Iowa Football: Iowa State Loss Puts Hawkeyes' Bowl Hopes in Question

Heading into spring practice it seemed like the Iowa Hawkeyes were a virtual lock to participate in a bowl game this season. With a heartbreaking loss to the in-state rival Iowa State Cyclones and a difficult schedule to navigate yet to come, things could get dicey for the Hawkeyes before season's end.

It was just the third time in the last nine years that the Hawkeyes lost to the Cyclones and the first time since 2007. While the Cy-Hawk Trophy isn't exactly the most appealing name, it's the prize of one of the longest-running rivalries in sports.

The loss leaves Iowa at 1-1 after a first-week victory over cupcake Tennessee Tech. That means the Hawkeyes need to go 5-5 in their final 10 games to become bowl-eligible.

Done deal, right? Not so fast.

Iowa State's Steele Jantz exposed the Hawkeyes' secondary, throwing for 279 yards and four touchdowns while completing 68 percent of his passes. That, after he completed only 45 percent of his passes in a narrow victory over FCS opponent Northern Iowa.

If they don't improve that aspect of the game, it's going to be roller coaster ride for Iowa fans moving forward. No lead is safe if you can't stop the pass.

Looking forward, there are just two “locks” left on the schedule for the Hawkeyes. Louisiana-Monroe and Indiana shouldn't provide much resistance. Purdue shouldn't either, but a road game that will likely be a “nothing to lose” scenario for the opponent is always an uneasy test.

Other than that, however, Iowa have seven games that will be far from automatic victories.

Those include a visit from the 2-0 Pittsburgh Panthers this week. While Pittsburgh's victories so far haven't been against big-name schools, they have been able to build confidence heading into the matchup, whereas Iowa will struggle to regroup after a crushing loss.

Games against Northwestern and Michigan seemed a lot more favorable heading into the season than they do after two weeks. Both of those teams have posted strong results to start their seasons.

Unless Iowa's defense stiffens up moving forward, there is a good chance they will enter the season's final three games needing two wins to secure a bowl spot. Beating Michigan State and Nebraska to get the job done will be a tall task.

The old cliché of “throw out all the stats from rivalry games” just doesn't hold any water. The lack of a pass rush and inability to generate a more productive running game (Marcus Coker needed 35 carries to reach 137 yards, a below-average 3.9 yards per carry) will not just disappear next week because the Hawkeyes aren't facing a rival.

These issues need to be addressed moving forward before Iowa coasts into a bowl game like was expected heading into the season. They can still get the job done. There is no doubt about that. It just won't be as easy as most people might have hoped.