My No. 9 -- 2009 Michigan State

When I've had Iowa coaches alone or semi-alone talking about players, the conversation usually includes the term "toughness." These guys don't just throw that word out there because it sounds pretty cool in a notebook.

It's going in for a tackle and slamming heads with a teammate. We had that here, with free safety Brett Greenwood going off on a cart after butting helmets with safety Tyler Sash.

It's going for a ball when you know you're a dead man. This game cost Colin Sandeman consciousness and a couple games.

It was offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe listening to first-year wide receiver Marvin McNutt and calling his number on the game's final play. It's McNutt having the defensive back line up exactly where he wanted to run and beating him anyway.

It's quarterback Ricky Stanzi brushing off a pedestrian game like so much dandruff and coming through in the clutchiest of clutch.

After sweating out the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup playoffs, I don't know how you folks made it through 2oo9.

__________

Headline: 8 and Oh yes!

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Whatever happens from here on out, this team walks where no Iowa team has.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 8-0. This is a first in school history. This is fabulous to the very last drop.

Ricky Stanzi, 7 yards, Marvin McNutt, two seconds.

Iowa wins.

Stanzi to McNutt to ... who knows where.

After falling behind with 1:37 left, the Hawkeyes drove 71 yards on 11 plays and stunned just about everyone who cares about college football.

Stanzi. McNutt. Seven yards. Two seconds. Eight and ohhh wow.

"We really just had to take it play-by-play," said Stanzi, who completed 4 of 9 for 60 yards on the final drive. "We couldn't worry too far down the road. Get the first play and keep the chains moving."

The Spartans (4-4, 3-2 Big Ten) had a three-game winning streak snapped. And their hearts shattered and emotions tattered.

Stanzi drove the Hawkeyes 70 yards on 10 plays. He hit McNutt, the first read, who got a perfect release on the inside of MSU corner Chris L. Rucker and pulled it in.

"Everything went perfectly on that play," said McNutt, who played just two plays last week because of a jammed thumb. "He was on my inside shoulder, I got a release and I just thanked God I caught that ball."

For the first time, Iowa is 8-0. The best before tonight was the 7-0 start in 1985 and a couple of 7-0 seasons when seasons were seven games. Back when gas was a dime and before there was color TV.

Everything is in blazing color for the No. 7 Hawkeyes (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten). There's no black and white. Win and chase down the unbelievable.

Iowa's win streak is now 12 games, that's the second-longest in school history behind an insane 20-game run.

"All we were worried about was getting to 8-0," Stanzi said after the 15-13 victory. "It was tough and we knew it would be tough. We have a good group of guys who want to win, want to play hard and want to win for Coach Ferentz."

While every syndicated national sports radio or print kumquat scoffs, this team just does its job. At Penn State, no problem. At Wisconsin, no sweat. At Spartan Stadium, in front of 74,414 green clads, on the road, during prime time, the Hawkeyes found a way for the first time since 1995, ending a streak of 0-for-Kirk Ferentz in East Lansing.

Next, Indiana. But really, next is fireworks. Iowa is in the national championship conversation, loudly and clearly. It's fireworks from here until Nov. 14 at Ohio State, the last place Ferentz hasn't won in his 11 seasons as Iowa's coach.

It's fireworks until Columbus. Saturday night, it was nuclear.

Stanzi. McNutt. Two seconds. 15-13. Eight and ohhhh, what's next?

"For Rick to take the team like he did on that last series, it was absolutely amazing," Ferentz said. "Outstanding, great effort, team effort, but Rick orchestrated things."

The faceoff of field goals continued into the fourth quarter.

This time, it was the Spartans' turn for a goal-line stand.

After back-to-back runs from Wegher (12) and Robinson (11), the Hawkeyes had first-and-goal from the 1. On first down, Robinson was strung to the left and dropped for no gain. On second, Stanzi tried a boot pass to fullback Brett Morse, but it was doomed by a big MSU rush.

On third down, Robinson tried stringing the play to the left, again, but met a gaggle of Spartans defenders and lost a yard.

Murray booted a 20-yard field goal for a 6-6 tie with 11:43 left in the game. Murray, who's now made eight of his last nine field goals, also tied it 3-3 in the first half with a 37-yard line-drive.

The brutality again reared its head with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter.

Iowa wide receiver Colin Sandeman took a head shot from cornerback Jeremy Ware, who was called for taunting after the play, giving Iowa first down at MSU's 45 with 7:19 left. Sandeman walked off the field in a woozy state.

To say Iowa made the most of that call is a monumental understatement.

Then, Michigan State executed a hook-and-lateral that goes into the dictionary as "hook-and-lateral."

Cousins hit B.J. Cunningham for 12 yards and Cunningham tossed to White, who caught it in full stride and took the ball to Iowa's 30.

On second-and-10, Cousins slipped out of the pocket and avoide two rushers before finding a wide-open White for a 30-yard TD with 1:37 left, putting up the Spartans, 13-9. White caught the ball in front of Joe Conklin, who replaced Greenwood.

Any national championship talk went up in flames on a hook-and-lateral.

Oh no, wait.

Stanzi. McNutt. Seven yards. Two seconds. Eight and ohhhh my. Oh, oh my.