CAPITAL ONE Iowa seeks what LSU has

Namely, the national championship, won by the Tigers in 2003.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Winning a share of the national championship last year earned LSU respect and recognition as one of college football's top programs.
For Iowa, membership among the elite remains elusive. And that's even after winning Big Ten titles in two of the last three years and finishing the 2002 and 2003 seasons ranked in the Top 10.
So it was hardly a surprise to the No. 11 Hawkeyes when oddsmakers made them 61/2-point underdogs to No. 12 LSU for Saturday's Capital One Bowl.
"We're used to that," Hawkeyes defensive lineman Matt Roth said. "We've been underdogs the last three years. I think people are constantly overlooking us."
A victory over the Tigers (9-2) could go a long way toward changing perceptions -- or could it?
"I don't know if we'll ever be considered" among the elite, said Kirk Ferentz, who has coached the Hawkeyes to a 30-7 record the last three years.
"If we can keep this going, maybe one of these days we'll be recognized. We're still having fun."
One thing is certain for the Hawkeyes: Beating LSU won't be easy.
LSU's forte is defense
The Tigers boast one of the nation's best defenses, anchored by All-American end Marcus Spears.
Spears, at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, leads a Tigers defense that allows just 249.9 yards, 15.9 points and 145.4 yards passing per game.
LSU's ability to shut down opposing passers poses the biggest challenge for Iowa (9-2), which won its last seven games in large part with the passing and scrambling skills of quarterback Drew Tate.
All season, Tate flustered teams with his knack for slipping past defenders and making plays in the open field.
The Big Ten's leading passer, Tate meant everything to the Hawkeyes' offense after injuries leveled the running back corps, leaving fifth-string walk-on Sam Brownlee as the starter the final five games.
"You've got to make sure he's [Tate] on the ground," said Spears, who had nine sacks and 48 tackles. "His whole team feeds off his enthusiasm."
Even though losing to No. 3 Auburn and Georgia cost LSU a shot at defending its national crown, coach Nick Saban says his team has plenty at stake.
Next stop, Miami
The game will be the last for Saban, who turned the LSU program around after taking the job in 2000. Last week, he agreed to coach the Miami Dolphins.
Saban insists his departure has not been a distraction and has stressed all week the opportunity his team has to etch some firsts in the school record books.
Beating Iowa would give the Tigers two straight seasons with 10 or more wins for the first time and mark the 49th victory in Saban's tenure, capping the most successful five-year stretch in school history.