Here is my current Iowa bowl crystal ball.

If Iowa is 12-0: Best case would be the BCS National Championship game, worst case would be the Rose Bowl.  Both game will be played in the facility called The Rose Bowl.  Texas beating Oklahoma State puts a big damper on Iowa’s National Title hopes, as the Longhorns schedule the rest of the way is very, very favorable.  The title game looks like the SEC winner vs Texas right now, no matter if Iowa, TCU, Boise State and Cincinnati win out.

If Iowa is 11-1 and Ohio State loses one if its final three Big Ten games:  In this instance, it would not matter which team Iowa loses to, because the Buckeyes would have two losses in conference play and the only team that could tie Iowa in the Big Ten standings would be Penn State.  Iowa beat Penn State and therefor owns the tie-breaker and would go to the Rose Bowl

If Iowa is 11-1 and Ohio State wins out:  In this instance, Ohio State would go to the Rose Bowl.  It would then come down to which teams play in the BCS title game.  One of those teams will likely be the SEC Champion who would be ranked #1 in the final BCS poll, which means the Sugar Bowl would have the first at large selection from the BCS at large pool.  They would likely select the SEC title game loser.  If the #2 team in the BCS is Texas, that means the Fiesta gets the next selection.  Someone close to the bowl selection process told me last week that he has had conversations with the Fiesta Bowl powers that be and has been told the Fiesta would love an opportunity to host the Hawkeyes.  They feel Iowa fans would buy 45,000 to 50,000 tickets to that game, due to Iowa’s large snowbird population in that state as well as 30,000+ fans that would travel into the game.  That is a perfect situation for the Fiesta.  However, if the Fiesta would take a pass, the Orange would likely select Iowa, as the Hawkeyes sent nearly 50,000 fans to that bowl game back in 2003.

There are more scenarios for three-way ties for the Big Ten title, but for Iowa to be in a three-way tie for the title, they would have to lose two of their last three games.  There are also too many combinations regarding Ohio State and Penn State at this point in time, so we will be able to narrow this down after next week’s games.  By 6:30pm on Saturday November 7th, we will have a clear picture.

Here is a simple ‘who to root for’ scenario for Iowa to make it to at least one of the two games played in Pasadena:  Get to 10-0, which means beating Northwestern.  Also, root for Penn State to beat Ohio State next week.  If those things happen, Iowa’s game against Ohio State would have more significance related to the National Title picture than it would the Rose Bowl.  How is that?  If Iowa would lose to Ohio State, with the Buckeyes having lost to Penn State, Iowa would only need to beat Minnesota in the season’s final game to clinch the Rose Bowl bid.

Of course, if the Hawks win them all, you don’t have to worry about anything.

Be sure to check this item every Sunday morning between now and the end of the season.  We will keep it pinned to the front page for the next six weeks with updated bowl scenarios.

Many of you have been emailing and calling with questions related to HawkeyeNation’s bowl charter flight service for this year’s bowl game.  First, I greatly appreciate the interest.  I am going to share a few things with you, all that I can at this early juncture, and help direct you as best I can to be certain you remain as informed on this process as possible.

First, HawkeyeNation.com has taken thousands of Iowa fans to the last six Hawkeye bowl games.  That includes trips to the Alamo, three Outback Bowls, the Cap One as well as the Orange Bowl.  We aren’t rookies when it come to bowl travel, nor is our longtime travel partner, Premiere Sports Travel.  The level of service we have been able to provide has helped us become one of the most significant names in Hawkeye bowl travel in a short amount of time and we have surpassed many of the organizations that have been taking Iowa fans to bowl game since the early 1980′s.

The good news is that our relationship with Premiere will continue this year, as well as down the road.

The REALLY good news is that HawkeyeNation.com and the University of Iowa Alumni Association have teamed up and will be offering Iowa fans several different travel options this year and into the future.  I met with the Alumni Association back in late July while I was in Chicago for the annual Big Ten Kickoff luncheon.  Each of us wants to offer the absolute best for Hawkeye fans, and we felt that if we teamed up, with each of us doing the things we do best, we could present offerings to Iowa fans that are unmatched.  I look forward to this relationship for years to come.

