Despite the disappointing loss, the University of Iowa football team heads to Columbus next weekend for a game that will determine plenty ...

Can Iowa's freshman QB James Vandenberg join USC's Matt Barkley and Purdue's Joey Elliott as QBs that have been a part of teams that have beat Ohio State in 2009?

Barkley was playing his 2Nd college football game vs. Ohio State in Columbus this season, when USC beat OSU 18-15. Joey Elliott and Purdue's 26-18 win was even more surprising, since Ohio State was going for a record win streak on the road.

Now, the game in the Horseshoe this Saturday is for the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State has lost one game in Columbus already. At Purdue, a record win streak was on the line, but OSU came up short. Maybe, the Iowa game can be 'three's a charm' for a Hawkeye team needing a little something, after the loss on Saturday.

Iowa needs to build on five major categories in Columbus:

1. Defense,
2. Special Teams,
3. Turnovers,
4. Field Position,
5. Coaching Adjustments!

Iowa's quarterback situation is what it is. Ohio State's quarterback needs to be forced into mistakes by the Iowa defense. Iowa must avoid beating themselves and giving their opponent a short field, which is how Northwestern won vs. Iowa on Saturday.

Iowa is 9-1, 5-1 in the Big Ten and is still playing for a Big Ten title, despite Iowa's disappointing 10-17 loss vs. Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. Ohio State is 8-2, 5-1 in the Big Ten and is going for it's fifth straight share or outright Big Ten title in five years.

The loss of QB Ricky Stanzi is huge for Iowa. As our the losses of RB Adam Robinson, OL Dace Richardson, WR/PR Colin Sandeman and FS Brett Greenwood have been the past two weeks. The "next man in" motto has always been a part of Iowa football under coach Kirk Ferentz.

Iowa opened the season with the loss of RB Jewel Hampton and CB Jordan Bernstine. The loss of WR/PR Paul Chaney earlier in the season required some adjustments. In Iowa's biggest game to date this season, the Hawkeyes won 21-10 at Penn State, despite missing the play of WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, LT Bryan Bulaga and TE Tony Moeaki.

Iowa still has to play out the season and see what happens. Ohio State is playing outstanding football, after a 24-7 win at Penn State this weekend. But, will the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd impact the Buckeyes? Ohio State is still a young team.

The coaching staff and players at Iowa will have to circle the wagons this week. If Iowa can get a lead and build on it, as Purdue did in their upset win, maybe Iowa can find some mojo again? In the past wins at Columbus, the TE came up big. Can we see a repeat of Marv Cook (in '87) and Alan Cross' ('91) magic in the form of TE Tony Moeaki or some other special group of Hawkeyes in 2009?

On Iowa!