By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Senior Day always brings mixed emotions because it marks the end of something so special.

Only a select few get to play for the Iowa football team, so it’s privilege and an honor for those who earn that distinction.

For those who have stayed the course and given their blood, sweat and tears to a cause bigger than each of them, Senior Day is a way of saying thanks and recognizing a job well done regardless of the circumstances.

Of course, Iowa’s Senior Day on Saturday, which will be held prior to its home finale against Michigan State, would feel a lot better for the players and coaches, and for the fans, and even for the media, if Iowa still were in the playoff hunt instead of being 6-4 and now playing for pride, and for the best bowl invitation.

But with competition comes the risk of losing and Iowa has suffered four painful and costly losses that will forever symbolize this up-and-down season.

Iowa’s four losses to Iowa State (16-13), Indiana (20-15), Oregon (18-16) and USC (26-21) were by a combined 15 points.

Iowa State, Indiana and Oregon were also held to a season low for points.

This season will be remembered for the razor thin line that separates good from great.

Iowa has earned the right to be called a good team by beating the teams that it should beat.

But when matched against teams of equal strength or superior strength, this Iowa team has fallen short for all sort of reasons, including the defense failing to make some key stands late in games and the offense failing to throw downfield with much success.

No opponent has challenged Indiana the way Iowa did on Sept. 27 when the Hoosiers escaped from Kinnick Stadium with a 20-15 victory.

Iowa showed so much grit and toughness in that game that Indiana’s usually brash and outspoken head coach, Curt Cignetti, actually was humble and respectful afterwards because he knew his team was lucky to get out of Iowa City still undefeated.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning probably felt the same about his team’s 18-16 victory on Nov. 8 at Kinnick Stadium.

A Hawkeye fan might roll his or her eyes when being reminded about how close Iowa has come to beating some really good teams this season, and fair enough because the goal isn’t to come close.

This season has been very frustrating for fans who have now watched Iowa lose 13 straight games against ranked opponents dating back to the 2021 season.

Iowa’s 2025 schedule has basically lived up to its preseason billing when words such as brutal and beast were used to describe it.

Penn State is one team on Iowa’s schedule that hasn’t lived up to its preseason ranking, but the Nittany Lions still gave Iowa everything it could handle before falling 25-24 on Oct. 18 at Kinnick Stadium.

There is always the chance that Michigan State, despite being 0-7 in conference play and 3-7 overall, will put it all together on Saturday and perform at a level it hasn’t come close to reaching this season.

Remember, Iowa lost at Michigan State, 32-20, last season and would go on to finish 8-5 overall.

But this year’s game against the Spartans will be played in Iowa City, and on Senior Day, and Iowa is also better than it was last season, while the Spartans appear to be worse.

It would be shocking if Iowa were to come out flat against Michigan State because there is too much pride and character on this year’s Iowa team to allow that to happen.

Iowa’s current senior class is filled with high-character individuals; a group that includes graduate defensive end Ethan Hurkett, graduate center Logan Jones, senior right tackle Gennings Dunker, senior left guard Beau Stephens, senior defensive tackle Aaron Graves, senior defensive end Max Llewellyn, senior free safety Xavier Nwankpa, senior cornerback TJ Hall, senior return specialist/receiver Kaden Wetjen and graduate quarterback Mark Gronowski just to name a few.

They all have represented their team, their school and their state with class, and they aren’t about to let this season unravel despite all the heartbreak and gut-wrenching losses.

Some would argue that the season already has unraveled since Iowa no longer has a chance to make the 12-team playoff.

If that’s how you want to judge each season moving forward, that’s certainly your prerogative, but be prepared to be disappointed.

Iowa still has a chance to finish 9-4, but the only way that could happen is if it beats the Spartans on Saturday.

The much-anticipated Nebraska game on Black Friday will have to wait because all that matters this week is beating Michigan State.

That will be Kirk Ferentz’s message and his seniors will help to convey it.

Iowa is also a better team than Michigan State, plain and simple.

So, if the Hawkeyes play up to their potential and avoid costly turnovers, they should prevail on Saturday, making it a happy Senior Day in a season in which happiness has been fleeting.