What will this mean for you?  It means there will be more price points and package offerings than any bowl trip provider has ever offered before.  It means there will be three locations for you to fly out of; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Moline.  It means there will be more ‘perks’ such as ‘Chalk Talk Sessions’ where we will break down Iowa’s bowl game and take questions from the members of the audience.  It just means the best.

It also means that HawkeyeNation.com travellers are now a part of the OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF IOWA BOWL TRIP.  Last year, our travelers stayed at the Iowa team hotel.  That was a first for us, and those that went with us felt it added incredible value to our trip.  That’s going to be the norm now, no matter Iowa’s bowl destination, since we are partnered with the University of Iowa.  Tickets have never been a concern for us before, but now, you will be smack dab in the middle of the largest Iowa fan sections at every bowl game if you choose to add tickets through our packages.  For those of you that want every bell and whistle possible when it comes to bowl travel, we will have those premium packages as well.

So what can you do right now to ensure that you stay informed and are notified the second we have more information?

Click here to fill out our 2009 Bowl survey.  It will only take a couple of minutes, and by giving us your email address, you will be added to our information list so that you don’t miss any updates or package offerings when they become available.  Also, your email will not be used for anything other than information related to the bowl trip.

A lot of people have been asking me about pricing, or locations if Iowa goes to the Rose Bowl.  I can tell you that one of the properties we have in reserve is the official team hotel, but we do not have an endless supply of rooms at that property.  So your best chance to reserve a room at that hotel is to make sure you are informed up to the second; filling out this brief email survey will help you accomplish that objective.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are now 8-0 on the season, their first ever 8-0 start to a season in school history.

Getting to that point was not easy. As I wrote in a column from Sunday, Iowa has had to play four straight conference games against teams who believed they had a shot at a Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl. With Penn State, they were thinking national championship, so you know Iowa got the best shot they could muster that night. Michigan was coming off of a loss at Michigan State, but that was just their first loss and they still felt like they could win the rest, as they had Penn State and Ohio State at home. Wisconsin knew that if it beat Iowa, it would be favored in its remaining games and they had a shot at a Big Ten title and BCS bid. Michigan State knew that if it lost to Iowa, it had no chance at a Big Ten title, but if it won and took care of business the rest of the way, their destiny was in their own hands.

When you play a slate like that, it exacts a physical toll. Iowa navigated that arduous four game stretch, winning all four games including three on the road. That was quite an accomplishment, and one that I will never forget.

Yet, it took a toll…the physical play caught up with Iowa on Saturday night, as Dace Richardson, Adam Robinson, Colin Sandeman, Brett Greenwood and Brandon Wegher suffered injuries. Those are just the injuries we could tell from watching the game. The MSU contest was easily the most physical game this year, and one of the most physical games in memory. MSU laid it all on the line, because that’s all they had left to do.

Richardson will be out until at least the bowl game, with a lower leg/foot break. No word on Sandeman or Greenwood with regards to availability for the Indiana game. Wegher will be available for that game, but its a strong possibility that Adam Robinson, Iowa’s leading rusher, may not be available for this week’s game against Indiana, or beyond; Iowa will know this week if he will require surgery on his ankle.

So as they have had to do so many times this year, the Hawkeyes will march forward with their ‘next man in’ philosophy. The home games against Indiana and Northwestern, games that many Iowa fans, me included, had already put in the win column, become more treacherous now.

I said prior to the Michigan State game that if the Hawkeyes won in East Lansing, they would have one foot in Pasadena. I still feel they are in the driver’s seat for the Rose Bowl, but only if they win their next two games. That will give them some ‘breathing room’ if they are unable to win in Columbus for just the 3rd time since the late 1950’s. Of course, they must beat Minnesota in the season finale, but there is no way that Iowa loses that game with the Rose Bowl on the line, or perhaps more.

