JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
For the last decade, Iowa has been a Top 15 football program (actually 18th in winning percentage during that span, but I toss out Boise State, TCU and Utah because they simply don't play weekly competition the way Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac 10 and ACC schools do).
We all know that Iowa hasn't lost a game by more than a touchdown since the Western Michigan game to close the 2007 season. The last time Iowa lost a game by more than double digits was that same season, 31-6 at Purdue on 10/20/07.
Granted, that is not an end all be all stat, but given that Iowa plays in one of the premiere leagues in the sport, it's pretty salty.
But wash that stat down with some of these:
Michigan had six double digit losses just last year and has had 17 double digit losses since Iowa's loss to Purdue in 2007.
Penn State had five double digit losses last year and has had nine double digit losses since Iowa's last double digit loss.
Ohio State has had three double digit losses in that span, while Wisconsin has had seven.
Michigan's State's two losses last year, to Iowa and Alabama, were by 31 and 42 points and they have had seven double digit losses since Iowa's last.
New Big Ten member Nebraska has six, including a 7th on the date that Iowa last lost by double digits.
For the other programs in the Big Ten not listed, they have double digit double digit losses since then.
How about notable programs outside the Big Ten?
Texas? They had three last year
Oklahoma? 33-19 loss to Texas A&M last year
Florida State? Nine since 10/20/07
Alabama? 35-21 to South Carolina last year.
Florida? Three last year
LSU? Four since 10/20/07
USC? Four since 10/20/07
Notre Dame? Six since 10/20/07
In fact, every school listed in the Top 25 in winning percentage over the last 20 combined football seasons has lost at least one game by double digits since 10/20/07, even Boise State, who is #3 in winning percentage during that span and has played a weak conference slate...TCU has as well.
Iowa has not lost a football game by double digits in its last 43 trips to the gridiron, which is the longest such streak in the sport.
Granted, any of us would trade an 11-1 Big Ten title season with that one loss being by double-digits for this 'manufactured' statistic, and I won't sit here and create a banner to wave with these stats on it.
However, it just goes to underscore that we are witness to the most competitive era of Iowa football since the 1920's and this is the longest such streak in school history.
Take from it what you will...some will be amazed, others will shrug their shoulders and just be reminded of unmet expectations in 2010...
Yet I don't think it can be entirely discounted when you factor in the league Iowa plays in, the foes it has seen on the field and the way it has represented itself.
We all know that Iowa hasn't lost a game by more than a touchdown since the Western Michigan game to close the 2007 season. The last time Iowa lost a game by more than double digits was that same season, 31-6 at Purdue on 10/20/07.
Granted, that is not an end all be all stat, but given that Iowa plays in one of the premiere leagues in the sport, it's pretty salty.
But wash that stat down with some of these:
Michigan had six double digit losses just last year and has had 17 double digit losses since Iowa's loss to Purdue in 2007.
Penn State had five double digit losses last year and has had nine double digit losses since Iowa's last double digit loss.
Ohio State has had three double digit losses in that span, while Wisconsin has had seven.
Michigan's State's two losses last year, to Iowa and Alabama, were by 31 and 42 points and they have had seven double digit losses since Iowa's last.
New Big Ten member Nebraska has six, including a 7th on the date that Iowa last lost by double digits.
For the other programs in the Big Ten not listed, they have double digit double digit losses since then.
How about notable programs outside the Big Ten?
Texas? They had three last year
Oklahoma? 33-19 loss to Texas A&M last year
Florida State? Nine since 10/20/07
Alabama? 35-21 to South Carolina last year.
Florida? Three last year
LSU? Four since 10/20/07
USC? Four since 10/20/07
Notre Dame? Six since 10/20/07
In fact, every school listed in the Top 25 in winning percentage over the last 20 combined football seasons has lost at least one game by double digits since 10/20/07, even Boise State, who is #3 in winning percentage during that span and has played a weak conference slate...TCU has as well.
Iowa has not lost a football game by double digits in its last 43 trips to the gridiron, which is the longest such streak in the sport.
Granted, any of us would trade an 11-1 Big Ten title season with that one loss being by double-digits for this 'manufactured' statistic, and I won't sit here and create a banner to wave with these stats on it.
However, it just goes to underscore that we are witness to the most competitive era of Iowa football since the 1920's and this is the longest such streak in school history.
Take from it what you will...some will be amazed, others will shrug their shoulders and just be reminded of unmet expectations in 2010...
Yet I don't think it can be entirely discounted when you factor in the league Iowa plays in, the foes it has seen on the field and the way it has represented itself.
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