Your Indiana two deeps

The check has arrived -- Running back Adam Robinson isn't listed on this week's two deeps. Safety Brett Greenwood is listed as a starter after being carted off with a head/upper-body injury. Wide receiver Colin Sandeman is listed as a No. 2 after being knocked unconscious against Michigan State.

Robinson has a left-ankle sprain. From TV replays, it looked like a high-ankle sprain (foot bends out instead of in), but that's just a guess.

Here's what Robinson said about his ankle Saturday night:

Obviously, OL Dace Richardson isn't on the two deeps. He suffered a broken bone in his lower left leg Saturday night and is out at least until Iowa's bowl game, Kirk Ferentz said on his TV show Sunday night. 

Stanzi on O'Brien list --  Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi has made the list of O'Brien finalists.

FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 26, 2009) - The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O'Brien) announced today its 2009 O'Brien Semifinalist List. Narrowed down from all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks, the list highlights 15 individuals who will vie for the oldest and most prestigious award honoring the nation's best college quarterback. The 2009 O'Brien Semifinalists represent schools from the following conferences: ACC (1), Big East (2), Big Ten (2), Big 12 (3), Conference USA (1), Independent (1), Mid-American (1), Pac-10 (2), SEC (1) and the WAC (1).

2009 O'Brien Semifinalists

Matt Barkley FR USC Pac-10

Daryll Clark SR Penn State Big Ten

Jimmy Clausen JR Notre Dame Independent

Jacory Harris SO Miami ACC

Case Keenum JR Houston Conference USA

Dan LeFevour SR Central Michigan Mid-American

Jake Locker JR Washington Pac-10

Colt McCoy SR Texas Big 12

Kellen Moore SO Boise State WAC

Tony Pike SR Cincinnati Big East

Todd Reesing SR Kansas Big 12

Zac Robinson SR Oklahoma State Big 12

Ricky Stanzi JR Iowa Big Ten

Bill Stull SR Pittsburgh Big East

Tim Tebow SR Florida SEC

Saturday on ESPN -- Mark Jones and Bob Davie are calling the ESPN telecast of Saturday's game with Indiana. Shade of 2002, when Jones and Davie walked Hawkeyes fans through the Big Ten and into the Orange Bowl.

Next week, the Hawkeyes play host to Northwestern with an 11 a.m. kick also on ESPN.

Most-ever, fewest-points wins (?) -- Iowa has won four games by three points or less for the fi rst time ever. Iowa won three games by three points or less in 2004, 1987 and 1986. In 2004, Iowa won by margins of 6-4, 23-21 and 29-27, all in conference play. In 1987 Iowa had one point wins over Arizona and Wyoming and a two point decision over Ohio State.

In 1986 the Hawkeyes defeated Michigan State and Minnesota by three points before a 39-38 Holiday Bowl win over San Diego State. Iowa, in 1996, won two games by a single point and one game by seven. In 1993 Iowa had victories by one, three and four points. The 1985 championship season included wins by two, three and four points. Iowa's 9-1 season in 1956 included two wins by a single point and two six point victories.

Best start ever -- Iowa has opened the season with eight straight wins for the first time ever. The Hawkeyes won their fi rst seven games on the way to the 1985 Big Ten title. The loss, in the eighth game, was at Ohio State. Iowa also won its fi rst seven games in 1900, 1921 and 1922. The Hawkeyes played just seven games in both 1921 and 1922 and posted a 7-0-1 record in 1900.

 • Iowa is 4-0 in Big Ten play for the fi rst time since 2002 when the Hawkeyes won all eight conference games.

 • Iowa has won 12 straight games, the second longest streak in the nation. Florida has 17 straight wins. The Iowa win streak is the longest since a 20-game streak between 1920 and 1923.

• Iowa's 12-game winning streak ranks second best in the nation. Florida holds the longest win streak at 17 games. The Hawkeyes are one of seven unbeaten Division I teams and join Alabama as the only teams with perfect 8-0 records.

Tickets -- Tickets remain for all three remaining home games as Iowa hosts Indiana this week, Northwestern (Nov. 7) and Minnesota (Nov. 21). An estimated 1,400 tickets remain for Indiana, 700 for Northwestern and 1,000 for Minnesota.

Iowa-IU notes -- Iowa ranks sixth in the nation in turnover margin and Indiana is 23rd. The Hoosiers also rank 20th in QB sacks allowed and 26th in tackles for loss. Iowa ranks 51st in QB sacks, collecting four last week in a win at Michigan State.

• Indiana's Ray Fisher ranks fourth in the nation in KO returns (38.1) and DE Jammie Kirlew ranks seventh in tackles for loss (1.7 per game).

• Iowa and Indiana both average 23.6 points per game. • While Iowa rallied to win on the last play of the game last weekend at Michigan State, Indiana lost at Northwestern when the Wildcats converted a 19-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining.

Road Warriors -- Dating back to 2008, Iowa has won its last six games away from Iowa City, including wins at Minnesota, Iowa State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State, and over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl. Iowa has allowed just 46 points in those games.

It's the defense -- Iowa's defense has been solid through eight games. Iowa leads the nation with 15 pass interceptions. The Hawkeyes rank sixth in turnover margin (+1.38), fi fth in pass efficiency defense (92.7) and 14th in scoring defense (14.8) and 17th in pass defense (174.2). Iowa is also 18th in total defense (296.5) and 12th in net punting (40.6).

I've said it before, the defense is the spine of this team. And if they're down to a true freshman at running back, it's the spine, arms and legs.

102609