Iowa is going to be down to Brandon Wegher and Paki O’Meara at running back for at least the Indiana game. I think those two are capable, but the margin for error and injury has evaporated from this team. Jeff Brinson has had a foot injury that just will not heal, and he has not been a factor in games or practice as of late. Iowa can always pull the redshirt off of Brad Rogers. Some will wonder if you make a move like that in game nine of a season.

Iowa pulled the redshirt off of offensive lineman Mike Jones in game seven of his freshman year. Seasons like this don’t come around very often, and if the coaches feel Rogers can help them win now, and need him to help them win now, I don’t think they would hesitate and players love opportunities to get involved, especially during a season like this one. But I have not heard any indications of that; it’s just roster speculation.

This season has been marked with adversity since the summer conditioning sessions, where Julian Vandervelde injured his arm & Jewel Hampton injured his knee. That continued into fall camp, when Jordan Bernstine broke his ankle. Kyle Calloway and Bryan Bulaga were out of fall camp practice more than they were in it, and Bulaga missed three weeks of practice and games in the regular season. Tony Moeaki missed three games this year, too, and several receivers have missed significant playing time this year. Pat Angerer has an injured thumb.

The 2009 Iowa football story has been truly amazing to this point, and if this season ends in Pasadena, one way or another, it may be the most amazing chapter in Iowa football history because of what they had to overcome to get there.

Seriously, does it get any better than this?

The Hawkeyes were 97 seconds from history, and more than a few of the Iowa faithful were probably not optimistic after Michigan State scored the first touchdown of the game with 1:37 to go. Speaking for myself, I hadn’t given up because anything is possible. Drew Tate and Warren Holloway showed us that on January 1st of 2005.

Yet, I was not exactly upbeat, either.

Rick Stanzi orchestrated something that will forever be known as ‘The Drive’ in Iowa City. 30 years from now, for those that watched the game, if you mention, ‘Do you remember The Drive?’, everyone will know exactly what you are talking about

This game wasn’t pretty; it looked a lot like the sluggish football played in the Southeastern Conference, didn’t it?

Before Michigan State’s touchdown, it was 58:23 of smashmouth defense and five field goals. Even Iowa’s three field goals were ugly.

So if you were not exactly confident that Iowa could march 70 yards over the last 1:30ish of the game, you are forgiven. However, 10 plays later, the Iowa team was celebrating in the endzone after pulling off one of the most amazing winning finishes in Iowa football history.

The 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes become the first team in school history to start a year 8-0. They have a 12 game winning streak, the second longest in school history. In their last six games away from Kinnick Stadium, they have outscored their opponents 177-46. They have won at Iowa State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State this year, with one road game remaining. They are the first team to beat PSU, Wisconsin and MSU on the road in the same season since Michigan in 1997. By the way, that Michigan team wasn’t necessarily the prettiest, but it was pretty enough to win a National Championship.

Now, Iowa is down to a four-game season for more history. The Hawks will host Indiana and Northwestern before going to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes. They have just two wins in that stadium since the late 1950′s. BUT WHO CARES, right? This is the 2009 Iowa football team we are talking about.

They ain’t pretty, but their ours. They ain’t the best offense, but they are good enough when they have to be and they haven’t lost yet.

Neither team committed a turnover in this game, and I thought my statement of ‘If Iowa doesn’t turn the ball over, they will win every game on their schedule’ was in some jeopardy. Nah, no worries, mate. Just your standard 70-yard game winning drive in 1:30, and the fourth down play from the seven yard line with just :02 to play.

What the heck, right?

Some will say, after the euphoria wears off, that this team shouldn’t have been in this situation. The running calls on 2nd and goal from the 13 were interesting, to say the least.

But for now, I don’t want to deal with that. I don’t want to pick nits on this night…on this historic night. No way…we can do that all week long if we have to.

This was epic, to the definition of the word.

This was one we will never forget.

