Iowa lost 4 games by 23 points...the rest of the Big Ten

[HaydenHawk56]

Ohio St….lost 1 game by 29 points
Michigan lost 2 games by 30 points
Northwestern lost 4 games by 32 points
Penn St lost lost 3 games by 40 points
Michigan St lost 5 games by 50 points
Purdue lost 6 games by 52 points
Wisconsin lost 5 games by 76 points
Indiana lost 7 games by 93 points

Nebraska lost 8 games by 98 points
Minnesota lost 6 games by 121 points ​

Maryland lost 7 games by 124 points
Illinois lost 8 games by 224 points
Rutgers lost 11 games by 243 points

Only to add to the frustration.....one could argue Iowa was the most consistently competitive this year in the conference and yet because they were so inconsistent in close games, they are out of the conference championship game. Just another kick in the nuts.

However, we could be a very well be a tough out in our bowl game for whoever our opponent is (assuming all of our key players play in the bowl game and we show up).

I still think it is sad Northwestern is playing in the BTT game, but actually they have been a pretty tough out in their total combined games as well (I was kind of shocked looking at that). I think Ohio St will beat them decisively, but they may give them a better game than Michigan did today.

 

[hawkinn3]

Northwestern beat us, I don’t consider that a lost opportunity but Wisconsin and Penn State we gave away by being stupid.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Northwestern beat us, I don’t consider that a lost opportunity but Wisconsin and Penn State we gave away by being stupid.

Northwestern was a one score game that no matter if they played better or not most of the way we were one play away from winning. Their WR made a hell of a contested catch. They made a play. We didn't... You flip that one play the other way say Smith made a similar play and they did not. They could say the same things we are about it and it'd be totally fair.
Wisconsin was/is not that good of a team this year I'd been saying it all year. Kudos to MN for being the team to make it obvious. How we lost to them is beyond me... And of course PSU.... I don't even want to talk about it. I don't want to talk about any of this it pisses me off

 

[kameltoez102]

Northwestern was a one score game that no matter if they played better or not most of the way we were one play away from winning. Their WR made a hell of a contested catch. They made a play. We didn't... You flip that one play the other way say Smith made a similar play and they did not. They could say the same things we are about it and it'd be totally fair.
Wisconsin was/is not that good of a team this year I'd been saying it all year. Kudos to MN for being the team to make it obvious. How we lost to them is beyond me... And of course PSU.... I don't even want to talk about it. I don't want to talk about any of this it pisses me off

Wisconsin wasn't as good at the start of the year compared to their lofty record but they were a much better team at the beginning of the season as opposed to the end, due to the many injuries they had. It is unfortunate we played them at the time we did and we also had the three TOs. The same could be said about Purdue and Northwestern. If Iowa had played them at the beginning of the year I also think it would have been a different story as both teams were playing pretty poor at the beginning of the year. As for Penn State the QB play just killed us that game as Stanley probably had his worst game as a hawk.

I guess what I am trying to get at is I think it is just as important when you play somebody on the calendar. Iowa was consistent over the year but I don't think they ever had a big upswing in play or a high peak. They played good but never blow your socks off great. (I am not counting Illinois because they are terrible). The thing that was nice for us is we were relatively healthy through the year besides maybe CB and the injuries really only showed in one game.

The Big Ten consistency for all teams was all over the board, look at MSU. How do they beat Penn State and then barely squeak by Rutgers, How does Ohio State barely get by Maryland and then Destroy Michigan? It has a lot to do with when you play someone and other factors so when we bitch and moan about losses look around the country it happens to other teams every week, thats football.

 

[guffus]

Ohio St….lost 1 game by 29 points
Michigan lost 2 games by 30 points
Northwestern lost 4 games by 32 points
Penn St lost lost 3 games by 40 points
Michigan St lost 5 games by 50 points
Purdue lost 6 games by 52 points
Wisconsin lost 5 games by 76 points
Indiana lost 7 games by 93 points

Nebraska lost 8 games by 98 points
Minnesota lost 6 games by 121 points ​

Maryland lost 7 games by 124 points
Illinois lost 8 games by 224 points
Rutgers lost 11 games by 243 points.

