Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

That was an incredible game.  A few thoughts:

1.  I know I'm a homer, so maybe somebody can set me straight -- was that the best performance by a running back you've ever seen? 

2.  The Hawkeye crowd being so close is a HUGE factor.  Many of the players admitted that the constant verbal barrage and insults really got to them.  The crowd noise was insane.   Maybe the toughest place to play in the B1G. 

3.  I don't know how to spell his name, but the linebacker Jewel is the best I've seen in the B1G this year.  What an amazing individual performance.

4.  Penn State had almost 600 yards of offense, almost 100 offensive plays, and a safety -- and scored 21 points.  Iowa's defensive plan was masterful.  Instead of playing to contain Barkley, they played to stop the big play.  The soft coverage and deep safeties is something no one else has tried against PSU.  It almost worked.   There were so many times that PSU was THIS close to breaking a huge play, and Iowa just kept them from doing it.   It's not often a team can give up nearly 600 yards and still be credited with a great defensive gameplan. 

5.  I'm not sure which had me more on the edge of my seat -- the movie "IT" or this game.  I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack this week.

outstanding game by both teams

unfortunately, both teams can't win

and there are no moral victories

It was a great game for sure, but the result was disappointing (at least from an Iowa perspective).

Barkley is the real deal.  He reminds me a lot of a bigger/stronger Barry Sanders - and as it turns out, he was Barkley's childhood idol.  Great kid.  He has my vote for the Heisman.

I love Barkley's game....but cmon mang. He ain't Barry. Not even close. I don't think we will ever see a RB with that kind of stop-start change of direction. Barry was one in a billion. He was also a lot stronger than you think- those thighs, legs, and calves were the size of tree trunks. Those legs ripped right through many an arm tackle. Barry was 5'8 but he was 200+ pounds of lower body muscle. He wasn't a 5'7, 180 pound midget like Darren Sproles- he'd have never been as great as he was in the NFL if he was.
Barkley reminds me more of a bigger, stronger 230 pound Reggie Bush. Especially when you take into account his receiving ability. Bush lacked the size and strength to be an inside the tackles runner, Barkley won't have that problem.

I think that beat down by Clemson at home is really going to hurt him. I have my doubts about Louisville as a team. They seem pretty void of talent outside of Jackson. It's almost like he has to be perfect and play like Superman or they lose. Padding stats against Kent State isn't going to get the voters attention. I don't think they are done losing. Boston College at home doesn't look like the gimme everyone thought it'd be, and they'll have to go on the road and face two tough defenses in NC State and Florida State.
I think if the voting was done today the top two would be Barkley and Mayfield. They've both had signature moments in prime-time nationally televised games playing on the road in hostile environments.

The schedule is rather soft w/ FSU losing their QB and they probably won't get to play VT in the championship game. He's going to rack up insane stats, its just there will be no signature game. 
Barkley will leap to front runner if he has a big game against Michigan.