Iowa Hawkeyes News

With the Irish unable to stop the pass, they can use the returning Michael Floyd to help outscore opponents. Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Tuesday's buzz means to college football. Almost lucky Irish The good news out of South Bend, Ind., on Tuesday? Wide receiver Michael Floyd likely will play this weekend against Navy, his first appearance since Notre Dame's game against Michigan State on Sept. 19. The bad news? He doesn't play defensive back. A healthy Floyd adds more octane to... an already-thriving Irish pass offense and makes them a better bet to win out and reach a BCS bowl at 10-2. But ND's problems come on defense, and Floyd isn't an elixir there. Even with a shutout of Nevada and an impressive effort against Washington State bookending the season, Notre Dame still ranks No. 109 in the nation against the pass. The Irish get run-heavy offenses in their next three games, but Stanford and QB Andrew Luck could feast on them over Thanksgiving weekend out west. Maybe it's time to start cross-training Floyd now. (Just joking, Charlie). Hawkeye magic So what if Iowa's 9-0 run hasn't won over the authors of the Harris Poll? The Hawkeyes seem to do well among hard drives across America. And they've certainly captivated the Big Ten coaches who must deal with them. Last week, Bill Lynch and Indiana fell victim to the latest minor miracle, highlighted by Tyler Sash's quadruple-doink pick six (and some, um, shaky work from the replay booth). "Iowa has something special going right now," Lynch said on a teleconference. "It's hard to put your finger on it." This week, Northwestern gets a chance at stopping Iowa's express ride to the Rose Bowl. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald knows all about amazing seasons and "Team of Destiny" labels. Although he didn't directly link the '09 Hawks to the '95 Big Ten champ Cats he played for, he can relate to the feeling of positive momentum and unexpected national attention. "When you have some success and won the way they have, you kind of feel like you have a little magic going," Fitzgerald said Tuesday. "You get a little mojo and a little confidence from that." A different Alabama Here we go again with the Crimson Tide. They spent all last season undefeated, just like this year, before fading in the fourth quarter of the SEC championship came, then folding in the Sugar Bowl. So why should things be different this year? Depth, says veteran offensive lineman Mike Johnson. He hinted on a teleconference Tuesday that the Tide boasted a terrific 22 starters last year but fell off big-time when a reserve stepped in. Related Links Floyd cleared to play against Navy Hayes: Tide underrated, Hawks overrated Week 10 schedule: Alabama hosts LSU "You saw it in the Utah game," Johnson said, a reference to suspended offensive tackle Andre Smith. "We weren't able to run it out." Alabama exhibited the fruits of Nick Saban's recruiting this season when it absorbed the late September loss of star linebacker Dont'a Hightower (torn ACL). Without him, the Tide allowed fewer than 10 points per game and just three touchdowns overall against four SEC opponents in October.  This story first appeared in Nov. 4's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Sporting News college football expert Matt Hayes projects the BCS bowl games: BCS national championship game: Florida vs. Texas Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Iowa Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Penn State Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. TCU Orange Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Georgia Tech Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.  