Thank you so much for putting this together. This will be very useful in Big Ten power rankings discussions.

 

[guffus]

Makes you wonder what Iowa's record would be if they had played Purdue and NW early and Wisconsin late.

 

[99topdawg]

My take is that those close games are 50/50. We win half and we're 10-2. I'd take that. I would probably still complain about not being 11-1 or 12-0 and not playing in Indy, but I'd have less of an empty feeling.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Take away the garbage TD by Wisconsin, when Iowa was selling out at the LOS, and it's 4 games by an average of 4 points.

This season had more "what ifs" than any season in recent memory. It's beyond frustrating to think of how close we were to being 10-2 or even 11-1.

What if Stanley had called a TO at PSU? What if we had converted the 4th and 1 vs. Wisc? What if two RBs that hadn't fumbled all year, didn't have consecutive fumbles against NW? What if the phantom holding calls hadn't occurred against Purdue?

I'm not usually one to ruminate over stuff like that, and, I'm aware that logically you can make arguments for the positive plays as well, but, damn.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Northwestern beat us, I don’t consider that a lost opportunity but Wisconsin and Penn State we gave away by being stupid.

And Purdue. Call a timeout the moment Stanley checks that play....We run 4 times we win that game.

 

[guffus]

My take is that those close games are 50/50. We win half and we're 10-2. I'd take that. I would probably still complain about not being 11-1 or 12-0 and not playing in Indy, but I'd have less of an empty feeling.

Iowa was 2-4 in games that were close in the 4Q, so I would like to think Iowa is a 9-3 team that was a little unlucky.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Iowa found 4 different ways to lose. Coaching, poor calls, badly timed and placed turnovers, etc.

Luck does play a part. Even great teams typically need a bounce or two to go their way.

'15 we had a few go our way, notably the wisc fumble going in to score.

Look at ISU last night, they earned it, but they also had a fumble bounce straight into the arms of Rose on a straight line to the endzone.

What if... just a couple bounces easily becomes 10-2....

But, a timeout called vs. Purdue is 9-3....that ain't luck.

Damn.

 

[cincyhawk]

Moral victories - 12!

 

[lightning1]

I don't think there's any doubt that we'll look back on this season as lost opportunity. The schedule was favorable. The BIG West was there for the taking.

 

[uihawk82]

Ohio St

I still think it is sad Northwestern is playing in the BTT game, but actually they have been a pretty tough out in their total combined games as well (I was kind of shocked looking at that). I think Ohio St will beat them decisively, but they may give them a better game than Michigan did today.

I dont know why you think it is sad that jNW is playing in the title game. if you look at jNW they usually start seasons slow, a little on the downside, and then get really better. two years ago in Kinnick the same thing, they lost a couple early games but by the time they beat Iowa Thorsen and Austin Carr (who is doing well in the pros) were in synche and they were beating us and other teams.

jNW won the west fair and square, they are not a powerhouse but Fitz has them playing smart, consistent ball. They defend very well and challenge offenses and Kirk just doesnt go over the top against them. They play a grind it out offense that will surprise you deep once in awhile , and they ususally have a good running qb which can get you two more scores a game. Fitz lets his players play.

Now if really good OSU shows up the will handily beat jNW, hell the hawks should have handily beat jNW from the opening long kickoff then forward.

 

[Bluesman]

You have to go to number 8 on that list before you get to a team Iowa managed to beat.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

I dont know why you think it is sad that jNW is playing in the title game. if you look at jNW they usually start seasons slow, a little on the downside, and then get really better. two years ago in Kinnick the same thing, they lost a couple early games but by the time they beat Iowa Thorsen and Austin Carr (who is doing well in the pros) were in synche and they were beating us and other teams.

jNW won the west fair and square, they are not a powerhouse but Fitz has them playing smart, consistent ball. They defend very well and challenge offenses and Kirk just doesnt go over the top against them. They play a grind it out offense that will surprise you deep once in awhile , and they ususally have a good running qb which can get you two more scores a game. Fitz lets his players play.

