The Iowa Hawkeyes finishe regular season 10-2, 6-2 in the Big Ten for '09, what next?

The Iowa Hawkyeyes (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) keep Floyd south for winter for the eighth time in nine seasons with a 12-0 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten) at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. Could a Fiesta be on the horizon for the Iowa Hawkeyes? Time will tell.

Bowl predictions: Iowa, 3 others battling for two BCS spots - Gazetteonline

The Hawkeyes are 11Th in the BCS bowl currently, after Week 12. The AP and Coaches polls rank Iowa 13Th. Latest college football rankings and polls

How would cidsports rank the Top 25 after Week 12?

1. Florida (11-0, 8-0 SEC)
2. Texas (11-0, 7-0 Big 12)
3. Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC)
4. TCU (11-0, 7-0 MWC)
5. Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0 Big East)
6. Boise State (11-0, 6-0 WAC)
7. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1 ACC)
8. Ohio State (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
9. Oregon (9-2, 7-1 Pac 10)
10. Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0 Big East)
11. Iowa (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
12. Penn State (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
13. Oklahoma State (9-2, 6-1 Big 12)
14. Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2 ACC)
15. LSU (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
16. Oregon State (8-3, 6-2 Pac 10)
17. Clemson (8-3, 6-2 ACC)
18. Miami-FL (8-3, 5-3 ACC)
19. BYU (9-2, 6-1 MWC)
20. Utah (9-2, 6-1 MWC)
21. USC (7-3, 4-3 Pac 10)
22. California (8-3, 5-3 Pac 10)
23. Houston (9-2, 5-2 C-USA)
24. North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
25. tie Nebraska (8-3, 5-2 Big 12)
    tie Mississippi (8-3, 4-3 SEC)

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Can Iowa get to a BCS at-large bowl bid with win over Minnesota on Senior Day 2009?

The Iowa Hawkeyes have played some outstanding football in 2009, despite detractors nationally in the media over the course of the 2009 season. Iowa (9-2, 5-2 in the Big Ten) will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5, 3-4 in the Big Ten) for the annual battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy at Kinnick Stadium. It's a 11 a.m. kickoff on ESPN.

• Seniors remain resilient - UI The Daily Iowan


• Iowa football: Hawkeyes will settle for any kind of win vs. Gophers - DesMoinesRegister.com


• Iowa, ISU still look good in bowl picture - Spencer Daily Reporter


• Minnesota Coach Tim Brewster’s memory is pink and hazy - Gazetteonline
  
  Our prediction for today's battle:

Iowa Hawkeyes 36

Minnesota Golden Gophers 18

Look for Floyd of Rosedale to remain in his southern home for another year!

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Congratulations to Coach Todd Lickliter and the Iowa Basketball team

The Iowa Hawkeyes (1-2) get first win of the 2009-10 basketball season on Friday night, with a 68-46 home win over Bowling Green.

Iowa claims first win of season - Quad City Times
"Eventually, I knew the shots would start to fall," Gatens said, referring to his 19-percent shooting in the Iowa basketball team's first two games. ...
Men's basketball: Hawkeyes cruise to first victory of season - DesMoinesRegister.com
Hawkeyes await shooting thaw - Burlington Hawk Eye

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Can #10 Iowa 'Just Do It' today in the Horseshoe vs. #11 Ohio State?

ESPN's College Game Day, the National media, the NFL on Fox, the Buckeye nation ...

They will all say 'no'.

#10 Iowa at #11 Ohio State in the Horseshoe on ABC/ESPN at 2:30 pm CT.

Who would have believed it at the beginning of the season? Where's Penn State or Michigan State in the Big Ten Conference title race?

Of course, Michigan State and Northwestern don't face the Buckeyes in 2009.

Iowa certainly has been tested all season and enters the game 9-1, 5-1 in the Big Ten. This is not a Ohio State coach Jim Tressel's BCS title bound or contending type team. They lost at home to a 2-loss USC team, lead by a true frosh. They were taken down on the road early in the Big Ten at Purdue, who is coached by a first year head coach.

Iowa has a huge test today. They don't get to take it at full strength. They debut a redshirt freshman at quarterback in his first start. It's truly a David vs. Goliath game for Iowa at Ohio State.

