The Iowa Hawkeyes have climbed to 20th on the latest U.S.A. Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The Hawkeyes improved to 4-1 in the Big Ten and 6-2 overall after a 23-13 win at Illinois. The Hawkeyes scored 16-straight third quarter points to take command and the defense yielded only 58-yards of rushing and came up with two more turnovers. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the staff is doing a fantastic job and the players are playing hard and generating a lot of energy for the team as a defense.Iowa is even thinner at running back. Ferentz says it appears Champ Davis may be lost for the season after he suffered a knee injury.The Hawkeyes are a game behind Wisconsin and Michigan in the Big Ten race and begin the stretch run at home this week against Purdue. He says to be 6-2 after two loses is the best they can be and he say the players have done a good job of preparing. He says they have to be smart about what they do with their guys to not lose them physically.