Saturday's biggest games turned out to be snoozers, leaving college football without a single play to define the day. But that doesn't mean things were vanilla across the country. As a salute to the day's variety, here's a four-pack of touchdowns that featured something extraordinary in the run, the catch or the bounce of the ball. Example 1: Indiana at Iowa The Score: Hawkeyes safety Tyler Sash picks off Ben Chappell and returns the ball 86 yards for a game-turning touchdown. The Skinny:... Indiana led 21-7 and seemed a lock for at least a field goal at the Hawkeyes' 2-yard line. Chappell took a shotgun snap, and after a play fake, looked to throw right. A blitzing A.J. Edds hit Chappell's arm, squirting the ball into the air and starting the ricochet heard 'round the Big Ten. The pass caromed off defensive tackle Christian Ballard's left hand, then off Hoosiers tackle James Brewer's helmet and back to Chappell's right forearm. It grazed the left shoulder of Edds and ended up in Sash's midsection. He ran untouched, and Iowa took control of the game. "I've never seen a play where Tyler's playing a little video thing," Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters Saturday in Iowa City. "I've never seen it like that." Example 2: Michigan State at Minnesota The Score: Gophers QB Adam Weber threw a 59-yard TD pass that deflected off tight end Nick Tow-Arnett and ended up in the hands of Duane Bennett. more>>

With seven teams still unbeaten and nearly as many intriguing one-loss teams still alive, the prospect of a classic BCS national championship game matchup looms. There's a flip side, though. Check out the BCS standings and you'll notice a handful of non-traditional powers near the top. Yup, the BCS system could spit out a title bout that would infuriate fans and devastate television executives. Here's a look at five title games that -- brace yourselves -- really, truly could happen: 1. Iowa vs.... SEC champ/USC This has a little bit to do with the Hawkeyes and a lot to do with recent history. When folks outside Big Ten country think of the league, Ohio State's title-game losses to SEC teams -- and the Big Ten's annual Rose Bowl pounding against USC -- pop up first. Placing Iowa in the game would produce a double-digit point spread. Not even a continuous loop of Ohio State's Craig Krenzel and Maurice Clarett winning the 2003 Fiesta Bowl would convince the nation Iowa has shot. Heck, even coach Kirk Ferentz is not sure about his squad. "I still have a hard time even picturing us in the top 10," he said on a Tuesday teleconference. The Hawkeyes might deserve a spot in the big game, but it wouldn't make many people happy. 2. TCU vs. Alabama Putting the Frogs against the Tide would throw college football back to the days of Mr. Inside, Knute Rockne and scoreless ties that ended up as all-time great games. Given the two great defenses, Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin would likely dominate the night. Everyone cringes at the thought of a 12-10 or 9-7 outcome on the nation's biggest stage. TCU would sell out against the run, and they have the speed and scheme to slow Mark Ingram. And while Andy Dalton has improved at quarterback, TCU's offense remains a far cry from, say, Texas Tech's. Spare the world this matchup, BCS gods. We beg you. 3. Oregon vs. Oklahoma State With so much football left, don't forget some of the one-loss teams on the fringe of contention now. The Ducks need a Boise State loss to hurdle the Broncos, who beat Oregon in the opener. A 12-1 Cowboys team would challenge for the top two with wins over Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma and possibly Nebraska or Kansas. The game might be fun on the field, but with no major media markets and no familiar personalities, the buildup would be lackluster. This matchup is meant for the Holiday Bowl. 4. Florida vs. Alabama Maybe these will end up being the two best teams in America. Who knows? But college football couldn't handle an all-SEC national championship game that's a rematch of the SEC title game played five weeks earlier. Why should the SEC champion need to beat the loser again? And if they split, why should the second win trump the first? It also wouldn't be fair to the Big Ten, which lost out on an Ohio State-Michigan title game after the 2006 season, in part because of resistance to an intra-conference pairing. America went on to learn quite clearly that Michigan and Ohio State were not the best two teams in the country, after all. Rose Bowl: USC 32, Michigan 18; BCS title game: Florida 41, Ohio State 14 5. Texas vs. Cincinnati If a Big Ten team in the big game would frustrate fans, then a Big East team would horrify them. Again, this is about reputation and perception, not the statistics or the reality of how teams look on the field. But even if the Bearcats go 12-0 with late-season victories over West Virginia (which lost to 5-3 Auburn) and Pittsburgh (which lost to 3-4 N.C. State), seeing Cincy in the title game wouldn't sit well with fans of a one-loss SEC or Pac-10 champ. The Longhorns would face similar scrutiny thanks to a weak nonconference schedule. Its two marquee wins would have come against Sam Bradford-less Oklahoma (for most of the game, at least) and Dez Bryant-less Oklahoma State. Even with two undefeated teams, this matchup would leave most of the country shouting for a playoff. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Forget Oct. 3 when thinking of Chip Kelly.   Sporting News' Derek Samson analyzes what Tuesday's buzz means to college football.     1. Chip for coach of the Year? For most of the nation, the name Chip Kelly means two things — LeGarrette Blount, and losing to Boise State. His 10-month coaching career at Oregon has been defined by Blount's punch and the fallout.   To be fair, let's give as much attention to the Boise game and its fallout. Sure, the Ducks stunk on the blue turf, needing... 37-plus minutes to get a first down in Sept. 3's 19-8 loss. But Kelly's team hasn't lost since, and it could sneak into the national championship chase with a win over Southern Cal on Saturday night.   Even without Blount, Oregon averages better than 200 rushing yards per game. The defense, led by star pass rusher Kenny Rowe, is among the top 20 nationally in yards allowed and scoring. And the special teams rock as well, with freshman Kenjon Barner emerging on kick returns.   The developments have left Kelly a coach of the year candidate and might add a third prong to his legacy: Pac-10 champion.   2. Lectures with Leach Maybe Texas Tech coach Mike Leach isn't getting it done on the field. Thank goodness he continues to deliver in front of a microphone.   Frustrated by his team's 4-3 start, Leach has twice pinned some of the blame on his players' "fat, little girlfriends." If that's not enough, he spent parts of his weekly press conference in Lubbock with a mini-thesis on the movie "Dumb and Dumber." (Aside: All this is highlighted on the weekly segment "Free Speech with Mike Leach" aired by KCBD, the NBC affiliate in Lubbock, Texas).   Need more? There's footage circling the Internet of Leach giving banking advice to students as part of a deal with Vista Bank. The hits keep coming from Leach; somehow, it doesn't matter so much if the wins follow. Just keep talking, Mike. Please keep talking.   3. Big Ten's bad news Word that Iowa RB Adam Robinson (ankle) and Minnesota WR Eric Decker (foot) likely will miss the rest of the regular season hurt the Big Ten on many levels.   Related Links Three-team race down the stretch in Pac-10 Conference Call: Oregon-USC is Saturday Legends Poll: USC No. 4, Oregon No. 10 Robinson, the Hawkeyes' leading rusher, leaves Kirk Ferentz with two healthy tailbacks, including true freshman Brandon Wegher. "In the backfield, it's not a real crowded room right now," Ferentz told reporters at a press conference in Iowa City. The loss certainly dents Iowa's aspirations of staying undefeated and winning the Big Ten outright. A Hawkeyes' loss also hurts the chances to the conference again placing two teams in BCS bowls.   Decker, meanwhile, ranks far and away as the Gophers' MVP and would have contended for Big Ten player of the year honors. "He's the most complete wide receiver in college football today," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said Tuesday on a teleconference.   Brewster said there's no obvious replacement for Decker, who is a Biletnikoff Award candidate. The Gophers offense, already inconsistent at best, will approach punch-less without him.   This story appears in Oct. 28's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.   Derek Samson is a senior editor for Sporting News. Email him at dsamson@sportingnews.com.more>>

With a game at Ohio State looming, Iowa is a long shot to stay undefeated. Seven undefeated teams remain in Division I-A, and ranking them is tougher than differentiating shades of black. Sporting News conducted a brief statistical analysis Tuesday of the perfect teams. The breakdown included a look at statistical categories that coaches for years have deemed most important to winning. Criteria included third-down performance, turnover margin, run defense and red-zone efficiency. A... strength-of-schedule component was also included. The results provided a clear ranking of the Magnificent Seven, from best to worst by the numbers. Drum roll, please … 1. Texas (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) Why here: The nation's top rush defense and third-down defense trumps a shaky schedule. UT also leads the nation in scoring offense. Odds of remaining undefeated: 3-to-1. Oklahoma State has only beaten the 'Horns twice—1944 and 1997. Next game: Saturday, at Oklahoma State 2. