Stat Pak: Tuesday morning, 6:30 a.m.

1) You want to know about a bowl game. The simple answer is no one knows for sure. Yeah, that stinks for everyone (hey, I want to know if I'll be home for Christmas), but it's reality. If the Big Ten gets two BCS teams, Iowa has a great shot at the Outback Bowl. That's the bowl that WR Kevonte Martin-Manley mentioned during Friday's postgame. This was about 20 minutes after enjoying the victory in the locker room. Iowa's bowl destination might've come up during what was a raucous celebration. Right now, that looks like it could be Ohio State and Michigan State. It's far from a cinch. Too many moving parts. Let's stay tuned. I'm eager to see the B1G title game. Michigan State doesn't seem breakable. Ohio State is clutch.

2) Iowa should be ranked. It won't be, probably, but you could make a case. And, no, it's not a huge deal unless you consider the fact that Iowa has been out of the polls since week 13 2010, when it was 7-4 going into a game at Minnesota. Iowa lost and hasn't been ranked since, which has included exactly 50 ranking periods if you count pre- and postseason. You remember that in 2010 Iowa started the season ranked and dropped. So, it'll be tough to break in. Here are the bottom five right now: Notre Dame, Duke, USC, UCLA and Louisville. Two of those teams are losing/have lost tonight. OK, that's enough rankings talk. Wait, if Iowa wins its bowl, it likely will end the season ranked. That is a big deal. That would be another helmet sticker of progress and it would probably start the Hawkeyes as a ranked team in 2014.

3) Speaking of progress, it's right there for everyone to see. Iowa completed a 4-8 to 8-4 flip. That's the fourth biggest swing in the country (Auburn +8, Boston College +5 and Missouri +5). When this team walked off the field after falling to Nebraska last season, it couldn't get out of the Kinnick locker room fast enough. The last six weeks of the season were a sleeper hold. I remember a couple of thoughts that day from players who would be back and who would start what turned out to be a successful excavation of Iowa football. Senior LB James Morris: “Tuesday,” when asked after NU last season when postseason workouts started, “6:30 in the morning. It'll be cold getting there. Whatever temperature it is plus the 30 mph wind you feel on a moped.” And senior DE Dominic Alvis: "Tuesday morning we're going to be getting after it, 6:30 a.m.”

Morris again, "This can make us or break us. You can change and respond or we can keep doing it and the next thing you know, you have a loser attitude. As a returning guy, I have to make sure it's the former and not the latter.” This was last year after Nebraska. It wasn't all that different from Morris yesterday. Once you lock in maybe you can't unlock. Several players also reminded reporters that there was one more game to go.

As the outside-Iowa-world gnashed against the void that was the 4-8 postseason (the talking stops with no bowls, too), the program went to work. One theme that surfaced, at least to me, was the mention of video review. Morris, LB Christian Kirksey, LB Anthony Hitchens and DT Carl Davis mentioned it a bunch of times in the spring and at different points this season.  Whether it was the film or weight room, there was some spark here somewhere that took for what ended up being an impressive attitude bypass.

4) Last week in this space I asked you who you liked in the Big Ten title game. The stakes have changed some this week, no? Here's the debate: Does Auburn jump the Buckeyes in the BCS standings? Ohio State gave up 603 yards to a Michigan team that generate just 158 yards the previous week at Kinnick Stadium. The Buckeyes are flawed, but I think they get their shot. OSU has taken care of its business. So has Auburn, with a ton more fanfare, mind you, but OSU has showed up and for 24 consecutive weeks. I think Ohio State. Still, there's the matter of the B1G championship game and, oh yeah, Auburn will continue its amazing turnaround season (0-8 last year in the SEC?) with a berth in the SEC title game against either Missouri or South Carolina (I'm watching Iowa hoops and the Blackhawks now, so I don't know how that's going). BTW, Michigan State has been the toughest team in the Big Ten this season. Once the Spartans got on course with Connor Cook -- man, was that painful -- it's been all systems go with a championship-caliber defense. I might have a Big Ten title game party. You're all invited.

