Before the season began, Iowa players discussed openly how their motivation had more to do with finishing 0-2 a year ago than their 12-0 start. Those losses to Michigan State in the Big Ten title game and Stanford in the Rose Bowl prevented a special season from being cemented as legendary, and the goal was to reach similar heights -- if not go higher.
But through seven games in 2016, Iowa's play has been uneven. A stunning loss to FCS foe North Dakota State was followed by an uninspiring victory at Rutgers and a loss to Northwestern.