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CFN's Instant Analysis of Iowa's 15-13 victory over Michigan State:
Give them credit
If Florida can continue to get unquestioned top-two consideration despite struggling so much against a mediocre Arkansas and a lousy Mississippi State, and if Alabama can be deep in the national title hunt after struggling to get by an average Tennessee, then Iowa should get more credit for coming up with the tremendous last-second win over Michigan State — on the road.
The Hawkeye offense wasn't great, but it was great when it needed to be with a 70-yard drive in 10 plays with Ricky Stanzi connecting with Marvin McNutt for the game-winning score. Great teams make the big plays when they absolutely have to, and Iowa did that with everything going against it.
Does that mean that Iowa is among the best teams in America? Talent-wise, the Hawkeyes aren't even close to the elite, but when it comes to confidence, being disruptive on defense and air-tight on offense, they can play with anyone, and have.
Now their resume is getting really, really strong with road wins at Penn State, which hasn't lost since, and at Wisconsin and Michigan State to go along with a home win over an Arizona team that's playing at a high level. There's still a lot of work to do with a trip to Ohio State still to deal with, but this might the game that means it's time to start booking tickets to Pasadena. With three home games in the last four, and with the win over Penn State and with Ohio State going to Happy Valley, it will take a collapse to lose the Big 10 title.
— Pete Fiutak
Ugly's looking pretty good
You can keep dubbing it "winning ugly" if you insist, but you'll only be half right.
Iowa just keeps winning football games, getting to 8-0 for the first time in school history with a thrilling last-minute drive and game-winning touchdown pass from Ricky Stanzi to Marvin McNutt on the final play.
It's a recycled saying, but it was the type of game that championship teams win. And it was vintage 2009 Hawkeyes, battling to the end and showing a level of perseverance and resolve that separates good teams from unbeaten teams.
Does Iowa belong in the national title game? I don't know right now. I do know that if I were a head coach, I would not want to play the Hawkeyes under any circumstances.
They run the ball physically with Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. On defense, they hold the line as well as any team in the country and will not bend near the goal line. And when the game is hanging in the balance, they transform into a completely different animal.
Ugly? Only for the eight teams that have tried in vain to take down Iowa this fall.
— Richard Cirminiello
Winning is everything
1) In the first 58 minutes and 23 seconds of this game, Iowa quarterback Ricki Stanzi was 7-of-18 for 78 yards. In the final 1:37, Stanzi threw for 59 yards and delivered the defining dagger to Marvin McNutt on the game's final play.
Stanzi is not an elite quarterback, but in 2009, he's been great when needed.
There's a name for this kind of gutsy, ice-in-his-veins, knows-how-to-win-a-game expertise: Jay Barker.
Iowa has that 1992 Alabama vibe going right now; it can't be neatly explained or scientifically analyzed, but it's there, it's palpable and it's breathing — thanks to a fresh and full tank of spiritual oxygen. Such is the magic of a college football season that begins to acquire special dimensions at this time of year.
2) Don't knock Iowa for winning by a slim margin. Yes, the Hawkeyes need to play a team with a real offense; but winning is winning is winning. Don't knock it. Don't diminish it. Don't try to put it into a box. Don't resent it.
Tip the cap to the Hawkeyes, and let's see if Ohio State will deny Kirk Ferentz's club an undefeated regular season on Nov. 14.
And if Iowa wins that game 12-9 on a 19-yard field goal with 9:56 left in the third quarter, don't lash out at Iowa. Lash out at the fact that the lack of a playoff system puts so much weight into conference games, thereby enabling teams to schedule light non-conference games and very possibly play in the national title tilt.
— Matt Zemek
