Gruen: Iowa Finally Gets Its Chance To Quiet Critics

By Seth Gruen--

(CBS) Undefeated used to mean something. Whether you're in the NAIA or the SEC, winning each of your regular-season games meant something about a team's preparedness, its ability to play its best every single week.

For No. 4 Iowa, though, its 12-0 record has been more about its opponents. It's about the cupcakes the Hawkeyes have played or who they haven't played, depending on your perspective. Overlooked are road wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin, which were both ranked at game time. Instead, people choose to point out that Iowa avoided Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan during the regular season — a function entirely of the Big Ten's scheduling.

No matter how weak the Hawkeyes' schedule is perceived to be, it seems awful dismissive, considering they're a team that 32nd in the country in rushing yards per game (203.7) and 15th in points against (18.7).

Though I think the Hawkeyes are deserving of their high ranking, Saturday's Big Ten championship against the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans provides them an opportunity to prove themselves to the rest of the country. Yes, it's obvious to most, but I believe there's a segment of the country that still may not believe in the Hawkeyes -- even if they win Saturday's game.

Now, by the way, is as good a time as any to say that I believe Iowa will win. The Hawkeyes are the better team.

That's no slight to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who is a top-five coach on anyone's list. It's also not a slight to Spartans quarterback Connor Cook, who should be a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Michigan State is probably the more talented team, which would ordinarily be a reason to pick it if Iowa didn't play the game so darn well.

This Iowa team is so good at who it wants to be. Maybe that sounds like philosophical mumbo-jumbo, but in the pass-happy, spread-obsessed world of college football, the Hawkeyes seem to state every game that they want to win the "old school" way.

Iowa has four players, including quarterback C.J. Beathard, who have at least six rushing touchdowns. The Hawkeyes control the ball, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and also have big play ability. Those same four players each have touchdown runs of more than 50 yards.

There are several coaches out there who would want to win this way, but the spread has taken over college football. There are a few reasons for that, but namely players are more athletic and it's a more appealing style for recruits. But what goes unmentioned is that running the ball and playing defense consistently is just so hard to duplicate.

It nearly got coach Kirk Ferentz run out of Iowa City after five previous mediocre seasons. This one was a job saver. It will probably keep him at Iowa for years to come, this after his skeptics called for him to change his philosophy entirely.

On Saturday night, you'll see just how good Iowa is at being, well, Iowa. And when the Hawkeyes win, will anyone dare pick them to win the national championship?

I just might have to.

Seth Gruen is columnist for CBSChicago.com, focusing on college sports. You can follow him on Twitter @SethGruen.