Big Ten West Iowa Hawkeyes head to NYC for Bowl Game

Badger of Honor continues its tour around the Big Ten West in preparation for the 2017 college football bowl season. We look now at the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Wisconsin football faced Big Ten West Iowa late in the season. At the time, it was the Badgers first real test of the season.

After Alex Hornibrook dug a quick hole with a pick6. But field position leaned on the Hawkeyes until Wisconsin got some separation.

Ultimately, Wisconsin won 38-14 and the only Hawkeye points came on two Josh Jackson interceptions returned for TDs. But Iowa managed just five first downs and 66 total yards. Let me repeat that. Just 66 total yards.

So despite a dismal showing in Madison, Iowa is bowling again for the 15th time in its last 17 seasons. The Hawkeyes finished 7-5 overall and 4-5 in conference play.

An early season win over Iowa State has held up well. They lost badly to Purdue (24-15) before demolishing Nebraska in a rather rude send off for Mike Riley in Lincoln.

So the reward for finishing a distant third in the Big Ten West is a date in the Pinstripe Bowl and with Boston College. The Eagles sport the same 7-5 record as the Hawkeyes. Boston College comes in having won five of its last six games.

Of course the biggest storyline from a divisional perspective is whether Iowa can snap its bowl skid. The Hawkeyes have not won a bowl game since 2010. So they’re hoping to end the streak if for no other reason than to stop talking about it.

I checked in with Joe Favia over at Dear Old Gold to see how Iowa fans are feeling for this one. Here is what he told me:

"There is definitely a sense of apathy with Hawkeyes fans for this trip. There are a lot of Hawkeye alums in New York, so there are certainly a small segment of fans that are happy about the locale. On paper, this is a match up that Iowa can win. That has not been the case over the course of this miserable bowl losing streak. Some people don’t put a lot of weight into winning bowl games, especially mid-tier ones. But , for this team with some young promising talent, it is very important.Also, sending great seniors like Josey Jewell, Matt Vanderberg, Sean Welsh, and the likely early entree of All-American Josh Jackson out with a bowl win in their Iowa careers has significance."

Next: Jack Cichy Says Farewell to Madison

The Pinstripe Bowl is being held in a time slot befitting a pair of 7-5 teams. Specifically it will be on Wednesday December 27th at 3:15 p.m. CST.

Big Ten West: Iowa Hawkeyes Head to NYC for Bowl Game

By Noah Seligman | Dec 12, 2017

Badger of Honor continues its tour around the Big Ten West in preparation for the 2017 college football bowl season. We look now at the Iowa Hawkeyes.