5) Why not take a peek ahead? On offense, Iowa will have seven returning starters and, no, I'm not counting LT Brandon Scherff. I don't know anything, I'm just going on the percentages Iowa has had with O-linemen leaving early for the draft (1-for-3 with Robert Gallery being the one and Bryan Bulaga and Riley Reiff being the two and three). Scherff really took in the celebration yesterday, but that also might be because he's from western Iowa (Denison) and probably has heard quite a bit of Nebraska fandom his entire life. Don't read too much into it. It's a topic, and it will be decided in time.

Seven returning starters, including QB Jake Rudock and RB Mark Weisman, who has a chance to rush for 1,000 yards this season despite not being over 100 since Sept. 28 (although it felt like more than 100 in the last two games, 88 vs. Michigan and 72 vs. Nebraska). On defense, the senior trio at LB will be gone. (I asked LB coach LeVar Woods in the spring if all three were NFL-caliber and he said yes and, after seeing them do their things behind a terrifically improved D-line, I'm inclined to agree.) Iowa will have six starters return, with all four D-linemen (not to mention the top reserve at DT) and corner Desmond King and strong safety John Lowdermilk. The spotlight players should be DTs Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat. They've been one of the Big Ten's best tackle tandems. Pass rush needs to emerge. Jordan Lomax probably wins the corner opposite King. And Nico Law should have a clear shot at the open safety spot. Punter Connor Kornbrath will be a junior. Iowa will need a new kicker and I would bet on that being Marshall Koehn, who comes with a "very strong leg" endorsement from current kicker Mike Meyer.

1) Iowa LB Anthony Hitchens/Christian Kirksey/James Morris – What didn't they do? Here are the numbers from yesterday: 28 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions (Morris' led to a first-quarter TD), seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and three QB hurries. How many hits did they have on NU QB Ron Kellogg? Why don't I track hits as a stat? I really need to go over the tracking of games for next season.

Here's a tweet from Iowa assistant Jim Reid, who just finished his first season as Iowa's inside LBs coach:

Nebraska game...After GRADING the tape. Those SENIOR BACKERS played their HEARTS out. OUR TEAM played their HEARTS out. PROUD to be a HAWKNovember 30, 2013

Nebraska game...After GRADING the tape. Those SENIOR BACKERS played their HEARTS out. OUR TEAM played their HEARTS out. PROUD to be a HAWK

— Jim Reid (@IowaCoachJReid)

When 140 characters and some ALL CAPS says it all. (BTW, I wonder about the affect Reid has had on this defense. Remember, he's a veteran coach who's done a lot and was DC at Virginia just last season.)

2) Iowa WR Kevonte Martin-Manley - Football can be a cruel sport, but it's also a sport that will allow you a chance to dig your way out. With about six minutes left in the third quarter, Martin-Manley had a 13-yard TD pass slide through his gloves. Less than two minutes later, he dug himself out, making an impressive grab for a 24-yard TD. He actually made the tougher of the two catches. KMM has shown a ton of leadership helping to bring a long a group of young WRs. He doesn't get enough credit for that. Very mature and seems to be a calming presence.

3) RB Jordan Canzeri - My theory at RB is Iowa values Mark Weisman's skill set slightly over Jordan Canzeri because Weisman has the strength and balance to work within the zone blocking scheme. Iowa RBs often have to run through a car wash, and Weisman is 236 pounds and really pretty great at this. Outside zone plays into the boundary are a power football statement. It's making space with Scherff and the OL creating it along with Weisman. That's my theory on how it works. I might be wrong.

