Eastern Illinois - We're just a paycheck for them. Not circled.
Iowa State - Has Iowa circled, underlined, and with big arrows pointing to us, just like every year.
Arizona - Definitely has us circled. We may very well be the best team on their schedule. It's at their place, they know that the long road trip can affect a team, and we beat them last year. We should be highly ranked. We're the coach's alma mater. We're their first-class ticket to relevance in 2010 ... if they beat us.
Ball State - See Eastern Illinois.
Penn State - Really, really want to beat us, of course, but they still have Alabama and Ohio State on the schedule. Not circled, but they know we're important.
Michigan - Probably not confident enough to circle us. One week before the Iowa game, they have MSU in the Big House, and "little brother" has beat them twice in a row now. More realistic goal for them, frankly.
Wisconsin - Has one great big circle around us and OSU, whom they play back-to-back. After us, they have a bye. So call us "co-circled" or maybe "semicircled." ;-)
Michigan State - With no OSU on the schedule and last season's heart-breaker in East Lansing fresh on their minds, Sparty has Iowa circled.
Indiana - Spent about 1/2 a second thinking about circling Iowa, and then immediately called Coach Ferentz to apologize. ;-) If they have the right to circle anyone, it's probably Michigan. First conference game. At home. Almost beat the Wolverines in the Big House last year.
Northwestern - What's the opposite of circling a team? Did you see that Dave Chappelle movie where Kenny (not played by DC) is in jail, and he has that picture on the wall of the guy who wants to take his fruit cocktail, and he freaks out and starts writing "666" and crossing out the special places? I think that's what NW is doing to Iowa's name on their schedule. Nov 13 will be their day of reckoning and they know it.
Ohio State - Would never admit it publicly, but has Iowa circled lightly in pencil in acknowledgement of the fact that we're their toughest game of the year. OSU's calendars, by the way, come with a pre-printed scarlet and gray circle around Michigan every year.
Minnesota - See Iowa State. Not like it's going to matter when we christen the new Kinnick North this year!