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) Why here: Tide have the nation's No. 2 run defense, and their road/neutral wins have come against Virginia Tech (No. 12 Sagarin), Kentucky (No. 21) and Ole Miss (No. 35). Odds of remaining undefeated: 5-to-1. Auburn, in a charged Iron Bowl, could play spoiler the day after Thanksgiving. Next game: Nov. 7, vs. LSU 3. Iowa (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) Why here: A plus-11 turnover margin is tied for best among the unbeatens. "Coaches talk about not turning the ball over and mistakes to cost you a game," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said on a teleconference. "You see it with them." Odds of remaining undefeated: 15-to-1. Hawkeyes haven't won at Ohio State since 1991. Next game: Saturday, vs. Indiana 4. TCU (7-0, 3-0 MWC) Why here: Blasting BYU 38-7 for a fourth road win against a top-70 Sagarin team impressed the Mountain West. "The No. 1 word is surprised," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said on a teleconference. "I was surprised the scoring difference was what it was." Odds of remaining undefeated: 3-to-1. Outside of Utah, remaining opponents have combined 10-19 record. Next game: Saturday, vs. UNLV 5. Florida (7-0, 5-0 SEC) Why here: Tim Tebow, even in an inconsistent, concussion-stained year, helps a bunch. Too many turnovers and rough times in the red zone bump the Gators to this spot. Odds of remaining undefeated: 4-to-1. Win at South Carolina, and the Gators go to Atlanta with a perfect record. Next game: Saturday, vs. Georgia at Jacksonville 6. Cincinnati (7-0, 3-0 Big East) Why here: Bearcats score on more than 85 percent of red-zone chances. But a so-so run defense, ranked 40th in the country, will haunt them down the stretch. Odds of remaining undefeated: 10-to-1. Big East buzz already promoting Cincy at Pitt for a league title on Dec. 5. Watch out for West Virginia in mid-November. Next game: Saturday, at Syracuse 7. Boise State (7-0, 2-0 WAC) Why here: Win over Oregon keeps these guys afloat in the national title race. Plus-9 turnover margin and No. 17 rush defense help, but WAC competition drags down BSU. Odds of remaining undefeated: 2-to-1. Bowl-bound Nevada and Idaho both come to the blue turf. Next game: Saturday, vs. San Jose State. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Each week, Sporting News' Matt Hayes ranks the Division I-A conferences and the teams within each league. Conf. rankings No. 1 Pac-10 No. 2 SEC No. 3 ACC No. 4 Big East No. 5 Big Ten No. 6 Big 12 Nos. 7-11 5. Big Ten 1. Iowa 2. Penn State 3.... Michigan State 4. Ohio State 5. Wisconsin 6. Michigan 7. Minnesota 8. Northwestern 9. Purdue 10. Indiana 11. Illinois Rising Penn State: Lions break Michigan's mental hold; headed toward third BCS bowl in five seasons. Falling Illinois: AD Ron Guenther says coach Ron Zook will return for 2010. So will confounding losses. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Saturday night's high-tension, higher-drama Iowa-Michigan State game ended with both teams' cheerleaders in tears. The see-saw last few minutes concluded with Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi's 7-yard touchdown pass to Marvin McNutt on the final play from scrimmage. After the No. 7 Hawkeyes' 15-13 victory, several of the winners broke down that final snap: The lead-up A touchdown and extra point with 1:37 left—the first such score for either team—put the Spartans ahead 13-9 and... brought bedlam to a near-sellout crowd at Spartan Stadium. The deficit wasn't the lone thing that made Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz anxious; his squad skipped its usual hurry-up offense work at the end of Thursday's practice. "The next two-minute drill we might do is next spring," he said after the game, "because that was the best two-minute drill we've had." But how would it end? Stanzi had led the undefeated Hawkeyes to the MSU 7-yard line before throwing three incomplete passes. With two seconds remaining, and fourh-and-goal ahead, Ferentz called his final timeout. Pre-snap stuff Receiver Marvin McNutt jogged to the huddle during the break and found offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe, who calls plays from the sidelines. McNutt had run fade routes against man coverage on the previous plays but figured he could beat his defender inside on the biggest snap of the season. "I could win on the slant," McNutt said afterward. "(O'Keefe) trusted me enough to call the play where I could be isolated with the slant." The Spartans returned to the field and lined up with three receivers, including McNutt wide left, and star tight end Tony Moeaki on the left. Then came maybe the key move: Stanzi