After escaping with eight come-from-behind wins during a 9–0 start to the season, living on the edge finally caught up with Iowa in a 17–10 loss to Northwestern.

The loss snapped the nation’s second-longest winning streak at 13 games, effectively ending the Hawkeyes’ hopes of an undefeated season and a chance to compete in the BCS national title game.

“Very disappointing day, certainly for our football team, everybody involved,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, whose last loss came at Illinois (27–24) on Nov. 1 last year.

“Nobody wants to lose. We don’t want to lose any week. It’s also a reality every time you hit the field — somebody’s going to go down, somebody’s going to win. So, if you can’t handle that part of it, you need to get out of the game.”

After jumping out to a 10–0 lead, Iowa suffered a knockout blow when quarterback Ricky Stanzi sustained a serious ankle sprain and lost a fumble in the end zone following a hit from 6’7”, 280-pound Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootton.

Following the big hit, Wildcat defensive tackle Marshall Thomas fell on the live football in the end zone to start a run of 17 unanswered points in Northwestern’s third straight win at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Stanzi’s fumble was one of four turnovers forced by Northwestern’s defense, which also held Iowa to just 65 rushing yards and a 4-of-14 conversion rate on third downs.

“They made it tough on us. They made it hard for us to make plays. They forced turnovers, didn’t give us anything easy for the most part. That’s a good defense,” said Ferentz.

With Stanzi on crutches, redshirt freshman quarterback James Vanderberg took over, completing 9-of-27 passes for 82 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception in a losing effort. Vanderberg entered the game having completed 2-of-3 passes for 38 yards earlier this season in a blowout at Iowa State.

It won’t get any easier for the 6’3”, 205-pound Keokuk, Iowa, native who owns the state high school records for career passing yards (7,709) and touchdown passes (93). The Hawkeyes travel to the Horseshoe in Columbus to take on Ohio State next week — with a chance to remain the favorite to win the Big Ten championship and their first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1991 — and all eyes will be on Vanderberg.

“I think James will be a better player next week. I’m not going to say he’ll be comfortable. Very tough environment we’re going to walk into,” said Ferentz, who carries a 14–27 record following a loss since taking over at Iowa in 1999.

“We don’t have any choices. We just have to go out and keep playing.”

Air Jordan

Texas receiver Jordan Shipley soared to the top of the UT record books during a 35–3 domination of Central Florida.

The 6’0”, 190-pound senior from Burnet, Texas, had 11 catches for a school-record 273 yards and an 88-yard touchdown. In the process, Shipley set a new Longhorns’ single-game record — surpassing Tony James’ 242-yard effort against Pittsburgh in the 1987 Bluebonnet Bowl.

Shipley also topped 1,000 yards receiving on the season — joining Roy Williams as the only players to do so in two different seasons — and 200 catches in his career — joining Williams (241) and Quan Crosby (212).

So far this season, Shipley has 75 receptions for 1,050 yards and six trips to the end zone in nine games. For his career, he has hauled in 207 catches for 2,756 yards and 26 scores with five games remaining in his Longhorn career.

“If he’s not in the middle of the Biletnikoff (Award running), I don’t know how anybody else could be better than he is right now. Some may look better walking in the door, and I think that’s one of his problems,” said Texas coach Mack Brown. “I don’t think he gets the credit for his toughness, his decision-making and his speed that he deserves.”

Shipley’s roommate, UT quarterback Colt McCoy, came within four yards of breaking assistant coach and former Longhorn great Major Applewhite’s single-game passing record of 473 yards. McCoy completed 33-of-42 passes for 470 yards, two touchdowns and one interception before being pulled from the game with a 32-point lead and just over 9:00 left in the fourth quarter.

“I brought Colt and Jordan over. I said, ‘Hey, we’ve got some goals out there and neither of them are most passing yards today so let’s be smart here,’” said Brown, whose Horns aim to handle their business at Baylor, Kansas, Texas A&M and the Big 12 title game before reaching their ultimate destination of the BCS national championship game.