What record will the Iowa football team finish with?

After the win over No. 2 Michigan, the Iowa football team suddenly looks like a team to be reckoned with again.

With two games left in the regular season, how will it finish?

8-4

The Iowa football team had enormous expectations for this season following its record setting 12-0 finish in 2015.

Fans were excited and hyped about 2016 Iowa football — until Iowans were stuck watching a predictable offense, a complacent C.J. Beathard, and a defense that lacked energy and swagger.

After starting the year 5-4, the Hawkeyes shocked the world on Nov. 12, upsetting No. 2 Michigan. The way Iowa’s offense and defense had been playing all season, I was one of the many people who gave Iowa a zero percent chance to win.

I was proven wrong. The Hawkeyes played a complete game, and it finally seems the defense has its swagger back with the addition of true freshman Manny Rugamba into the starting lineup and senior Anthony Gair coming off the bench.

Now, the Hawkeyes have an opportunity to make their season go from major disappointment to something that fans will be able to tolerate if they can pull out two wins at Illinois and at home against Nebraska.

Iowa will be able to run the ball all over an Illinois defense that really struggles stopping the running game, and coming off of a tremendous game defensively, expect the Iowa defense to hold Illinois to under 10 points.

After Illinois, Iowa welcomes Nebraska for its final game of the year. The Huskers will have quarterback Tommy Armstrong back, who always seems to struggle against the Hawkeyes. The key to beating Nebraska will be how many turnovers the Hawkeye defense produces against loose-cannon Armstrong.

With all that said, I expect the Hawkeyes to finish the season 8-4, and I hope as a result they get Tennessee in a bowl game for some vengeance.

— Michael McCurdy

7-5

Every team needs that signature win to get things back on track.

Too bad that win came with only two games left in Iowa’s season.

While the upset over Michigan stands as one of the program’s biggest statements, the Hawkeyes will not be able to ride this momentum and win out this year.

Illinois, the next team on Iowa’s schedule, will lose to the Hawkeyes. The Illini are one of the worst teams in the conference.

However, the last team on Iowa’s schedule, Nebraska, will not lose to the Hawkeyes.

Nebraska remembers last season’s flop against Iowa — I’m sure quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. remembers tossing 4 interceptions in what was a horrific passing day. That won’t be the case this time around.

Iowa’s defense will keep it in both games; it’s the offense that won’t show up. Yes, the Hawkeyes beat Michigan. Akrum Wadley was a man on a mission, but now teams know what to expect. Plus, the passing game was horrific. C.J. Beathard threw for 66 yards on 8 completions.

Iowa can’t rely on just the running game, especially against Nebraska. They could squeeze by against a dreadful Illinois team, but it won’t slide against an 8-2 Cornhusker squad.

That win against the Wolverines was huge. The defense looked stellar, and the offense did just enough to win the game. I just don’t think the result will continue for both remaining games this season.

Realistically, the Hawkeyes are looking at a 7-5 finish — which is better than what most projected following a blowout loss to Penn State.

— Adam Hensley