Bigger than Tate to Holloway? I think so, because let’s be honest, as amazing as that was, and it was amazing, it was flukish. This was not a fluke. This was a 10-play drive; no flukes involved. Cue the freaking Rocky music, will ya?

Speaking of Rocky, how about this comment from our Monday Morning Quarterback, Jared Clauss, from last Sunday night:

“We are the Rocky Balboa of college football right now. We look shaky early, but we are to fight. We take a lot of hits but don’t go down, we fight on and we always come out on top.”

I can’t top that, and won’t even try. Enjoy the night. Enjoy the week. Enjoy this freaking season, Iowa fans. Your Iowa Hawkeyes are 8-0.

If Iowa loses at Michigan State: My radio co-host Steve Deace thinks that the Hawks are playing with house money in this game.  What he means by that is the Hawks can afford to have this loss.

That may be true, as Iowa will have four games left after the game against Sparty, with three of them at home and Iowa will be favored to win each of those games.  Their road game is at Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are hardly tearing things up right now.

I know that I would sure feel a lot more comfortable if Iowa were able to move to 4-0 on the road this year and beat Michigan State.  Vegas handicapper Lee Sterling thinks that is what’s going to happen, and I do too.

However, I do agree that a loss in East Lansing does not mean the Rose Bowl is lost, yet Michigan State would be in a decent position with the only hammer on the Hawks due to the head to head win.  But if the Hawks won their last four, I don’t know that the Spartans have the firepower to close out their season without a loss, which includes a home game against Penn State to end the year.

If Iowa wins at Michigan State:   It’s tough to really ‘verbalize’ this because we are nearing uncharted waters; if Iowa loses, they are out of the national championship picture.  Sure, other schools can say this on a semi-regular basis, but for Iowa, you really haven’t been able to say that with a straight face for about 24 years, since the last time they were 7-0.

That was 1985, when they were ranked #1 in the nation.  They played at Ohio State the week after knocking off #2 Michigan, and the contest took place in a driving rainstorm, much like what is expected in East Lansing on Saturday night.  That team never made it  to 8-0.

This Iowa team is the first team to have a chance to get to 8-0 in nearly a quarter century.  But it goes beyond that.  This is just the second team IN IOWA FOOTBALL HISTORY that has a chance to move to 8-0 in the same season.  The teams from the 1950’s didn’t start 7-0, and the teams from the early 1920’s only played seven game seasons.

Chew on that for a second…What’s at stake Saturday night?  The greatest start to an Iowa football season in school history.

I know it’s easy to say, ‘The 2009 Hawkeyes could be the first team to start 8-0 in Iowa history.’  But when you really think about that and let it roll around in your head, my goodness!  The gravity!

No matter if you are 38 years old like I am, or 88 years old like Jim Zabel, this is only the second opportunity you have seen for an Iowa team to start 8-0.

If Iowa wins, they have one foot in Pasadena, by my estimation.  Sure, they have to take care of business at home against Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota, but I think they will.  There is 11 wins.

A win in East Lansing might mean the only thing that stands between Iowa and a perfect 12-0 season is a trip to Columbus to take on a reeling Ohio State team whose offensive woes will not be rectified by November 14th; their issues are likely only going to be cured after an out of season change in offensive philosophy to match their personnel set.

Iowa has won just twice at Ohio State in my lifetime, and just twice dating back to the 1959 season, which was 50 years ago.  However, this would be the year to do it.

If Iowa wins against Michigan State, it would likely jump ahead of Cincinnati in the BCS poll, and perhaps jump ahead of Boise State and move into 4th place.

So what’s at stake against Michigan State?  Possibly the most memorable football season in Iowa football history, that’s all.

I’m just glad the Iowa players are on the road and can’t hear any of this stuff; hopefully the coaching staff blocked their access to the Internet, too.

Corrections: Bretu pointed out that Iowa played Northwestern the week after it beat Michigan in 1985 and won that game, to go 7-0, and then lost at Ohio State. Also, the 1900 team had a shot to go 8-0, but tied its last game