just going to make the tackle," Hansen said matter of factly. "And then the ball came in the air. I just had the instincts to grab it."

People might say otherwise after the magazine named Hansen as the Sexiest Athlete in America in this week's edition. His profile on Page 126 of the Iowa media guide as a nine-game starter and Academic All-Big Ten selection pales in comparison to his profile in the magazine on Page 102.

"It was kind of an eventful week," Hansen said with a smile, "but a good way to end it."

But there was nothing sexy about the way Hansen's teammates raced to the 14-yard line as the defensive back lay on the Beaver Stadium grass and Beaver Stadium hushed.

A streak of white and yellow piled on Hansen as he clutched the football and the Nittany Lions began their slow ascent toward the tunnel, realizing they had lost and would not compete in the postseason.

"It felt great, but it hurt, man," Hansen said. "You get a lot of stuff twisted up in there."

But as the Hawkeyes parted and walked to the small Iowa contingent in the stands, Hansen rose to his feet, clutched the football in his right land and shouted, "Whoo," which echoed throughout the northeast corner of Beaver Stadium.

Iowa was jubilant in the locker room. They sang "Iowa Fight Song." They danced "The Hokey Pokey." And Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said: "Ryan Hansen is sexy as hell."

"I don't want anyone to get the wrong opinion of me, but I'm going to vote for Ryan Hansen in that poll they took," Ferentz said later to reporters. "I'm with them on that one. Boy, what a great play, and what a great ending."

But the play had humble beginnings. With Iowa holding a 26-23 advantage after Hansen's high school teammate, Nate Kaeding, booted a 26-yard field goal, Iowa stood in basic coverage as Penn State took over on the 25-yard line.

Stewart went in motion, and Iowa dropped into "Cover Three." Casey took the snap from Joe Iorio, and dropped into the pocket. Stewart raced ahead by the right hash mark and curled. Casey fired it as he was hit.

You know the rest.

"I was just going to make the tackle and the ball came to me," Hansen said. "We were just lucky."

"That was a real lucky catch he made at the end," tight end John Gilmore said. "It was like an early Christmas gift."

But no one was more disappointed than Stewart, who felt like he had given the game away.

"I look at myself as a clutch guy," he said. "It was a clutch situation, and I just didn't get it done."

Lucky or not, Hansen did. He made four tackles on the day and broke up three passes. None bigger than that last one.

"He's the man," Iowa center A.J. Blazek said. "He's done a great job with that defense. He's been a leader. He plays with heart and gives it everything he's got."