ISU plays, Iowa roots for the Maize and Blue

The Iowa State Cyclones are headed for a third-straight bowl game but just how nice of a bowl will have a lot to do with the outcome of tomorrow’s season finale against Connecticut.The Cyclones have dropped four of their last five games and stand 7-5 on the season. U-Conn is 5-6 but Cyclone coach Dan McCarney says the Huskies are finishing strong.McCarney says U-Conn’s shutout of Navy last week is proof of how well the Huskies are playing.McCarney says the Cyclones will face a motivated opponent that’s on a roll and this is like their bowl game.The Iowa Hawkeyes trade in their black and gold tomorrow for the Michigan maize and blue. If the Wolverines upset second-ranked Ohio State the Hawkeyes would be the sole Big Ten champs and lock up a spot in the Rose Bowl.If the Buckeyes win they will play in the Fiesta Bowl for the national title. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says regardless of the outcome the 5th-ranked Hawkeyes will end up in a major bowl.Ferentz says if Miami or Ohio State losses the debate turns to which one-loss team deserves a shot at the national title. He says that’s the problem with not having a playoff, but he says he’s not worrying a lot about it.