Targeting Iowa's bowl possibilities

LINCOLN, Neb. -- When asked about Iowa's bowl destination, offensive tackle Riley Reiff laughed.

"You're asking me that question?" he said with a laugh. "I really don't know. I don't pay attention to that kind of stuff."

This much is known about the Hawkeyes (7-5) and their bowl possibilities, they're off until a team meeting Tuesday. That's about it.

There was no clue to be found in the Memorial Stadium press box on Friday. The only bowl that showed for the Cornhuskers' 20-7 victory over Iowa was the Outback Bowl. Nebraska (9-3) might be in range for the Tampa bowl. The Hawkeyes are looking more and more like a team headed to a Texas bowl. Or maybe even the Texas Bowl.

"We'll see what we can do about growing and getting that eighth win," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Here's what could be out there for the Hawkeyes:

Gator/Insight -- Yes, the Hawkeyes played in the Insight last season, but the Penn State sex scandal and Joe Paterno's subsequent firing have the Nittany Lions in bowl free-fall. One representative called PSU the "elephant in the room." Still, a Penn State-Texas game could play in Arizona, especially with a 10 p.m. kick EST.

Ohio State, even a 6-6 Ohio State, could be attractive to the Gator Bowl. It had a dog Michigan team last season, a team that was maybe a week from firing its coach and that didn't travel. The result was a 52-14 loss to Mississippi State. If Urban Meyer is hired at Ohio State before the bowl season, the Buckeyes popularity will skyrocket and the Gator might jump at what it might see as its last chance for OSU.

Insight picks ahead of the Gator this season.

Texas Bowl -- If Iowa isn't selected for the Gator/Insight, this is it. The game is also known as the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. It's an 11 a.m. kick Dec. 31 on ESPN. It's played in Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans. The bowl pays out $1.7 million per conference.

This bowl pits the Big Ten against the Big 12. A likely opponent for the Hawkeyes would be Texas A&M (6-6). The Aggies are coached by Mike Sherman.

Ferentz and Sherman were on the Worcester (Mass.) Academy football staff with Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe as head coach in 1978-79. Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin played on those teams.

TicketCity Bowl -- This is where Iowa ends up if the Big Ten gets one team into BCS bowls. If Michigan beats Ohio State on Saturday, it would be 10-2 and very attractive to the BCS. It won't be a guarantee, however.

A Big Ten team will face a Conference USA opponent in this game. It's an 11 a.m. kickoff on Jan. 2 on ESPNU. This bowl pays each conference $1.2 million.

The timetable on Iowa's bowl destination ranges from this Sunday (probably not) to Dec. 4, when all bowl matchups are finalized.