sent Moeaki in motion across the formation. Linebacker Eric Gordon followed, leaving Spartans corner Chris L. Rucker alone with McNutt on the outside. "They did what we wanted them to do," Stanzi said. The play From under center, Stanzi took a three-step drop and looked left. He would never take his eyes from McNutt. The sophomore receiver started his route with a stutter step, then crossed in front of Rucker and headed inside. The offensive line picked up MSU's blitz, giving Stanzi the second he needed. "It felt like the slowest play ever," McNutt said. Stanzi's pass found McNutt's midsection, and the converted quarterback cradled the ball as Rucker trailed by a half step. And that raucous crowd fell almost silent in an instant. "I didn't see anything about the play. My face was buried in the dirt," offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga said. "But I couldn't hear the fans. That's when I knew something good happened." The aftermath As the disbelieving Spartans staggered to their locker room, Iowa's players celebrated in the end zone, then sprinted down field for an a cappella version of the school fight song with their fans. The score kept the Hawkeyes alone atop the Big Ten standings, made them 8-0 for the first time in school history and maintained their spot in the national title chase. It added another incredible finish to what's been a wild season. "We've already had a couple," Ferentz said. "Hopefully, we're not using them all up." Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

Jeff D'Alessio, Sporting News More polls: AP | SN | Coaches They're No. 1 in the Big Ten, off to their best start ever and owners of the second-longest winning streak in Division I-A, behind only Florida. So why do no Legends Poll voters have Iowa's 8-0 Hawkeyes in their top five? Why don't any of the 17 coaching icons consider Kirk Ferentz's history-making team a threat to play for the national championship? "There's not much overall... speed or athleticism there," said former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, who had Iowa No. 9 on his ballot Sunday. "They remind me of Ohio State from 2002—they're winning ugly," said ex-Ohio State coach John Cooper, who put the Hawkeyes eighth. The Hawkeyes made the biggest jump in this week's Legends top 10—from No. 9 to 7 after their latest great escape, at Michigan State. After a one-week stint at No. 2, Florida reclaimed the No. 1 spot from Alabama, which fell to No. 3 after edging Tennessee, 12-10. Texas is No. 2, USC No. 4, LSU No. 5. Here's what else was on the Legends' minds heading into the final Saturday of October: — Texas' case for No. 1. Come Sunday, don't be surprised if the Legends Poll has a third different No. 1 in three weeks. The Longhorns received more first-place votes (seven) than the Gators (six) or Crimson Tide (four). They trail Florida by just four points. Texas' toughest remaining regular-season test comes Saturday—at Oklahoma State, the only other Big 12 team unbeaten in conference play. Slocum, Cooper, Pat Dye and LaVell Edwards all like the Longhorns. "I just think they have a better defense," Edwards said. — Florida vs. Alabama. Who's No. 1 in the SEC? Depends which Legend you ask. Cooper: "Alabama—until (Saturday). Tennessee should have won. The Alabama quarterback was awful. They're too one dimensional. I'd put Florida a little bit ahead of them." Dye: "Neither one has been impressive offensively recently. I like Alabama a little bit better. They have a little stronger defense, although not as fast as Florida's defense." Dye wouldn't rule out a Georgia upset of the Gators on Saturday in Jacksonville—especially if gimpy UF linebacker Brandon Spikes can't play. Both Cooper and Slocum think a Nov. 7 LSU win over Alabama is more likely. — The best non-BCS team. That distinction belongs to TCU, which climbed one spot to No. 6 after a 38-7 road rout of BYU. Boise State, also 7-0, fell four spots to No. 9 despite throttling Hawaii, 54-9. "TCU made a statement," Slocum said. "Beating BYU on the road makes them a legitimate top 10 team." For much more from the Legends, including complete ballots from all 17 coaches, log on to www.legendschannel.com. School Points Record 1. Florida (6) 411 7-0 2. Texas (7) 407 7-0 3. Alabama (4) 406 8-0 4. USC 372 6-1 5. LSU 339 6-1 6. TCU 329 7-0 7. Iowa 311 8-0 8. Cincinnati 309 7-0 9. Boise State 297 7-0 10. Oregon 268 6-1 11. Penn State 261 7-1 12. Georgia Tech 243 7-1 13. Oklahoma State 222 6-1 14. Ohio State 187 6-2 15. Virginia Tech 180 5-2 16. West Virginia 154 6-1 17. Houston 139 6-1 18. Miami 125 5-2 19. Pitt 124 7-1 20. Utah 107 6-1 21. South Carolina 81 6-2 22. Oklahoma 65 4-3 23. Mississippi 46 5-2 24. Arizona 44 5-2 25. Clemson 25 4-3 Also receiving votes: BYU 20, Kansas 20, Wisconsin 11, Notre Dame 10, Michigan State 5, Oregon State 3, Stanford 2, Cal 1, Navy 1. Dropped out: BYU, Kansas, South Florida, Texas Tech.more>>

