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Why is it so difficult to go undefeated in college football?  Just take a look at No. 4 and unbeaten Iowa.  The Hawkeyes are 8-0, and only have four more games standing in their way from a likely BCS title shot.  Three of those four are at home, and are very winnable: Indiana, Northwestern, and Minnesota sans Eric Decker.  The one true test is on the road at Ohio State, difficult but not nearly as intimidating or impossible as in years past.

But now, as often happens late in a football season, the injuries are piling up.  Leading rusher Adam Robinson suffered an ankle injury against Michigan State, and will now miss the rest of the regular season.  Robinson, just a redshirt-freshman himself, will be replaced by true freshman Brandon Wegher.  This is after already losing presumptive starter Jewel Hampton before the season even started.  In another blow to the running game, starting guard Dace Richardson is also out for the regular season after breaking a bone in his leg.

Iowa is 8th in the human polls, but ranks 4th in the BCS behind the strength of top billing by the computers.  The real live people doubt the team because they needed a miracle (blocked field goals on consecutive plays) to beat Northern Iowa by one point at home, and just squeaked by Arkansas St. by three also at home.  Then the Hawkeyes need a literal last second touchdown to beat Michigan State last week. 

Looking at all this as a college football fan you have to understand that luck plays a huge role in winning football games, and it’s also why the deck is stacked against you going unbeaten.  Iowa is  a good football team, and it’s luck could very well continue.  But I would bet on them losing at least one of their next four games particularly because the injury bug has started to creep up on them.