Writers learn early on about the dangers of using superlatives like "always" and "never," but when it came to Indiana football it was always fine to say the Hoosiers would never make a bowl game. Until now.

Indiana (4-3) took control of its own postseason destiny Saturday with a 31-28 upset of Iowa. The Hoosiers need two more wins in their final five games to reach their first bowl since 1993, and with games remaining against Michigan State, Minnesota and Purdue, there's at least an outside chance they get there.

"Our football program is a shooting rocket," scratchy-voiced Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner said after of the win.

While that may be overstating it - Indiana's consecutive conference victories are its first since 2001 - there's no denying the air of excitement suddenly surrounding Hoosier football. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis is Indiana's most compelling player since Antwaan Randle El, receiver James Hardy, now that he's back from a two-game suspension, is a beast, and Hoeppner is as congenial a coach as there in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers still have plenty of hurdles to overcome in order to make the postseason. They're one of the thinnest teams in the Big Ten, and of the three winnable games left on their schedule (they also play No. 1 Ohio State next week and host No. 2 Michigan Nov. 11) only MSU is at home. But at least Indiana football is relevant again. And with college basketball just around the corner, that's saying something.

Punt, pass and kick

Punt: The Ron Zook watch is under way in Champaign. Zook, a noted recruiter famous for doing less with more talent than any coach in America, lost his second straight home game Saturday, this time to Ohio of the Mid-American Conference. Just a hunch, but the powers that be at Illinois give Zook one more year to stock some talent in the cupboards down there than cut their ties and find someone who can actually coach.

Pass: Wisconsin crept into my top-25 vote for the first time this year after dominating Minnesota Saturday. The Badgers look like they're headed towards a 10-2 season. It'll be a Charmin-soft record, but also good enough to earn a Jan. 1 bowl trip.

Kick: There can't be many people looking forward to next week's Michigan State-Northwestern game, but it's the biggest game of the year for the 3-4 Spartans. A win and MSU is right back in the bowl hunt. A loss and you can start the search for a new coach.