Surprised by finish? Ricky Stanzi says Iowa always practice its two-minute drill. The numbers say Ricky Stanzi played awful football Saturday night — 11-of-27 passing, 138 yards and no touchdowns until the final play of the game. But that pass and the drive that led to it made Iowa's junior quarterback a hero in the Hawkeyes' 15-13 victory over Michigan State. Stanzi discussed the 70-yard winning march and the night overall with reporters, including Sporting News' Dave Curtis, after the... game:   Sporting News: Take us through that last play. What did you see? Ricky Stanzi: It's something we've worked on in the past, and we were really confident with it in that situation. (Offensive coordinator Ken) O'Keefe felt confident, the receivers felt confident. Obviously, (WR Marvin McNutt) did a good job getting open, and the O-line did a great job protecting.   SN: What made everything work on that drive? RS: The key thing on two-minute drives, first, it's good communication. The O-line did a great job with that. We knew what we were doing. And their protection was giving us a chance to hit some bigger plays downfield, so we could move in chunks rather than hitting those quick hitches and not getting in the position we needed to be.   SN: Did you say anything to the team before the drive? RS: No, we didn't have any clichéd speeches or anything. We practice our two-minute drill every week. I'm sure every team does, and it's important that you get it in. We knew we had a chance. We had a timeout, and if we were able to complete some big plays, we could do it. We knew we had to execute the first play and after that, go play-by-play and don't worry too far down the road. Just keep the chains moving. That was the biggest key.   Related Links Curtis: Iowa's wild ride won't end in BCS title game Recap: Iowa 15, Michigan State 13 Week 8 scoreboard: recap all the action SN: Is this the craziest game you've played at any level? RS: Definitely. It was a very physical game. The defense and special teams kept us in it, like they always do. They're a very good ballclub, and we knew they hit hard and execute well. It was one of those games where you kind of grind it out, and then we had some crazy things go on at the end. It really comes down to the offense sticking together. Same with the defense. They bail us out so many times. This was our chance to sort of respond and bail them out of a little bit of a tough situation that they got in. The trick play, that's kind of a freak shot. But it happens.   SN: What's going through your mind after they take the lead late? RS: I was thinking before we went out for the two-minute drive, this is what you want to do. You're obviously nervous. But at the same time, hey, it's an all or nothing shot. You've got to go down and make plays, take some risks. I wasn't worried about the outcome. I was just worried about the play I was going to call and making sure everybody heard it. But afterwards, it was great to see the team so excited, and it was great to win this one for Coach (Kirk) Ferentz.    more>>

Enjoy it while it lasts, Hawkeyes: There's no room for you in the nation's elite. EAST LANSING, Mich. — First the blocked field goals in the opener, then the comeback in the Happy Valley rain. Now add The Play — Ricky Stanzi to Marvin McNutt — to an Iowa Hawkeyes season that makes them this year's team of destiny.   Iowa 15, Michigan State 13 goes down among the most thrilling finishes anyone in Spartan Stadium on Saturday night will ever experience. But the final score has a more pressing... meaning. It kept the Hawkeyes undefeated, among the nation's top 10 and thinking that this season could end with a chance at a championship bigger than the Big Ten.   "Most definitely," Iowa running back Adam Robinson said. "You always have that feeling in the back of your mind, of where this is all going to go. And how this might end for us."   If only Robinson were a realist. Pardon the youngster, he's but a freshman. He's wrapped up in the litany of things that have fallen for Iowa in 2009: Heck, how many teams fall behind on a touchdown set up by a hook-and-lateral, yet still rally to win the game?   Yet the Hawks' 8-0 record, and their crazy comebacks, and their road success (four wins over teams with a combined 21-9 record) guarantee them nothing on the national scene.   Most years, Iowa's ability to endure a 12-game schedule and stay unbeaten would be enough to squeeze into the national championship game. Just two years, a two-loss LSU team met one-loss Ohio State in the BCS title game.   But this year, there's no room for Iowa in the nation's elite. The SEC is sending a team to the national championship game. Texas looks to have righted itself, and with much of the Big 12 playing Sun Belt-level football, the Longhorns can make reservations for the title game, too.   