Can we please stop mentioning bowls and Indiana in the same sentence? The Hoosiers aren't going to a bowl. They aren't good enough, tough enough, deep enough. It happens. It almost always happens to the Cream and Crimson.

There's no way they'll win at least two games against a closing schedule of Wisconsin (6-2), Penn State (8-1) and Purdue (3-6). Even if they did, that would only make them bowl eligible. To guarantee a bid they need to sweep, and that's as likely as Big Ten instant replay officials actually getting a call right in Iowa City.

And speaking of Saturday's 42-24 gut-wrenching loss to Iowa, the Hoosiers (4-5) find more ways to blow leads than father-of-eight Jon Gosselin has excuses.

What's in store for the Hoosiers? Here are a few answers:

The bottom line is bad defense. Yes, you can blame secondary injuries (safety Nick Polk and cornerback Ray Fisher were out) for creating vulnerability, but that's just making excuses. The Hoosiers should be able to play guys who can stay within, say, 20 yards of a receiver.

Actually, it's only been in the last two games, when they've been outscored 38-0. Before that they had outscored opponents in the fourth quarter 52-44. The easy answer is execution. Northwestern and Iowa executed. Indiana did not. But a more telling answer is mental toughness. Tough-minded teams make big plays in big moments. Soft teams don't.

Absolutely. There's no way there was enough video evidence to overturn the touchdown. Did it cost the Hoosiers the game? Not when you get beat by 18 points.

IU also got shafted by two other replay calls against Iowa. And how about that call at Michigan that turned a Damarlo Belcher catch into a Michigan interception? It's like somebody has a vendetta against the Hoosiers.

Let's not talk about Bob Knight right now.

Another absolutely. What are the odds of the pinball interception that Iowa's Tyler Sash returned 86 yards for a touchdown just when IU was ready to put the game away? Still, you make your own luck, and the Hawkeyes have a knack for doing that because of their resiliency and tenacity and poise. When they absolutely have to make a play, they do.

Because Texas (my No. 1 pick this week), Florida, Alabama, Oregon and Cincinnati, among others, are better. Iowa's luck lasting all the way to a national championship is as likely as Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte getting an RBI single in the World Series.

Next question.

Yes.

Mallory won 69 games in 13 years at Indiana. That's a school record for coaching victories. His teams went to six bowls in an eight-year stretch. Knute Rockne in his prime couldn't have done better. IU officials, by the way, fired Mallory in 1996. The Hoosiers went on to play some of the worst football in program history. Coincidence? You be the judge.