I agree with most of that except for the part that PSU would have won if Clifford did not get hurt. PSU early drives were mostly kept alive by Clifford running for 1st downs. Typically in similar games when a team is scoring early with the QB running, the Iowa defense adjusts and shuts down the other team in the 2nd half. The Nebraska game and Illinois game are great examples of this. Iowa was down by double digits and clawed its way back in both games. Iowa probably would have done the same against PSU. It was already 17-10 before the PSU backip even saw the field. After Iowa went up 23-20 against PSU, the Iowa offense went very conservative because Kirk Ferentz knew PSU would not score again with its backup QB. With or without Clifford, Iowa was going to get back in that game.
With all that said, Iowa did none of those things against Purdue and Wisc following weeks after PSU. Which was a little strange. Jeff Brahm more than other coach, just seems to have Iowa figured out. While Iowa defense seems to be good at adjusting to a running QB during a game, they have never been able to shut down WR David Bell. It does not help that CB Riley Moss was out against Purdue and Wisc. But DC Phil Parker gets strangely stubborn about not doing double coverage on any WR, even David Bell, and Iowa got burned.
Also I guess Purdue and Wisc are great examples of what happens to Iowa if they get no turnovers. But PSU was turning the ball over against Iowa, which is why I think Iowa would have come back against PSU even with Clifford.
But I do agree that Iowa's schedule in hindsight was easier than first thought. Iowa rose to #2 by blowing out #17 Ind, winning @ #9 Iowa State, blowing out @MD, and then beating #4 PSU. All 4 teams ended up worse than everybody thought they were at the time Iowa played them. As it turned out, the best teams Iowa ended up.playing were in the Big Ten West. One can argue that MSU, Mich and OSU also benefited from Rutgers, MD, Ind and PSU being worse than originally thought. MSU especially also got lucky with its schedule, not having to play Wisc, Iowa, Minn or ILL. We saw what happened to MSU against Purdue.
I am also disappointed Iowa's offense did not get better as the season dragged on. The MD game gave Iowa fans false hope the offense was getting better. Turns out scoring 50 on MD is no big deal.