Pre-game huddle: Iowa trophy stats, BTN-Dish saga

Iowa has lost five straight trophy games entering today's match-up with Iowa State.

In its three traditional rivalry games, the Hawkeyes have lost four games by a combined eight points (Wisconsin 31-30 in 2010, Minnesota 27-24 in 2010, Iowa State 44-41 in 2011, Minnesota 22-21 in 2011). The other trophy loss came to Nebraska, 20-7, last year in the inaugural Heroes Game. That's five trophy-game losses by a average of 4.25 points.

It's been a decade of streaks for Iowa in trophy games. Before the recent downward trend, the Hawkeyes won eight straight trophy games by a total of 176 points. That's an average of 22 points a game. Only one game, Iowa's 21-16 win against Minnesota in 2007, was decided by less than double digits. Iowa's largest margin of victory in that series was 55 points (Minnesota, 2008) and its three wins over Iowa State were by an average of 24 points.

But before the eight-game win streak there were four straight losses (2006 vs. Wisconsin, Minnesota; 2007 vs. Iowa State, Wisconsin). Iowa previously won eight straight against Minnesota, Iowa State and Wisconsin from 2002 through 2004, but the Heartland Trophy against Wisconsin wasn't inaugurated until 2004.

The best and worst streaks against those teams in recent memory: Iowa lost 10 straight from 1998 through 2001. Iowa won 14 straight between the programs from 1985 through 1989. The strangest season was 1984 when Iowa beat Iowa State 59-21, tied Wisconsin 10-10 and lost to Minnesota 23-17.

Iowa has played Minnesota for Floyd of Rosedale every year since 1935. A 98.3-pound bronze statue replaced the real pig in 1936.

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BTN-Dish saga complete

BTN and Dish Network reached a deal early Saturday morning that will enable Iowa and Iowa State fans with the satellite provider to watch the annual Cy-Hawk showdown this afternoon.

The companies reached an impasse in negotiations two weeks ago. Last week, BTN and Dish reached a short-term agreement that allowed the network to stay on Dish for one additional week. That deal expired Friday night, but the sides negotiated overnight and announced the deal this morning.

Iowa's game next week against Northern Iowa also airs on BTN.

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Here's something from earlier this week:

After Saturday's Iowa-Iowa State game at Kinnick Stadium, the visiting team no longer will receive 20 percent of the home gate revenue.

When the schools extended their football contract in 2008, the sides agreed to end the revenue-sharing agreement after 2012. From 2013 through 2017, the host school will keep all gate revenue.

The financial arrangement has favored Iowa State, which has a smaller stadium. The last four times Iowa State played at Iowa, the Cyclones took away more than $2.34 million. Iowa has earned more than $1.5 million in revenue sharing in its last four trips to Ames. Iowa State's Jack Trice Stadium holds around 55,000 fans while Kinnick Stadium's capacity is 70,585.

The schools also figure the revenue share differently. Iowa forks over 20 percent from its home date with ISU. The Cyclones give Iowa 20 percent of an average home gate.

Last year Iowa earned $428,252.60 for its trip to Ames. In 2010, Iowa State received a check for $551,813.

The schools are slated to meet on the second Saturday in September through 2017. Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said he and counterpart Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard have yet to discuss extending the series past 2017.

“There's several years left, so there's no need to discuss an extension,” Barta said. “So we haven't talked about one.”