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Where the 2009 Hawkeyes Rank Among Iowa's Best College Football Seasons

Bret Feddern

Analyst Written on November 20, 2009

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The 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football season has been something special. The team started off with a nine-game, memory-making win streak to go down as the best start in Iowa football history.

It is clear that this Hawkeye team has been one of the best all time. Now, it is time to see how this year's team ranks with the rest of the great Iowa Hawkeye football seasons.

8. 2004 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 10-2 (7-1 Big Ten), Co-Big Ten Champions
Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Bowl Game: Capital One Bowl
Preseason Rank: No. 19
Final Rank: No. 8

This season ended in one of the best possible ways a college football fan could ask for. As time ran out, QB Drew Tate connected with Warren Holloway for a 56-yard pass to beat LSU by a score of 30-25.

7. 1991 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 10-1-1 (7-1 Big Ten)
Coach: Hayden Fry
Bowl Game: Holiday Bowl
Preseason Rank: No. 18
Final Rank: No. 10

This season was part of the Matt Rodgers era of Hawkeye football. Iowa tied BYU in the Holiday Bowl, 13-13.

6. 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 10-2, 6-2 Big Ten
Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Bowl Game: Orange Bowl
Preseason Rank: No. 22
Current Rank: No. 13

As a note, Iowa could have as many as 19 starters returning for the 2010 season.

5. 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 11-2 (8-0 Big Ten), Co-Big Ten Champions
Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Bowl Game: Orange Bowl
Preseason Rank: Unranked
Final Rank: No. 8

The Hawkeyes made an improbable run at greatness in 2002. Iowa lost to USC in the Orange Bowl, but the season was a memorable one with a lot of close games. Brad Banks went on to be the runner-up for the Heisman.

4. 1958 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 8-1-1 (5-1), Co-Big Ten Champions
Coach: Forest Evashevski
Bowl Game: -
Preseason Rank: Unranked
Final Rank: No. 2

The 1958 Iowa Hawkeyes were named National Champions by the Football Writers Association of America. They finished ranked No. 2 in the AP and UPI polls, the highest in school history. Randy Duncan finished second in the Heisman voting.

3. 1921 & 1922 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 14-0 (10-0 in conference play)
Coach: Howard Jones

88 years ago, Iowa Hawkeye football dominated teams. Howard Jones produced two back-to-back undefeated seasons at Iowa, winning conference titles both years. Obviously, these seasons occurred prior to rankings and bowl games.

2. 1939 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 6-1-1 (4-1-1 Big Ten)
Coach: Dr. Eddie Anderson
Bowl Game: -
Preseason Rank: Unranked
Final Rank: No. 9

The Ironmen are legends in the state of Iowa. The 1939 season produced Iowa's only Heisman Trophy Winner, Nile Kinnick. College Football News ranked Nile Kinnick as the ninth greatest college football player of all-time.

1. 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 10-2 (7-1 Big Ten), Big Ten Champions
Coach: Hayden Fry
Bowl Game: Rose Bowl
Preseason Rank: No. 4
Final Rank: No. 10

This season featured players like Chuck Long, Ronnie Harmon, and Larry Station.

Iowa started the 1985 season at No. 4 in the preseason polls. They climbed to No. 1 three weeks later. This season also contained one of the best last-second wins in the history of college football, when No. 1 Iowa defeated No. 2 Michigan with a last-second field goal.

Iowa lost to Ohio State in Columbus, but still went on to win the Big Ten title. They ended the season with a loss to UCLA in the Rose Bowl.

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written on November 20, 2009 Rankings/List

Bleacher Report has a featured columnist opening for Iowa Hawkeyes Football.

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