Lessons from '09

The titanic debate this week is Iowa's close games and Kirk Ferentz's game management at the end of those.

The Hawkeyes haven't lost a game by more than nine points since 2007. In games decided by a touchdown or less during that span, Iowa is 8-12, trading a 4-2 mark in 2009 with a 2-6 mark in 2010 and so far this season.

Ferentz, fans and pretty much anyone who knows where Kinnick Stadium is prefers the 2009 result.

"We're usually not involved in a lot of blowouts. We're not quite as well endowed to count on many of those," Ferentz said. "We better be figuring out how to win the close ones. The first thing you have to do is be in close ones."

What worked in '09? (Keep in mind, Iowa also dropped two games decided by a TD or less in 2009.)

17-16 over Northern Iowa -- Iowa became the first team in Division I-A history to block field goals on consecutive plays.

24-21 over Arkansas State -- The Hawkeyes were way better than ASU. They were never really threatened.

30-28 over Michigan -- Iowa's defense came up with an interception on Michigan's final drive. That's the result Ferentz hoped for last week against Iowa State.

15-13 Michigan State -- Ricky Stanzi drove the Hawkeyes 71 yards on 11 plays with 1:37 left on the clock, scoring on a 7-yard TD pass to Marvin McNutt on the final play of the game.

Ferentz passed on a two-minute drill situation from Iowa's 20-yard line with 1:17 and two timeouts left against ISU.

"If you're in them [close games], then you have to figure out how to be successful," Ferentz said. "We did a heck of a job of that in '09."

One stat that might shed some light on this is third- and fourth-down conversions against the Hawkeyes in the fourth quarters of their last six losses. On third down, that number is 61 percent (17 of 28). Opponents are 5 of 6 on fourth down in this stretch.