Canzeri has a piece of the pie and he certainly maximizes his opportunities. It started with the 43-yard gain against Wisconsin and has kept rolling. After not seeing a carry for three weeks, Canzeri has run up 388 total yards the last four games. He rushed 33 times for 332 yards (7.7 yards a carry) and has caught three passes for 56 yards, including a 29-yarder that helped set up a TD yesterday and was mostly him shaking a tackle and making YAC. That's 10.7 yards on 36 touches the last four weeks. Friday, he led the Hawkeyes with 104 total yards, which included a 16-yard kick return, on eight touches. That's 13 yards a touch, including the 37-yarder that set up Weisman's 2-yard TD run and broke Nebraska's back. Canzeri broke into space and went for 37. Weisman made space and crashed in from the 2. Could Canzeri do the 2-yard thing? Certainly. Does Weisman's 235 pounds fit that role better? Yes.

Is it a healthy situation? They all seem to dig their roles and they all seem to dig winning.

1) 'Tightening' is taking the week off - Instead, here's a video from Gazette photographer Jim Slosiarek.

2) All the Tiger Hawks on the helmets were straight . . . - I once wrote, jokingly, that the only blemish during some Iowa win during the 2002 season was one Tiger Hawk wasn't straight on a helmet. The head manager -- I can't remember his name, he was from CR, I believe -- e-mailed me and wasn't happy. I ended up writing something in apology. Those guys take that extremely seriously, so it's not a joking matter. One thing that is kind of freakish, in my opinion, is how all the "ANF" stickers seem to be stuck in the same spot on every helmet. I'm sure they all are and I'm sure it's intentional. The managers work their bones to dust.

3) They won at Nebraska for the first time since 1943 - I think from the second Iowa beat Purdue and went into the second bye week, Ferentz thought Iowa could win its final two games. There was a confidence. If nothing else has been stamped on this 8-4 season, it's Ferentz's standard. That comes through in line play. Iowa was miles better in line play this season. If that's back, then, yes, the 3.0 has started.

1) Fake punt - OK, I went through it and Iowa was fooled for six straight fake kicks, punts and FGs included, going into the Nebraska attempt in the third quarter Friday. I've always written that it was six straight fake punts. I was wrong. Here's the breakdown: Northern Illinois had the one that went for 42 yards and led to a field goal in a 30-27 NIU win. Then, Oct. 5 at Kinnick, Michigan State punter Mike Sadler gained 25 yards that also led to a field goal in MSU's 26-14 victory. Those are the obvious. Iowa got beat by one vs. Eastern Illinois in 2010. Of course, you remember Brad Nortman and the one that  Wisconsin pulled off in the Badgers' thrilling 31-30 win at Kinnick in 2010. There were two fakes, but they weren't punts. Penn State got off a fake field goal vs. Iowa in 2011. MSU also pulled off a fake FG in '11.

Iowa was all over this one. Credit DE Drew Ott for forcing Sam Foltz to bubble and allowing Christian Kirksey to come in and make the tackle for an 8-yard loss. Excellent recognition by the sophomore, who's grown his game this season and will soon be known more for his game than his 450-mile moped ride across Iowa to his home in Nebraska.

2) Canzeri's 37-yard run- OK, forget about the result. Do yourself a favor and check out sophomore WR Jacob Hillyer's effort on this play. He cracks back and de-cleats DL Pat Smith and keeps his momentum and walls off two other Huskers, allowing Scherff to break into the open field and keep Canzeri clean down the sideline.

Here's what takes a 4-8 team to 8-4: Hillyer has caught three passes in seven weeks and Friday, when Iowa is trying to ice the Huskers, he makes a great block to help spring the play. That's staying locked in, just like backup QB C.J. Beathard making a run check to that play. He's played how many snaps this season? This shows a deep level of engagement. That's coaching, that's buying in.

Here it is:

– No idea.

-- South Carolina in the Outback?

-- Someone in the Gator?

-- Two Big Ten teams in BCS?

-- So many questions, no answers. Dec. 8 is when we'll know officially.

