But if the Hawkeyes are to make their first trip to Pasadena in 19 seasons, they almost certainly will have to get there without their starting quarterback. Junior Ricky Stanzi sustained a severely sprained right ankle as he was sacked in the second quarter of a 17-10 loss against visiting Northwestern on Saturday.

Coach Kirk Ferentz expects Stanzi will more than likely be out until a bowl game, team spokesman Phil Haddy said in an e-mail Sunday. Haddy said an official announcement would come Tuesday.

The winner between the Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1 in the Big Ten) and Ohio State will clinch a share of the Big Ten title.

Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) defeated Penn State 24-7 on Saturday, and moved up four spots to No. 8 in the USA TODAY Top 25 Coaches' Poll. Iowa slipped to No. 13 from No. 6.

Stanzi has 14 interceptions to go with 15 touchdown passes but had been reliable late in games. He epitomized the unpredictability and capability of a team that rarely has dominated games yet had enjoyed an unbeaten season.

Iowa will turn to James Vandenberg, a redshirt freshman whose inexperience put him in an unenviable role against Northwestern. He completed nine of 27 passes for 82 yards with an interception.

Before Saturday, Vandenberg had played only briefly against Iowa State, in which he completed two of three passes for 38 yards.

"It's tough for any young player to step in," Ferentz said. "Certainly at quarterback it's a lot more difficult. ... We've felt good about (Vandenberg) all along. (It's) just unfortunate he hasn't had a chance to play more this year. But he'll be a better player next week, and he'll be better the week after."

After the game, Iowa players repeatedly voiced confidence in Vandenberg.

"Vandenberg gained a lot of confidence in this game, although we didn't come out with a victory," sophomore wide receiver Marvin McNutt said. "We all feel and know Vandenberg can produce, and he will."

But Vandenberg's next game is in Ohio State's famed Horseshoe, which seats more than 100,000.

Vandenberg had not had enough time to digest that Saturday afternoon. "I'm worried about fixing the incorrect things I did," he said.

"There's no time to dwell on being nervous anymore, because there's too much at stake now."

Enlarge By Reese Strickland, US Presswire Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who sprained his right ankle in a loss to Northwestern on Saturday, could be out until the Hawkeyes play in a bowl game.