The first thing you need to know about No. 10 Iowa is that it does not control its own destiny. If the Hawkeyes and Ohio State, which have established themselves as the cream of the frothy Big Ten, win out, the Buckeyes would receive the Rose Bowl booty, courtesy of their unbeaten overall record, and Iowa would pay for its non-conference loss to Iowa State.

That's the applicable tiebreaker, not the fact that Ohio State (1996) has been to Pasadena more recently than Iowa (1990). Least-recent appearance comes right after overall record on the tiebreaker chain.

South Florida Heating Up

There are two things you can count on in Florida -- and hold the jokes, please, about ballot boxes: Sunshine and talented football players. Heck, there are even enough football players to extend the sunshine to yet another Florida football power. That would be South Florida, a six-year-old program whose future is so bright, it's going to need plenty of sunscreen. The Bulls, who share state-of-the-art Raymond James Stadium with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will add another home next season when they join Conference USA. And with back-to-back victories over Southern Miss and East Carolina, two traditional powers in C-USA, in mid-October, South Florida (5-2) served notice that it plans to be a contender right from the start. "All it means is, we've beaten two Conference USA teams," said coach Jim Leavitt, being modest about what is nonetheless a very encouraging pair of wins. "The test is over a whole conference schedule." Expect the Bulls -- who are working on their fifth straight winning season in their development from embryonic program to Division I-AA power to Conference USA -- to pass that test. That's a tribute to Leavitt, a former Kansas State defensive coordinator who is the only head coach South Florida has ever had, and the way he has molded a roster that has taken advantage of Florida's seemingly endless stream of high school football talent. For example, senior quarterback Marquel Blackwell, who already held every significant passing and total offense record at USF going into this season, is from just across the bay in St. Petersburg. "I don't think the question will ever be talent with South Florida," Leavitt said. "The question is going to be the discipline of our football team and the leadership of our football team." The Bulls appear to be in good hands there, too. Their 35-26 upset win at Pittsburgh in 2001 prompted a championship-like celebration among the players. But when they won at East Carolina 46-30 on Oct. 19, one week after holding off Southern Miss 16-13 in Tampa, the Bulls acted like they had been there before. "This is still big," said 6-foot-5 junior receiver Huey Whittaker, from Springstead, Fla. "But we're a little more mature now. That's why we weren't going crazy like we did at Pitt." Florida (SEC), Florida State (ACC) and Miami (Big East) have set some pretty high standards in their conferences. Don't be surprised if South Florida does the same in Conference USA and give the Sunshine State yet another team in the spotlight. -- Herb Gould

The second thing you need to know about Iowa, which is ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1990, is that it's a shame the Hawkeyes and Ohio State won't have a chance to settle their differences on the field. After winning in convincing fashion at Michigan 34-9 Saturday, Iowa has established that it's that good, but thanks to the rotating schedule format Big Ten uses, the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes don't meet this season.

"It's too bad they're not playing, because it would be a heck of a football game," said Penn State coach Joe Paterno, whose Nittany Lions lost at home to Iowa 42-35 in overtime and fell at Ohio State 13-7. "Don't ask me who would win, but it would be a tough bang-bang football game. They both have great kicking games. Both are very well coached, very disciplined and do a lot of things well. They can do anything they want to do, really."

The third thing you need to know is that unlike recent Big Ten flavors of the month such as Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue, fourth-year coach Kirk Ferentz is building a program that's has a better chance to have staying power.

That isn't simply because Iowa -- with a rabid following eager to return to the Hayden Fry heydays -- more closely resembles the models of Wisconsin and Penn State, if not Michigan and Ohio State than Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue.

It's also because Ferentz has assembled an excellent staff that takes players where it finds them, and molds them into competitors who can get the job done. Senior quarterback Brad Banks is from Belle Glade, Fla., by way of Central Florida and a Raymond (Miss.) Junior College. Banks is one of 11 Hawkeyes from Florida. Others include leading receiver Maurice Brown, leading tackler Fred Barr and defensive end Colin Cole, who leads the team with 12 tackles for a loss.

Running back Fred Russell originally signed with Michigan coming out of Inkster, Mich., but didn't qualify academically and wound up at a Milford (Conn.) prep school. Ferentz found him after learning that the Milford Academy player he wanted to recruit already had committed to Purdue.

The Hawkeyes also are home-grown. In what might be the most amazing stat for a top-10 team, they have four starters who are former walk-ons, and they can play. Center Bruce Nelson, from Emmetsburg, Iowa, and junior tight end Dallas Clark, from Livermore, Iowa, are among the best players in the nation at their positions. And senior free safety Derek Pagel, from Plainfield, Iowa, and junior linebacker Grant Steen, another Emmetsburg product, are big contributors on defense.

"They're like the old Nebraska staff in the way they develop players," said ESPN.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. "They haven't won a lot of recruiting battles, but they might be the best staff in the Big Ten. They've done a tremendous job with players like Banks and Russell."

