This next part might take a bite out of the Hawkeyes

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Maybe they saved their game faces for the postgame.

And they are odd dichotomy, the postgames at Minnesota's two-year-old TCF Bank Stadium. There's a room for the opposing head coach, which already is crammed with photographers and TV stations. Most of the player interviews are held in a corridor that runs around the length of the stadium.

After the Hawkeyes' 22-21 loss, Iowa players discussed their latest short circuit against a team they were favored against (the line climbed to 16 points in favor of Iowa) while Minnesota cheerleaders danced and sang their way right through what was left of the heart of the Hawkeyes (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten).

Iowa players weren't going to be a in a good mood either way, but this was tazering wounded egos. And make no mistake, there are real wounds here, physical and mental and just in time for Iowa's most difficult stretch of the season.

"This is where the leadership of the senior class is going to come through," said senior linebacker Tyler Nielsen, who played after missing last week with a broken hand. "We're kind of at a point where, hey, what are we going to do with these last four games?"

The Hawkeyes will have a chance to stand up for themselves in the final month of the season, which begins with No. 17 Michigan (7-1, 3-1) Saturday at Kinnick Stadium (11 a.m. ESPN).

It's Michigan and Michigan State at Kinnick before finishing with road trips to Purdue and Big Ten newbie Nebraska. To put that in proper context, it's Big Ten Legends Division co-leader and Big Ten Legends Division co-leader. Then, it's on the road to West Lafayette, Ind., where the Hawkeyes have won just one of their last five and once since 1998 and Big Ten Legends Division co-leader.

This also will likely include Iowa's first ranked opponents -- Michigan is No. 17, Michigan State is No. 9 and Nebraska is 13th.

"Those are your words, the teeth of our schedule," coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We think all conference games are tough, at least history has proven that. When you play in a conference, if you don't take that attitude, I think you're really missing the boat, home or away, and we've got four more games left.

"I felt this morning when I woke up that we had a chance to win any of the four or five games on our schedule and we could lose any of the five. And I still feel the same way, so the season isn't over."

And that is the Hawkeyes, a 50-50 proposition since, basically, last October. In its last 12 games, Iowa is 6-6, including 2-5 in Big Ten games.

The Hawkeyes' most noteworthy win during this stretch is 27-24 over No. 12 Missouri in the Insight Bowl, a game that came down to an overturned fourth down reception that went against Missouri and Micah Hyde's 72-yard interception return for a TD.

The losses have included bitter defeats to Minnesota (twice now), Northwestern and Iowa State. The Hawkeyes were double-digit favorites in three of those four games, which were all on the road.

That's a pattern. That's lack of motivation and preparation, born out in slow starts and monumental special teams gaffes. And that should keep Ferentz awake at night.

"I think I said during the week we really didn't do a very good job of showing up last year [referring to last season's 27-24 defeat at Minnesota]," Ferentz said. "Our effort was really lacking and theirs wasn't. Today, they outplayed us in all three phases, but I don't think it was a lack of effort on our part."

That was Iowa's head coach saying his team was outplayed by Minnesota, which has won just five times in its last 20 games with two of those coming against the Hawkeyes.

Sure, all conference games are tough, but this is the teeth of the schedule. If the Hawkeyes aren't awake, it's going to bite.