Iowa wouldn't have been in BCS title game talks had they beaten OSU in 2009 to win the B10. (Texas and Bama were darlings). In '85 they beat UM but promptly lost to OSU. Oklahoma kinda controlled the narrative that year. Idk, maybe had Iowa pounded UCLA they'd have been in the discussion. The most elite and talented Iowa team's (2002) boat was sunk in September.
Iowa would've made the playoffs in '15 had they won in Indy. Were they paper tigers in a shit division? Yea, but everyone embraced the denial until they couldn't (i.e. we all know real contenders aren't lining up James VdB as WR #1). Not only would it have been Iowa's first outright B10 title in 30 years, it would've vaulted Iowa into a national championship scenario.
That was literally the biggest Iowa game of doug's and my lifetime. Any litany of reactions to that game's outcome would not be considered excessive. To think otherwise means you're just a silly little faggot.