Just Do It Iowa!

Pick: Iowa 18, Ohio State 13

If true, the Hawkeyes, not the Buckeyes will be heading to the Rose Bowl this season.

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What the AP has to say about this week's game:

No. 15 Iowa (9-1) at No. 10 Ohio State (8-2), 3:30 p.m.
(ABC)

Line: Ohio State by 14.

Series Record: Ohio State leads 44-14-3.

Last Meeting: 2006, Ohio State, 38-17.

What's at Stake

Pretty simple, really: The Big Ten's automatic Bowl Championship
Series berth in the Rose Bowl. The winner will also be assured of at least a
share of the conference title with a one-game lead with one game left (Iowa
hosts Minnesota, Ohio State is at Michigan). Both teams are coming off emotional
games, the Buckeyes winning 24-7 at Penn State and the Hawkeyes falling for the
first time this season at home against Northwestern, 17-10.

Key Matchup

Iowa QB James Vandenberg vs Ohio State's defensive line. All
season long, DTs Doug Worthington and Todd Denlinger and DEs Thaddeus Gibson and
Cameron Heyward have applied heat. With Vandenberg making his first career start
in relief of injured Ricky Stanzi (ankle), those four will try to harass
Vandenberg. How the youngster — and his line and offensive coaches — handle it
will determine the outcome.

Players to watch

Iowa: DEs Adrian Clayborn and Broderick Binns can pen in Ohio
State QB Terrelle Pryor if they keep him off the edge. MLB Pat Angerer will
likely have a few collisions with Pryor too. RB Brandon Wegher must consistently
gain yards to wear down Buckeyes defense and keep ball away from the offense. TE
Tony Moeaki and WR Derrell Johnson-Kouliano need to keep defense honest to keep
pressure off Vandenberg.

Ohio State: Pryor is coming off a homecoming at Penn State that
was a huge success. No room for a letdown here. K Devin Barclay hasn't faced a
must-make FG since taking over for the injured Aaron Pettrey (knee). Can RBs Dan
Herron and Brandon Saine run against Iowa's stout defense?

Facts & Figures

Ohio State has won 10 of the last 11 meetings by an average
score of 34-17. ... Iowa has won four games by three or fewer points for the
first time in program history. ... Don't expect much scoring: Only a reviewed
(and still debated) Penn State rushing touchdown last week prevented the
Buckeyes from their fourth shutout of the year. Seven of Iowa's opponents have
scored 17 or fewer points. ... Iowa won 13 straight games before last week's
loss, its longest since a 20-game streak from 1920-1923. ... The Buckeyes can
clinch a share of their fifth straight Big Ten title, a feat accomplished only
twice before. Ohio State won six in a row (1972-77) and Michigan five
consecutive (1988-92). ... The Hawkeyes have won their last six road
games.

Tough day for this Iowan: the Hawkeyes fall in Football, later the U.S. House passes Health Care bill

Iowa 10

Northwestern 17

Final

The Hawkeyes lose four turnovers in the second quarter and QB Ricky Stanzi to injury to eventually fall to the Wildcats 10-17 at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The beginning looked good, as Iowa opened up with a 10-0 lead. But, instead of taking what the defense would give, short passes, the Hawkeyes were forced to punt, then turned the ball over, and eventually allowed Northwestern to take full control of the game with ball control, field position and mistakes by the Hawkeyes.

‘Cost us a TD and a QB’ - The Gazette

IOWA CITY — On Ricky Stanzi’s right, Iowa had a tackle, tight end and an H-back. Then, the ball was snapped...

Cidsports: Sadly, the tight end and H-Back may have gave away the play with the
pre-snap conversation!

Northwestern 17, Iowa 10: The Fifth Quarter - DesMoinesRegister.com
Iowa players said after Saturday's 17-10 loss that the redshirt freshman from Keokuk had few to no game reps with the No. 1 offense. On the bright side, ...
Final: Northwestern 17, Iowa 10 - ESPN
Big Ten: Iowa's perfect season ruined by Northwestern - Los Angeles Times
Northwestern topples No. 8 Iowa 17-10 - Chicago Tribune

Later on Saturday, the U.S. House passed a revised H.R. 3200 by a vote of "220 to 215 vote on HR 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act, was taken late Saturday evening, and fell largely along party lines, although 39 Democrats voted no and one Republican – Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana – voted yes, according to C-SPAN."