It all adds up to a team that leads the Big Ten (eighth nationally) in scoring, with 37.8 points a game, and a team that is fourth in the league (27th nationally) in scoring defense, allowing 20.4 points a game.

It all starts with a rugged pair of lines, as you might expect from Ferentz, 47, who was an offensive line coach at Iowa in 1981-89 and with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens in 1993-98.

"If you're going to beat Iowa, you'd better be physical and tough. I don't think there's a more physical team in the country than Iowa," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

"I thought they were a very good football team last year," said Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez, who takes the Badgers to Iowa City Saturday. "The difference now is, you have maturity on the team. But what really separates them is the emergence of their quarterback, how much better he is. He's just been outstanding. He knows where to go with the ball, and he's been effective as a runner. He's really been a very productive player for them."

Anther thing you need to know about the Hawkeyes is that they aren't fretting that unless Ohio State loses, they won't go to the Rose Bowl even if they go undefeated in Big Ten play.

"I don't worry about things like that. That's out of our control," Ferentz said. "I've got my hands full getting ready for Saturday. I thought it was tough that Illinois didn't get to play in the Rose Bowl last year. But if you end up in another major bowl, there's a lot worse things that can happen."

Around the Big Ten

Illinois
The Illini scored touchdowns on their first four possessions and got 176 yards and four rushing touchdowns from Antoineo Harris as they blew out Indiana 45-14. The Illini now head to Penn State feeling they can win three of their last four games and sneak into one of the Big Ten's seven bowl berths. "A couple of teams have beaten Penn State, so I don't necessarily know if it's that hard to win up there," said receiver Brandon Lloyd, who said Illinois didn't surprise him in routing the Hoosiers. "We expect to blow teams out like this. We didn't have any different players in there. We didn't have any secret formula. Everybody just went out there and focused on the task at hand, and we blew them out. Now we're going to try and win out. That's what we need to do as a team. And we have the ability to do it."

Indiana
After two encouraging performances -- an upset win over Wisconsin and a solid effort in a loss to Iowa -- the Hoosiers came out flat in a 45-14 loss at Illinois, scoring two touchdowns in the last 3½ minutes to avoid being shut out. But first-year coach Gerry DiNardo wasn't dwelling on the disappointing effort. "It's just one loss," he said. "It certainly was ugly and it was a bad day. But we're going to go back to work and go after Northwestern."

Iowa
Despite an impressive 34-9 victory at Michigan Saturday, the Hawkeyes aren't interested in savoring the moment. "The Michigan victory is not going to mean anything until we win these next three games," said running back Fred Russell, a Michigan native. The Hawkeyes, who went 2-18 in their first 20 games under fourth-year coach Kirk Ferentz, are trying to stay focused on what they have left to do, and Ferentz said those recent trying times will help. "We're getting great leadership," Ferentz said. "Our older players are doing a good job of making sure everybody stays focused. They know what's important and what isn't. They've had their tails kicked."

Michigan
Michigan turns its attention to instate rival Michigan State after a 34-9 loss to Iowa, the Wolverines' worst at home since a 34-0 loss to Michigan State in 1967. The loss was only Michigan's first in Big Ten play, but it pretty much dashed the Woverines' Rose Bowl hopes. Even if they win out -- a tall order, considering they have trips to once-beaten Minnesota and unbeaten Ohio State among their four remaining games -- they would need Iowa to lose two of its last three. ... Cornerback Marlin Jackson is looking forward to the challenge of covering Charles Rogers, the Spartans' All-America receiver. "That's what it's all about," Jackson said, "going one-on-one against the best receiver in the country."

Michigan State
The Spartans shape up as big underdogs in this week's trip to Michigan, especially without quarterback Jeff Smoker, who's suspended indefinitely for undisclosed reasons. But the Spartans desperately need a win to ease the heat on third-year coach Bobby Williams after losing five of their last six, and feeling the wrath of their fans. A win would help slow the hits he's taking at the "firebobbywilliams.com" web site and from fans who have taken to wearing T-shirts that say, "Save the Spartans, boycott Bobby." Williams, one of the nation's four African-American head coaches, said he's confident he'll be given time to right the Spartans ship. "I have the full support of the administration," he said. "They stand behind what we're doing here. They see how we're building things the right way. The fact that things haven't happened has made a lot of people unhappy. But we'd just like to have the same opportunity as other coaches, to have a chance to build a program. I'm building a program here. This is my third year. It takes time."

Minnesota
After a week off, the No. 19 Gophers face a brutal stretch in which they play at No. 4 Ohio State, then come home to face No. 13 Michigan and No. 10 Iowa, who are a combined 23-3. But if Minnesota (7-1, 3-1), which also still has a dangerous rivalry game left with Wisconsin, can negotiate it way through its fierce schedule, the rewards will be vast. The Gophers will grab a share of their first Big Ten title, and their first Rose Bowl trip, since 1961. While a 4-0 finish seems highly unlikely, Minnesota can take heart from its last trip to Ohio State. The Gophers upset the Buckeyes 29-17 two years ago, when Ohio State was unbeaten (5-0) and ranked sixth in the nation.

