Iowa Moves Up in USA Today, AP Polls

Oct. 31, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Hawkeyes climbed three position in the weekly Associated Press Top 25 and two positions to No. 16 in this week’s USA Top 25 poll after their 37-7 thumping of Michigan State, a win that pushed the No. 5 ranked Spartans down to No. 15 in the list that is voted on by the coaches.

Iowa and Michigan State are two of four Big Ten Conference teams in the USA Today list. Wisconsin is ranked seventh and Ohio State eighth in both polls.

Oregon, Auburn, Boise State, Texas Christian and Alabama are the coaches’ top five teams. Oregon, Boise State, TCU and Alabama are the top five according to AP.

The weekly Bowl Championship Series standings will be released today at 7:15 p.m., Iowa time.

The victory over Michigan State was Iowa’s first over a team ranked in the top five in the nation since a 21-10 win at fourth-ranked Penn State in 2009. It also made Iowa bowl-eligible for the 10th straight season.

The Hawkeyes, 6-2 overall and one of four teams with just one loss in conference play, travel to Indiana this Saturday and Northwestern on Nov. 13 before returning to Iowa City on Nov. 20 for a date with Ohio State on Senior Day and Fan Appreciation Day at Kinnick Stadium.

The victory over Michigan State was Iowa’s first over a team ranked in the top five in the nation since a 21-10 win at fourth-ranked Penn State in 2009. Iowa’s last home win over a top-five opponent was a 24-23 victory over third-ranked Penn State in 2008. Iowa has two victories over ranked opponents this season (No. 20 Penn State, 24-3 and No. 5 Michigan State, 37-6), both at home in Kinnick Stadium.

The win also made Iowa eligible for a post-season bowl game for the 10th straight season. Game time for Iowa’s game at Bloomington, Ind., is 11 a.m. Iowa time with live national television coverage being provided in high definition by the Big Ten Network.

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