SB Nation’s excellent Big Ten blog, The Rivalry, Esq., has a terrific reaction to yesterday’s game, including a retort to those Iowa fans complaining about officiating:

Before I get into my complete impressions, a word about the officiating in the fourth quarter. There were several questionable non-calls, most for pass interference, on Iowa’s last drive. I find this unfortunate, as I am always a believer in solid officiating – I’d rather not see the NCAA become the NBA, if you know what I mean. Personally, though, I don’t think Iowa fans have a right to complain. Last week, Indiana was screwed out of at least two touchdowns and perhaps some pass yardage after questionable officiating. In that game, the breaks went Iowa’s way, in this one they didn’t. Perhaps it was referee karma.

So, what does this game all mean? Well, for Northwestern, as I mentioned above, it pretty much secures a bowl berth. It’s not going to be a good bowl, and I won’t really consider it much of an achievement after last year, but at the least we’re not staying home in the winter.

Iowa has placed themselves behind the 8 ball for their conference championship and BCS hopes. If they manage to win out, their victory over Penn State guarantees a trip to Pasadena and a likely date with the Ducks. They can also still go to the Rose Bowl with another loss if Penn State comes back against Ohio State this afternoon. If, however, Ohio State wins out (including this afternoon) they will once again be Big 10 champions. Penn State could also secure the championship for themselves if they beat Ohio State this afternoon, AND defeat Michigan State and Indiana, AND Iowa loses to either OSU or Minnesota. Whew. Quite the muddled situation, eh?

Black Heart Gold Pants asks some tough questions after yesterday’s heartbreaking loss:

…How much can any team ask of its defense? This season has been a case study in just that question.

The last two games has seen Iowa turn the ball over 10 times to their opponents’ 4 and perhaps this has finally unmasked Iowa’s blueprint as too simplistic. Also, Ferentz’s football teams have relied on refinement over time. Refinement is code for “coaching up” players as the season progresses. November is usually the reveal for Ferentz’s teams, the time when silly mistakes evaporate and experience and commitment to execution take over. But not this year.

So this brings us back to Ken O’Keefe. His offenses have undoubtedly had some success. Iowa’s scoring offense has been in the Top Three in the conference in 4 of the past 10 years, and led the conference twice. But with the exception of last year, the last 5 years has seen Iowa in the lower half of the conference in scoring and dead last in 2007. These numbers might be an indictment on the talent that Iowa has recruited to the offense. Or it might be something else.

Ferentz likes Ken O’Keefe’s offensive philosophy. It fits his blueprint. And he is probably right, but perhaps we need to reassess Ken O’Keefe’s coaching and play calling. Maybe it is time for us to reassess Ken O’Keefe’s place on this Iowa staff.

Over at SB Nation’s excellent Iowa Hawkeyes blog, Black Heart Gold Pants, congratulations are in order, as well as some not-so-nice words for the referees this afternoon:

First of all, huge congratulations to Northwestern. We must admit that we didn’t see their “injure Ricky Stanzi” gameplan coming, but they worked it to perfection.

Stanzi is likely out for the rest of the regular season with a high ankle sprain, so it’s time for the James Vandenberg-John Wienke deathfight to begin.

Lastly, we must congratulate the Northwestern alumni, each and every one clad in Armani suits and driving Ferraris, for outpaying Iowa’s previous efforts to bribe the referees. The SEC may be gagging people from criticizing referees, but since they refuse to admit BHGP as a 13th member, it’s open season. The holding call on Eubanks on the touchdown was bulls—. The fumble call on Wegher was bulls—. The three consecutive defensive holding/pass interference calls on the last drive were supreme bulls—. We can’t claim that the referees cost Iowa a win, but it’s plain to see they cost Iowa their shot at the win.

Congratulations to the Iowa defense—particularly the defensive line, who worked their asses off today. Just a shame the other side of the ball was too damaged by injury and capricious officiating to follow suit.

Iowa City, IA (Sports Network) - Northwestern scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns in a span of just over six minutes immediately following an injury to Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, as the Wildcats pulled off a 17-10 upset of the eighth-ranked and previously-undefeated Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium.

Stanzi was hurt with 11:46 left in the second quarter and Iowa holding a 10-0 lead. He walked off the field gingerly under his own power, appearing to favor his right ankle, after a sack and a fumble in the end zone. In the third quarter, he returned to the field with a boot on his right foot.

Marshall Thomas recovered Stanzi's fumble in the end zone for a Northwestern touchdown and the Wildcats added another score on a Dan Persa touchdown pass following an interception of redshirt freshman James Vandenberg a few minutes later.

Northwestern (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) held Iowa without a point the rest of the way and won for the second time in its last three games. The Wildcats also won at Kinnick Stadium for the third straight time.

"I think we're starting to play our best football of the year," said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. "It has nothing to do with Iowa, it has everything to do with us. I really believe we're starting to hit our stride."

The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1) entered the day fourth in the BCS standings, but had a 13-game winning streak stopped and, more importantly, saw their dreams of a possible national championship dashed with Stanzi on the sideline.

"This doesn't end the season. It's disappointing certainly," said Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. "This team has worked hard and has been a tremendous group to be around daily. This is going to hurt today, hurt tomorrow, but we're going to have to move on quickly."

Iowa can still claim at least a share of the Big Ten crown with victories over Ohio State and Minnesota.

Stanzi finished 4-of-9 for 134 yards with a 74-yard touchdown pass to Marvin McNutt on the third offensive play of the game. The Hawkeyes added a 39-yard field goal from Daniel Murray on their next possession for a 10-0 lead just over five minutes into the game, but the momentum clearly changed early in the second quarter.

With Iowa on its own six-yard line after a punt, Stanzi was sacked by Corey Wootton and fumbled in the end zone. Thomas recovered to give Northwestern a touchdown with 11:46 remaining in the half.

Vandenberg took over behind center for Iowa on the next series and threw an interception on his first pass attempt.

Quentin Davie picked off the first-down throw and returned it to the Iowa 46. The Wildcats converted with a 10-play series, as Persa threw a four-yard scoring strike to Drake Dunsmore to make it 14-10 with 5:20 to play before the intermission.

Iowa turned it over again on its next possession when Brandon Wegher fumbled. The Wildcats recovered at the Hawkeye 42, but gave it back a few moments later when Persa was picked off in the end zone.

Vandenberg had the Hawkeyes in position to cut into the deficit on their first series of the third quarter, but Murray missed a 46-yard field goal try.

The Wildcats added three points early in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard field goal from Stefan Demos.

Iowa could not muster a threat offensively under Vandenberg and the last series ended with a fourth-down incomplete pass from the Iowa 32.

Vandenberg completed just 9-of-27 passes for 82 yards, but the Iowa rushing game managed just 65 yards.

Persa, who shared time at quarterback with Mike Kafka, finished 5-of-9 for 37 yards through the air and was Northwestern's leading rusher with 67 yards on 17 carries. Kafka completed 10-of-18 passes for 72 yards.

Iowa had won eight straight home games since a 22-17 loss to Northwestern last September...The Hawkeyes last beat the Wildcats at home in 2002...Iowa still leads the all-time series, 46-22-3...Northwestern, now bowl-eligible, visits Illinois next Saturday.