Now if really good OSU shows up the will handily beat jNW, hell the hawks should have handily beat jNW from the opening long kickoff then forward.

Sad because I dont think they are the best team in the west but they earned it. I really dont disagree with what you said.

 

[uihawk82]

Sad because I dont think they are the best team in the west but they earned it. I really dont disagree with what you said.

Oh I think Iowa is a better team than jNW but Kirk and his coaches have a tough time beating them. Smoke and mirrors or just sound football that jNW plays as they crowd the LOS and dare you to throw deep.

Iowa is better than Wisky but played them early and we didnt counter their jumbo blocking package and put pressure on Hornibrook or slow their run game. We could have tried countering with a 5 man line on defense and chucking their receivers.

PU gets killed by Minny after we lose to them, what the EEEFFFF. Hankins chose a good time to get suspended and there were just so many mental mistakes this year

 

[ArvadaHawk]

"If I see anyone smiling after this game (season), I'm going to punch them in the mouth."

 

[SomersHawk]

Ohio St….lost 1 game by 29 points
Michigan lost 2 games by 30 points
Northwestern lost 4 games by 32 points
Penn St lost lost 3 games by 40 points
Michigan St lost 5 games by 50 points
Purdue lost 6 games by 52 points
Wisconsin lost 5 games by 76 points
Indiana lost 7 games by 93 points

Nebraska lost 8 games by 98 points
Minnesota lost 6 games by 121 points ​

Maryland lost 7 games by 124 points
Illinois lost 8 games by 224 points
Rutgers lost 11 games by 243 points

Only to add to the frustration.....one could argue Iowa was the most consistently competitive this year in the conference and yet because they were so inconsistent in close games, they are out of the conference championship game. Just another kick in the nuts.

However, we could be a very well be a tough out in our bowl game for whoever our opponent is (assuming all of our key players play in the bowl game and we show up).

I still think it is sad Northwestern is playing in the BTT game, but actually they have been a pretty tough out in their total combined games as well (I was kind of shocked looking at that). I think Ohio St will beat them decisively, but they may give them a better game than Michigan did today.

This season was frustrating as crap, full of shoulda, coulda, woulda s. Most teams above have fans agonizing over games they could have won the same way we are be it coaching decisions or player screwups. As I look at the list of teams and their losses the question comes to mind, "which other Big Ten Coach would I rather have in Iowa City?" When one considers the whole package that comes with the guy I'm struggling to find one I'd trade for. Of the teams with the same amount of losses or less than Iowa, Fitzgerald is the only coach I have any respect for. Maybe someone should start a poll listing every BT Coach and say pick one for next years coach. Got a feeling Kirk would remain pretty high in the pecking order in which case we should probably be pretty happy we have him cause we sure wouldn't want what the majority of them have...

 

[Northside Hawk]

Thank you so much for putting this together. This will be very useful in Big Ten power rankings discussions.

Makes you wonder what Iowa's record would be if they had played Purdue and NW early and Wisconsin late.

Maybe it will be useful when determining the bowl pecking order.
Could it determine that we were better than our record indicated, or does the Bill Parcells rule come into play.

Northwestern seemed to gets the most scheduling breaks, which is why they not coincidentally won the conference and why I started a thread about them on October 21st. They played Purdue early, Nebraska when they were playing and coaching like clowns, Wisconsin without Hornibrook, and Iowa when we suddenly couldn't figure out how to use Fant.

Our biggest scheduling break was getting Minnesota early. They were a different team when they bounced their DC after the Illinois debacle and proved it late against Purdue and Wisconsin