[OutsiderFan]

Gifting Iowa a birth in the Rose Bowl was the committee's way of giving Kirk Ferentz a lifetime achievement award.  Could Iowa beat Ohio State? Of course.  Which team is better? Ohio State.  So why would Iowa be ranked ahead of Ohio State? Because the committee is composed of a bunch of people who respect what Kirk Ferentz has done in 15 years at Iowa, and this year, and feels like he should be rewarded.

I was at the end of the year banquet for the football team when Iowa was announced as the opponent...I couldn't say people were happy.  In fact, I would say that the excitement was sucked out of the room.

The player I was seated next too said he had no clue about Iowa and was clearly disappointed that he would not have the chance to prove himself against the players of Ohio State.  The player on the opposite side of the table felt the same.

This is not good.  Bowl games are often decided by which team wants to be there to play a given opponent more.  Then again, Iowa may be just as non-plussed to play Stanford, having just missed the playoff, when they controlled their destiny.

[OutsiderFan]

Gifting Iowa a birth in the Rose Bowl was the committee's way of giving Kirk Ferentz a lifetime achievement award.  Could Iowa beat Ohio State? Of course.  Which team is better? Ohio State.  So why would Iowa be ranked ahead of Ohio State? Because the committee is composed of a bunch of people who respect what Kirk Ferentz has done in 15 years at Iowa, and this year, and feels like he should be rewarded.

I was at the end of the year banquet for the football team when Iowa was announced as the opponent...I couldn't say people were happy.  In fact, I would say that the excitement was sucked out of the room.

The player I was seated next too said he had no clue about Iowa and was clearly disappointed that he would not have the chance to prove himself against the players of Ohio State.  The player on the opposite side of the table felt the same.

This is not good.  Bowl games are often decided by which team wants to be there to play a given opponent more.  Then again, Iowa may be just as non-plussed to play Stanford, having just missed the playoff, when they controlled their destiny.