Iowa is used to this feeling. And that's exactly the problem.
After a 12-2 start to the 2020-21 season, the Hawkeyes encountered the dreaded Franuary slide. They recently endured a 1-4 spell, dropping into the danger zone at 7-5 in Big Ten play and 13-6 overall. In early February, they fell outside of the AP Top 10 for the first time all season.
At that moment, Iowa's schedule still contained Rutgers, Michigan State, two matchups with No. 21 Wisconsin and one clash opposite both No. 4 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan. The most concerning part was history has showed it might not get better.