Iowa - 4 of 5 (NIU: 2-for-3; MSU: 4 of 6; ISU 2 of 5; WMU 2 of 5; Minn 1 of 4; Mich St 1 of 2; OSU 2 of 3; NU 2 of 3; WI 0 of 4; P 4 of 5; Mich 2 of 5)

Nebraska - 2 of 4 (NIU: 0-for-2; MSU: 0-for-1; ISU 1 of 1; WMU 0 of 2; Minn 0 of 0; Mich St 0 of 3; OSU 3 of 5; NU 1 of 2; WI 3 of 3; P 1 of 1; Mich 2 of 2)

This is a number that wins games. It was also helped out a ton by the defense. Iowa got two TDs out of turnovers and had five TD drives of 25, 41, 24, 39 and 27. Brilliantly efficient. 

Iowa 7 - Three of these came in the first half when Iowa took a 14-3 lead. (NIU 6, MSU 6, ISU 5, WMU 9, Minn 3; Mich St 4; OSU 0; NU 2; WI 5; P 1; Mich 8 )

Nebraska 5 - Four of these came in the second half, when your blood pressure was doing funny things. (NIU: 3, MSU: 3, ISU 4, WMU 3, Minn 1; Mich St 9; OSU 0; NU 1; WI 8 ; P 3; Mich 4)

Iowa - 141 yards-5.2 yards a play (27 plays) (NIU: 156-4.7, 33 plays; MSU: 285-6.47, 44 plays; ISU: 192-4.92, 39 plays; WMU 287-6.37, 45 plays, Minn 235-6.02, 39 plays; Mich St 104-2.97, 35 plays; OSU 153-8.5, 18 plays; NU 150-4.8, 31 plays; WI 163-4.3, 38 plays; P 259-7.2, 36 plays; Mich 237-6.2, 38 plays)

Nebraska - 171 yards-3.8 yards a play (45 plays) (NIU: 234-4.77, 49 plays; MSU: 130-5.2, 25 plays; ISU: 258-7.58, 34 plays; WMU: 89-4.68, 19 plays; Minn: 85-3.54, 19 plays; 210-4.8, 39 plays; OSU 306-5.77, 53 plays; NU 208-5.47, 38 plays; WI 216-6.4, 34 plays; P 127-3.9, 32 plays; 45-1.9, 23 plays)

OK, look at the Michigan numbers -- 45 yards in the second half, 1.9 yards a play and just 23 plays. The Wolverines had 603 yards against Ohio State today. This is a crazy game. These numbers show a slugfest, but they don't show the Huskers' three turnovers.

Iowa 4 - Canzeri had two of these, including a 29-yard reception that led to a TD and a 37-yard rush that led to another TD. He made a guy miss on a check-down reception and just made a play. Martin-Manley had two of these, grabbing the 24-yard TD and a 36-yarder that was a beautiful route and a fantastic pass from Rudock. (NIU: 3, MSU: 4; ISU 3; WMU 4; Minn 4; Mich St 2; OSU 3; NU 2; WI 3; P 4; Mich 5 )

Nebraska 1 - The Huskers' first play of the game was a 25-yard pass to Kenny Bell. On the same drive there was a 32-yard reception that was nullified for an illegal touch. The drive ended in LB Anthony Hitchens' first career interception. (NIU: 5. MSU: 4; ISU 4; WMU 1; Minn 2; Mich St 5; OSU 2; NU 2; WI 3; P 3; Mich 0 )

Iowa 0 - Didn't need any clutch points. (vs NIU: 7, vs MSU: 0; vs ISU 6; vs. WMU 14; vs. Minn 0; Mich St 7; OSU 0; NU 0; WI 0; P 7; Mich 0 )

Nebraska 3 - I don't think it's a huge thing, but Iowa has given up 31 points in this column in the last three games. Oh, Iowa won all three? Never mind. (NIU: 3, vs MSU: 0; ISU 0, vs. WMU 0; Minn 0; Mich St 0; OSU 0; NU 0; WI 14; P 7; Mich 7 )

4 - It's not a knockout number, but that punches came from the defense and were mostly in the form of turnovers. (vs NIU: 5; vs MSU: 6; vs ISU 7; vs WMU 10; Minn 8; Mich St 2; OSU 4; NU 5; WI 7; P 13; Mich 10)