McCaffrey's record-breaking day helps Stanford hammer Iowa in Rose Bowl

2016 began in the same dominant way 2015 ended for Christian McCaffrey, as the Heisman finalist added another record to his prolific season in No. 6 Stanford's 45-16 Rose Bowl win over No. 5 Iowa.

McCaffrey scored two touchdowns and broke Wisconsin's Jared Abbrederis' Rose Bowl record for all-purpose yards set in 2012. The sophomore was unstoppable from the first play of the game, taking a 75-yard reception to the house, setting the tone for the entire contest.

Stanford raced to an early 21-0 lead after one quarter, and stretched that to 38 before the Hawkeyes scored 16 points late to clean up the final tally.

Here's What You Need to Know:

• This was the sixth game of the season that McCaffrey registered at least 300 all-purpose yards, an astonishing feat considering no other FBS player has more than two.
• McCaffrey's 361 all-purpose yards in Friday's game gives him a ridiculous 822 yards in the last two contests.
• The sophomore running back became the first player in Rose Bowl history with 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game.
• McCaffrey's 172 yards on the ground pushed him over the 2,000 mark for the season, becoming the first Stanford player in history to do so.
• Iowa entered with the nation's 11th-ranked rushing defense, holding opponents to 114 yards per game, but were gashed for 207 yards by the Cardinal offense.
• Stanford's front seven was dominant all night on the defensive side of the ball, holding the Hawkeyes to just 51 yards on the ground.
• Kevin Hogan ended his college career in style, throwing for three touchdown passes, including a 42-yard score to Michael Rector on his final pass.

Play of the game

McCaffrey provided highlights throughout the contest, but his best of the bunch was an ankle-breaking 63-yard punt return touchdown, pushing the Stanford lead to 28-0 at the start of the second quarter.

Stanford finishes the season 12-2, and returns McCaffrey for his junior season, one where he will likely be the Heisman Trophy favorite. Despite losing Hogan to graduation, 2016 should be another successful campaign for the Cardinal.

The storybook 2015 season may have ended with a dud for Iowa, but a final record of 12-2 and a Rose Bowl berth was certainly unexpected by even the most loyal Hawkeyes supporter. Iowa avoids both Michigan State and Ohio State again next year in conference play, so a return to the Big Ten title game is not out of the question.