The 1997 Norwest Sun Bowl featured the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Arizona State Sun Devils.
After a scoreless first quarter, Arizona State scored first, with a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Steve Campbell to wide receiver Lenzie Jackson to give ASU an early 7âÂÂ0 lead. Kicker Robert Nycz kicked a 20-yard field goal to increase the lead to 10âÂÂ0.
In the third quarter, running back Michael Martin scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give ASU a 17âÂÂ0 lead. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Randy Reiners threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Richard Carter.
The game was played between the Iowa Hawkeyes from the Big Ten Conference and the Arizona State Sun Devils from the Pac-10 Conference. This was the first overall meeting and first postseason meeting between the programs.
Iowa entered the game with a 7âÂÂ4 record (4âÂÂ4 in conference). After lofty preseason expectations, they finished tied for sixth place in the Big Ten standings. The Hawkeyes went 1âÂÂ2 versus the ranked teams they faced; losing at Ohio State and at Michigan in consecutive weeks before defeating Purdue at Kinnick Stadium.
Arizona entered the game with a 8âÂÂ3 record (6âÂÂ2 in conference). They finished in third place in the Pac-10 Conference standings. The Sun Devils were 3âÂÂ1 against ranked opponents, defeating Miami (FL), Stanford, and Washington State while losing to Washington. They started their season 3âÂÂ2, then won five in a row before finishing the regular season with a loss to rival Arizona.