Iowa's Bowl Predictions Remain the Same Despite Loss

After beating Rutgers (3-2) (0-2) 38-28, the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2) (1-1) were beginning to find their footing on a tricky Big Ten tightrope that awaited them. 

For the first time in what felt like eons, Kirk Ferentz’s team showed a real ability to consistently put up points, and commentators and analysts across the nation had begun to look at Iowa with a better outlook. 

Iowa was then touted either in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl or the ReliaQuest Bowl by ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach. Schlabach had projected for the Hawkeyes to take on the No.15 Tennessee Volunteers in the ReliaQuest Bowl, while Bonagura had tipped Ferentz’s team to land in the Pinstripe Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils.

Fast forward one week later, and the feeling around Kinnick Stadium has slightly shifted after a gut-wrenching 20-15 loss to the No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers. Yet the feeling from outside the program has remained largely positive, with Schlabach tipping the Hawkeyes to face No.13 (4-1) (1-1) LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl, while Bonagura keeps the Hawkeyes in the Pinstripe Bowl against the (4-0) (1-0) Louisville Cardinals.