Kirk Cousins had three touchdown passes — two to B.J. Cunningham — as No. 13 Michigan State defeated Iowa 37-21 Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

With the win, Michigan State (8-2) improved to 5-1 in the Big Ten and remains in sole possession of first place in the Legends division, just ahead of Michigan.

Cousins, who threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ come-from-behind victory over Minnesota last week, completed 18 of 31 passes for 260 yards.

Michigan State beat Iowa for the first time in its last three meetings.

The Spartans, who forced three Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) turnovers, took a 31-7 lead into halftime on Cousins’ third TD pass of the first half, a 22-yard strike to Cunningham with 1:21 left in the second quarter.

Le’Veon Bell finished with 112 yards and a touchdown and Cunningham added two scores as the Spartans won for the sixth time in seven games.

Iowa, which had a solid defensive performance in its upset win over then-No. 13 Michigan last week, surrendered more than 20 points for the sixth time this year and gave up 443 yards, including 155 on the ground.

James Vandenberg finished with 262 yards and two touchdowns for the Hawkeyes and Marvin McNutt caught eight passes for 130 yards and a score as Iowa lost for the first time at home this season and for the first time since a 20-17 loss to Ohio State last December.