DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hardly anyone expected anything out of the Hawkeyes this season. But Iowa came through for longtime coach Kirk Ferentz, bouncing back from a 4-8 season with eight wins, a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten and a New Year’s Day bowl bid. Though the Hawkeyes (8-5) closed the season with a 21-14 loss to LSU in the Outback Bowl, that shouldn’t put too much of a damper on what they accomplished.

Iowa made major strides in 2013 and could be in position to challenge for a Big Ten title in 2014.