Don't even bother with the debate, the matching of opponents' Sagarin ratings and the strengths of conferences. As magical as Iowa's ride has been, the ceiling has been established. To answer Robinson's pondering, the Hawkeyes will do no better than a Jan. 1 game in the Rose Bowl.   Feel free to blame the system or to argue until your cheeks turn scarlet (and gray) that these Hawkeyes are being punished for the poor postseason play of their Big Ten peers. Or take the approach Iowa's players embraced here after their win.   Related Links Q&A: Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi Recap: Iowa 15, Michigan State 13 Week 8 scoreboard: Get the results We can't control the rest of the country. We're just enjoying what we've got going.   "We don't compare ourselves to other teams," defensive end Adrian Clayborn said. "They do what they do. We do what we do."   If the Hawkeyes keep doing what they're doing, they'll earn Big Ten championship rings and a permanent place in school lore. They might get another spot in history, too — next to Auburn's 2004 team as a perfect, BCS conference squad that didn't get a chance to play for it all.   That's an issue for December, at least to these guys. They're too busy providing another heart-stopping Saturday for their fans. And if destiny for them ends up nothing more than that, they say they're fine with it.   At least for now.      more>>

Time: 7 p.m. ET Saturday TV: Big Ten Network Line: Iowa by 1 The Big Ten for years has fought a stereotype fostered by the rest of the country. And yes, there's more excitement in the conference than its plodding, run-between-the-tackles, low-scoring reputation indicates. Yet Saturday, in the league's game of the week and one of the country's most significant matchups, all those outdated characteristics return to the forefront. No. 6 Iowa's visit to Michigan State features two inconsistent... offenses, two improving defenses, and major influence on who earns the Big Ten's automatic berth to a BCS bowl. Defense and special teams have carried the Hawkeyes to a 7-0 start and their place as one of the nation's surprise teams. Iowa enters the weekend plus-11 in turnover margin—their 22 takeaways ranks second in the nation to Ohio's 23. Defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Broderick Binns join star safety Tyler Sash to lead a group with a familiar scheme and familiar results. "What you see is what you get," MSU coach Mark Dantonio said of Iowa's defense this week on a teleconference. "They're not going to do an overabundance of things to try to confuse you. You have to beat them." So far, no one has, though several opponents have come close. Iowa rallied from 10 down in the second and needed two late blocked field goals to hold off I-AA Northern Iowa, which lost to Southern Illinois last week. Penn State jumped to a 10-0 lead on the Hawkeyes before another Iowa comeback, highlighted by Clayborn's blocked punt-turned touchdown. Last week, Wisconsin scored the first 10 points in Madison. Iowa shut out the Badgers for the game's final 38 minutes and snagged a 20-10 victory to remain undefeated and in line for its first piece of the Big Ten title since 2004. The Hawkeyes' performance and record have led fans and analysts to anoint the team as a national championship contender. But those thoughts haven't come up much among the players and coaches. "It's really early in the season," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said on the teleconference. "That's my thinking now. Pressure for us is just to do well this week." Michigan State won't be the most talented team on the Hawkeyes' schedule this year. But perhaps no team has encountered Iowa with such a positive vibe around its program. Sparty struggled through September, with last-minute losses to Central Michigan and Notre Dame leading to a 1-3 start. An overtime win over Michigan followed, kick-starting the three-game win streak MSU carries into Saturday night. Like with the Hawkeyes, defense has carried the Spartans of late. MSU has allowed 16 points per game over the past three games, and last week kept Northwestern to fewer than three yards per carry. Linebacker Greg Jones leads the teams in tackles and sacks, and this week Dantonio compared him with NFL star Julian Peterson and former OSU linebacker Matt Wilhelm. "Greg has the ability to get off blocks and move," he said. "He can make you miss in a hole and make the tackle. He does things very well that I haven't seen from many linebackers." Defense should dominate Saturday night. And those units, more than any, will help dictate this year's Big Ten champ. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>