Iowa: This year's team of destiny?
By: Jeffrey Tomik
Examiner Staff Writer
11/02/09 9:44 PM EST
The computers love the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes -- ranking them second in the nation -- but the No 4 team in the BCS rankings doesn't pass the eye test.
Iowa somehow defeated Indiana by 18 points on Saturday. The Hoosiers were up 14 points and two yards away from another touchdown midway through the third quarter. Then, Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell threw a pass that hit four different players before finding Iowa's Tyler Sash and the defensive back returned the interception 86 yards for a touchdown.
Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi overcame five interceptions by throwing two huge fourth quarter touchdown passes -- 92 yards and 66 yards -- less than two minutes apart to lead the Hawkeyes to a 42-24 victory.
And once again, Iowa escaped.
Saturday's game was the fourth time this season Iowa won despite trailing entering the fourth quarter -- including two weeks ago when they defeated Michigan State on a last-second touchdown.
Iowa has won four games by three points or less. They have trailed in eight out of nine games this season. The one game Iowa lead throughout? A 24-21 victory over Arkansas State, a 2-5 team from the Sun Belt Conference.
Their defense is allowing only 15.8 points per game and Stanzi comes up big in crunch time despite having pedestrian numbers (56.4 completion percentage, 14 TDs, 13 INTs).
With three games left, Iowa has serious BCS Championship hopes. Can the Hawkeyes end the season undefeated by finding a way to win against Northwestern, at Ohio State and home against Minnesota?
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