The country has been hit by a “difficult economic shock” over the last year.
He said huge government spending efforts like the stimulus bill haven't helped,
and said the government was on an “unsustainable” course - Rep. John
Boehner (R-Ohio), the House minority leader

House passes health care reform bill Saturday - Lake County News - Elizabeth Larson
A summary of HR 3962 provided by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce states that HR 3962 would include sliding scale affordability credits, ...

When the smoke cleared last night in the House of Representatives, the score
was Speaker Pelosi 220 and the American People 215 - The Examiner

President lies and Pelosi swears to it. Illegal aliens get benefits in ... - The Examiner
It is also worth noting that in its preliminary score of HR 3200, CBO found that in 2019 there would be “about 17 million nonelderly residents uninsured ...

In its preliminary score of H.R. 3962, the Congressional Budget Office noted
that, in 2019 there would be “about 18 million nonelderly residents uninsured
(nearly one third of whom would be unauthorized immigrants).” Thus, unless the
number of illegal immigrants is projected to be fewer than 6 million individuals
in 2019—nearly half the illegal immigrants currently estimated to be in the
U.S.—the CBO score presumes illegals would have health coverage, raising further
questions as to whether or not said coverage would be taxpayer-funded - The
Examiner

Iowans in the Second District re-elected Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) in November 2008. He was among the 220 House members who vote for the bill. His opponent in November 2008, Dr. Marrianette Miller-Meeks does not support this type of Health Care Reform. Dr. Miller-Meeks has been busy at Tea Parties and at Health Care Forums discussing how health care reform should be shaped.

Loebsack pleased with vote on health care bill - Burlington Hawk Eye
"A lot of things, we've actually improved since it was (the earlier) HR 3200." Among the improvements are the provisions Loebsack and his fellow Iowa ...

Tough Saturday for Hawkeye fans and those concerned about the direction Health Care Reform is taking in Washington D.C. QB Ricky Stanzi joins RB Adam Robinson and OL Dace Richardson with ankle injuries and likely the rehab room for the rest of the regular season.

The Hawkeyes will face a tough road in Columbus next Saturday for the Big Ten title and the right to represent the Big Ten Conference in the Rose Bowl. A win by Iowa over Ohio State, which would be the first win for the Hawkeyes in Columbus, since 1991, would clinch the Big Ten tie breaker and the bid for the Rose Bowl.

On the Health Care Reform front, taxpayers and Americans will face a tough battle as the Health Care debate moves the U.S. Senate, where hopefully long-term impact and fallout from the House plan will be thoughtfully debated and overturned.

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Iowa Football: Hawks look to get to 10-0 vs. Northwestern on ESPN at 11 am

The Iowa Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) host the Northwestern Wildcats (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, in front of a national audience on ESPN. The game is a 11 am Central Time kickoff.

Northwestern-Iowa Preview

He's done a great job of leading our football team." Senior quarterback Mike Kafka has done the same for Northwestern, leading the Big Ten in passing yards ... - ESPN

The Spotlight Dance — Northwestern - Gazette Online

Iowa football: Hawkeyes hope for better special teams play - DesMoinesRegister.com

Previewing the Hawkeyes - WNUR Sports

The Hawkeyes last win over Northwestern was a 62-10 win during Iowa's last and only 8-0 Big Ten run in 2002. The Wildcats have been a thorn for coach Kirk Ferentz, who is 4-4 as the Iowa head coach in this series. The Wildcats have won two straight in Iowa City and 3 of the past 4 in the series.

The Hawkeyes, #4 in the BCS, look to continue their historical run looking to get to 10-0 for the first time in the school's history. Iowa has the second longest FBS wining streak at 13, sandwiched in between #1 Florida and #3 Texas, in the latest CIDsports rankings.