Northwestern
The Wildcats will be glad to see Indiana in a matchup of teams coming off of blowout losses. While Indiana was getting hammered 45-14 at Illinois, Northwestern endured a 42-13 pounding from Purdue, which piled up 407 rushing yards. Northwestern has the nation's worst run defense, allowing 341.9 yards a game, more than 50 yards more than the next-worst team, Eastern Michigan (288.5). ... Northwestern has won four of its last six meetings with the Hoosiers, who were tagged for 248 rushing yards by Illinois.

Ohio State
The Buckeyes didn't merely survive Penn State 13-7; they also got past a scare from freshman running star Maurice Clarett, who was sidelined by a stinger in his left shoulder six plays into the game. Clarett, who originally injured his shoulder at Wisconsin on Oct. 19, is described as probable for the Buckeyes' game with Minnesota this week. ... Wide receiver Chris Gamble also started cornerback against Penn State and became the Buckeyes' first two-way starter in 39 years, since Paul Warfield in 1963. Gamble, who had a pivotal interception at Wisconsin, made his second pickoff in two games against Penn State and returned it for the Buckeyes' only touchdown.

Penn State
The Nittany Lions, who looked like they would be a contender in the Big Ten race after an early rout of Nebraska, now find themselves on the outside looking in after a 13-7 loss to Ohio State, their third close loss to a ranked team. They also had chances to win in their other losses, both in overtime, to Iowa and Michigan. To assure that their first bowl appearance in three years is a trip they can take pride in, they need to take care of business in their remaining four games. They play three Big Ten teams with losing records -- Illinois, Indiana and Michigan State -- plus a non-conference date with Virginia.

Purdue
The Boilers, one of only 13 teams that have made bowl trips for at least five straight years, are focused on winning two of their last three games to extend that streak to six bowl trips. Purdue, which halted a seven-game losing streak away from home by winning at Northwestern 42-13, face a tough matchup this week with unbeaten Ohio State. After that, the Boilermakers (4-5) play at struggling Michigan State before finishing up at home against Indiana.

Wisconsin
Far from fretting about this week's trip to Iowa, the Badgers are looking forward to another opportunity to keep moving in the right direction after whipping Michigan State 42-24 in East Lansing. The Michigan State win, safety Jim Leonhard said, "is really going to help us out. It gives us a lot of confidence going on the road again in another hostile environment." ... Wisconsin has won its last five games against Iowa. Before that, the Badgers were 0-17-1 vs. Iowa in 1977-1996.

Around the Independents

Connecticut, which had allowed just 15 fourth-quarter points in its previous seven games, allowed 14 points in the final 15 minutes in a 28-24 loss at Vanderbilt and fell to 2-6. ... Terry Caulley's two touchdown runs gave the Huskies 11 rushing TDs this season, one more than they had in 2001. ... Dan Orlovsky also threw for a touchdown and has had a passing TD in every game this fall. ... Navy was routed 51-30 at Tulane, its seventh straight loss, and fell to 1-7. Tony Lane led the Midshipmen with 80 yards on six carries. "All you can do is ask your guys to play hard, and they played hard," first-year coach Paul Johnson said. "We have to get stronger and faster (next year). Right now, we almost have to play perfect (to be successful), and it's hard for a team to do that." ... Notre Dame, which has handled everything that has come its way so far, not only is third in the current Bowl Championship Series standings behind Oklahoma and Miami. The Irish are likely to have a chance to move ahead of Miami based on strength-of-schedule considerations. The Irish, whose schedule is rated the nation's fourth toughest, have handled most of their difficult matchups and will be a heavy favorite in their next three games (Boston College, Navy, Rutgers) before wrapping up their season at Southern California. ... South Florida, which tested itself against Oklahoma and Arkansas this fall and Pittsburgh last season, will travel to Penn State on Sept. 3, 2005, in another ambitious game for the six-year-old football program, which begins play in Conference USA next season. Other power schools coming up for the Bulls include Alabama in 2003 and 2006, and Florida in 2008 and 2009. ... After a week off, South Florida (5-2), which is coming off back-to-back victories over C-USA rivals Southern Miss and East Carolina, returns to action against Charleston Southern this week. ... Troy State defeated Florida Atlantic 21-6, brightening a rainy homecoming game. Senior LeBarron Black led the way with a school-record 41 rushes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The teams fumbled nine times and had three punts blocked in the sloppy conditions as Troy State (3-6) won its 18th straight regular-season home game. The Trojans travel to Arkansas Saturday. ... Utah State fell to 2-6 with a 51-48 double-overtime loss at Louisiana-Monroe, which plays in the Sun Belt Conference, which the Aggies will join next season. Utah State gave up a season-high 654 yards, including 470 passing yards to freshman quarterback Steven Jyles, to Louisiana-Monroe.

Herb Gould covers college football for the Chicago Sun-Times.