Hawks #4 in BCS Standings, #7 in AP, #8 in Coaches' Poll

IOWA CITY - In a year of firsts, the University of Iowa football team Sunday established another first. The unbeaten Hawkeyes climbed to No. 4 in the 2009 Bowl Championship Series, a standing that ranks as Iowa's best in the 12-year history of the BCS.

Iowa is still #7 in the A.P. Poll and #8 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. Both were released Sunday. (Find the polls below) -Click here to see The Gazette's Mike Hlas AP Top 25 football ballot for Week 8-

Hawkeye fans are enjoying a heart-stopping 15-13 win at Michigan State from Saturday Night. Iowa quarterback Ricki Stanzi threw an 8-yard TD pass to Marvin McNutt on the game's final play for the victory. Stanzi quarterbacked the Hawkeyes on the frantic drive in the game's final two minutes, taking over after the Spartans led Iowa 13-9 off a late score.

Iowa is 8-0 for the first time in program history and are sitting on top of the Big Ten conference. The Hawkeyes' final four games of the regular season feature three home games, with only a road game at Ohio State remaining away from Kinnick.

What makes Iowa's season unusual is that the Hawkeyes have put together their best performances away from Kinnick. Convincing wins at Iowa State and Wisconsin are rounded out by late victories at Penn State and Michigan State. However, the Hawkeyes have struggled at home, doing just enough to beat Northern Iowa, Arkansas State and a rebuilding Michigan program.

On the national scene, Iowa has won 12 straight games dating back to 2008, the second-longest winning streak in the nation.

Coming up on Saturday, the Hawkeyes host the University of Indiana Hoosiers who are 4 and 4 for the the season.

BCS Standings:

1. Florida

2. Alabama

3. Texas

4. Iowa

5. USC

6. TCU

7. Boise State

8. Cincinnati

9. LSU

10. Oregon

11. Georgia Tech

12. Penn State

13. Virginia Tech

14. Oklahoma State

15. Pittsburgh

16. Utah

17. Ohio State

18. Houston

19. Miami (FL)

20. Arizona

21. West Virginia

22. South Carolina

23. Notre Dame

24. California

25. Mississippi

AP Top 25 Poll:

1. Florida

2. Alabama

3. Texas

4. USC

5. Cincinnati

6. Boise State

7. Iowa

8. TCU

9. LSU

10. Oregon

11. Georgia Tech

12. Penn State

13. Oklahoma State

14. Virginia Tech

15. Houston

16. Pittsburgh

17. Ohio State

18. Miami (FL)

19. Utah

20. West Virginia

21. South Carolina

22. Oklahoma

23. Arizona

24. Mississippi

25. Notre Dame

USA Today Coaches' Poll:

1. Florida

2. Alabama

3. Texas

4. Southern California

5. Boise State

6. TCU

7. Cincinnati

8. Iowa

9. LSU

10. Penn State

11. Georgia Tech

12. Oregon

13. Oklahoma State

14. Virginia Tech

15. Ohio State

16. Houston

17. Pittsburgh

18. Miami (Fla.)

19. Utah

20. West Virginia

21. South Carolina

22. Mississippi

23. Oklahoma

24. Arizona

25. Notre Dame

-By Scott Saville, KCRG-TV9 Sports