Keys to the Game:

1. Line of scrimmage - who runs the ball effectively and who is able to get a pass rush/pressure going
2. Turnovers - Iowa's defeat at Kinnick in '08 to the Wildcats was fueled by 5 Hawkeye turnovers. Iowa was a -3 vs. IU last week, but won 42-24 any how
3. Special teams and field position
4. Red Zone production
5. Coaching

Prediction:

Iowa 31
Northwestern 20

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The Final Seven Undefeateds through the first nine weeks of the 2009 FBS season

Who should be the Top 7 in College Football, after nine weeks of play and through the first two months of action?

The candidates, in alphabetic order:

• Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC)
• Boise State (8-0, 3-0 WAC)
• Cincinnati (8-0, 4-0 Big East)
• Florida (8-0, 6-0 SEC)
• Iowa (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten)
• Texas (8-0, 5-0 Big 12)
• TCU (8-0, 4-0 MWC)

Of the Top 6 BCS conferences, only the Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC are represented. The ACC and Pac Ten have at least one loss or more among their members. Of the non-BCS conferences, the C-USA, MAC and Sun Belt have no representatives on the final seven, so it's up to the MWC or WAC member to carry the torch for the non-BCS teams. None of the three Independents are undefeated. Standings

Links to SOS rankings: CBSSports and Sagarin

So, entering November, who should be the Top 7 in College Football, why?

1. Florida Gators - The Gators are the defending BCS champions of a year ago. They hold the longest win streak in college football, losing to Ole Miss 30-31 in the fourth game of 2008 season. The Gators last OOC loss was in the Capital One Bowl at the end of the 2007 season, 35-41 to Michigan of the Big Ten. Florida already has locked up the SEC East spot in the SEC title game. Final three regular season games: @ South Carolina (4-4, 3-3 SEC), vs. Florida International (2-6, 2-3Sun Belt) and the in-state rivalry game vs. Florida State (4-4, 2-3 ACC). SOS rankings: #5 CBSSports and #27 Sagarin.
2. Iowa Hawkeyes - The Hawkeyes were 9-4 in 2008 and lost all four games by a total of 12 points. Iowa's last out of conference loss, was a 20-21 squeaker at Pitt in '08, prior to current QB Ricky Stanzi taking over from former Hawkeye QB Jake Christensen. The Hawkeyes in 2009 mirror very well with Alabama of 2008, as Phil Steele has pointed out before and during the 2009 season. The Hawkeyes beat the SEC's South Carolina 31-10 in last year's Outback Bowl. They have the second longest winning streak among FBS members. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 in 2009 in games trailing, while entering the fourth quarter. This week, Iowa scored 28 unanswered points vs. IU to beat Indiana at home 42-24. Unlike fellow Big Ten member, Ohio State, the Hawkeyes have beat a SEC opponent in bowl participation. For some number, OSU has never beat a SEC team in a bowl game, ever. Iowa's remaining games in the Big Ten are: vs. Northwestern (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten), @ Ohio State (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) and vs. trophy game rival Minnesota (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten). SOS rankings: #12 CBSSports and #22 Sagarin.
3. Texas Longhorns - The Longhorns have the third longest winning streak in FBS, behind Florida and Iowa. The Longhorns avenged their lone loss in '08 when they beat Texas Tech in game 3 of the season, 34-24 in Austin. The Longhorns last OOC loss was a 7-24 vs. Ohio State at home in '06. The Longhorns avenged that loss last year in the Fiesta Bowl, beating the Buckeyes 24-21. The final four remaining regular season games for the Longhorns are: vs. UCF (4-3, 2-2 Sun Belt), then three final Big 12 games: @ Baylor (3-5, 0-4 Big 12), vs. Kansas (5-3, 1-3 Big 12), @ Texas A&M (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) and a possible Big 12 title game, if the Longhorns take care of business in the Big 12 South. SOS rankings: #31 CBSSports and #43 Sagarin.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide - The Crimson Tide have taken care of business in '09 thus far. The Crimson Tide were undefeated in the regular season in '08, but lost 20-31 to Florida in the 2008 SEC title game, then lost 17-31 to Utah to end the 2008 season in the Sugar Bowl. Coach Nick Saban is in his third season as head coach at Alabama. Ironically, his final game at LSU was a 25-30 loss vs. Iowa in the 2005 Capital One Bowl, where Iowa won on the final play of the game. The Hawkeyes have done that once this season @ MSU. A rematch of Iowa's Kirk Ferentz vs. Alabama's Nick Saban, who beat Ferentz in his first Big Ten game as Iowa's head coach, could be very interesting in a bowl game or title game, for that matter. LSU faces it's biggest SEC West game this week vs. LSU (7-1, 4-1), which could determine who plays Florida in the SEC title game. The Crimson Tide are coming off bye week. After LSU, the Crimson Tide face games @ Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3 SEC), vs. Chattanooga (a 5-3 FCS program, 3-3 Southern) and @ Auburn (6-3, 3-3 SEC). SOS rankings: #34 CBSSports and #36 Sagarin.
5. Cincinnati Bearcats - The Bearcats continue to remain undefeated in '09. This is despite the loss of QB Tony Pike to injury, which happened in '08, as well. Further, the Bearcats began the '09 season with a new DC Bob Diaco, former Iowa player at LB, and ten new starters on defense, from a team that went 11-3 and represented the Big East in the BCS bowl lineup in '08. The ACC's Virginia Tech beat Cincinnati though in the Orange Bowl last season, 20-7, which is the Bearcats last loss. The Bearcats last regular season loss in the OOC was a 26-52 loss early in '08 at Oklahoma (Big 12). The Bearcats have four more regular season games: vs. UConn (4-4, 1-3 Big East), vs. West Virginia (6-2, 2-1 Big East), vs. Illinois (2-6, 1-5 Big Ten) and @ Pittsburgh (7-1, 4-0 Big East) for a challenging slate for the Bearcats to close out '09. SOS rankings: #46 CBSSports and #74 Sagarin.
6. TCU Horned Frogs - The Horned Frogs come from the MWC and last year, the MWC represented the non-BCS conferences, since Utah went undefeated and beat TCU 13-10 at home in conference play in '08. The Horned Frogs went to Poinsettia Bowl in '08 and beat Boise State 17-16 to finish 11-2 in '08. TCU's lone OOC loss in '08 was at Oklahoma (Big 12) 10-35 before beginning conference play in '08. TCU has won four straight bowl games, with wins over Iowa State, Northern Illinois, Houston and Boise State. TCU closes out the regular season in conference play: @ San Diego State (4-4, 2-2), vs. Utah (7-1, 4-0), @ Wyoming (4-4, 2-2) and @ New Mexico (0-8, 0-4). SOS rankings: #40 CBSSports and #46 Sagarin.
7. Boise State Broncos - The Broncos are undefeated in the past two regular seasons ('08 and '09), but they have one big loss, a 16-17 loss in Poinsettia Bowl to close out '08 vs. TCU. The Broncos have lost back to back bowl games with losses vs. East Carolina (C-USA) 38-41 in the Hawaii Bowl to end '07 and of course last year's loss vs. TCU (Poinsettia). The Broncos last OOC regular season loss was @ Washington (Pac Ten) in '07 10-24. Boise State may end up undefeated in '09 and they have an impressive 19-8 season opening win vs. Oregon, 19-8, but it is hard to see the Broncos with a resume for a BCS title game in '09. The Broncos close out conference play in '09: @ Louisiana Tech (3-5, 2-3), vs. Idaho (7-2, 4-1), @ Utah State (2-6, 1-3), vs. Nevada(5-3, 4-0) and vs. New Mexico State (3-6, 1-3). Will the Broncos close out WAC play on top? SOS rankings: #85 CBSSports and #80 Sagarin.

We begin November play in Week 10. There is plenty of action to play out to determine most of the conference champs and who are #1 and #2 in the BCS race for a date in the Pasadena's Rose Bowl BCS title game.

Breakdown of conferences: (Bowl eligible, bowl eliminated)

• ACC - 3, 0
• Big 12 - 3, 0
• Big East - 3, 0
• Big Ten - 4, 0
• C-USA - 1, 1
• Independents - 1, 0
• MAC - 3, 4
• MWC - 4, 1
• Pac 10 - 3, 1
• SEC - 5, 1
• Sun Belt - 1, 0, x
• WAC - 2, 0

x - Western Kentucky cannot become for bowl eligible in '09.

Eight programs are already home for the Holidays in '09: Rice, Miami-OH, Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, New Mexico, Washington State and Vanderbilt.

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