By LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) -- Much of the buzz surrounding No. 8 Iowa has
been about its resume, and whether the Hawkeyes can truly be
considered national title contenders when they keep sneaking
past everyone.

Throw in a showdown with No. 15 Ohio State in Columbus next week
that could determine the Big Ten title and Saturday's home date
with Northwestern (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) has all the makings of the
classic trap game.

Let's be honest, though. Every week's a trap game for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0) have survived them all so far, despite
key injuries and fourth-quarter deficits in four of the nine
games.

"I think we're getting great leadership," Iowa coach Kirk
Ferentz said. "I think the team overall gets it. I'm not taking
anything for granted. But I think they understand we're going to
be up against it week in and week out."

This weekend should be no different, even if the Wildcats' hopes
for an upset rest on the tender left hamstring of quarterback
Mike Kafka.

Kafka tweaked the hamstring last week against No. 11 Penn State
with the Wildcats ahead 10-3. Sophomore backup Dan Persa led
Northwestern to just a field goal after that as the Nittany
Lions rolled to a 34-13 win.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said he expects Kafka to play,
though Persa was listed as the co-starter on a depth chart
released this week.

Few players in the Big Ten are as important to their team as
Kafka is to Northwestern. He leads all Big Ten quarterbacks in
passing yardage, completions, completion percentage and total
offense, and he leads the Wildcats in rushing with 248 yards and
six touchdowns.

Despite Kafka's heroics, Northwestern ranks just 74th in the
nation with 25.7 points per game and will face a stout Iowa
defense Saturday.

Iowa allowed Indiana to score just 10 points following six
Hawkeyes turnovers in last week's 42-24 win. The Hawkeyes have
also forced 26 turnovers this season, including 18
interceptions.

"Iowa is one of those teams you can set your watch by what
they're going to do from a schematic standpoint," Fitzgerald
said. "They do what they do very well."

The Hawkeyes offense has been all over the map this season,
which in many ways is related to the performance of quarterback
Ricky Stanzi.

Stanzi had one of the worst quarters an Iowa signal caller has
ever had last week, throwing four picks in the third as Indiana
jumped ahead 24-14 and seemed poised to end the Hawkeyes dream
season.

But with the unwavering support of Ferentz, Stanzi bounced back
with two quick TD throws and Iowa scored 28 points in the fourth
quarter - more than they had scored in all but two games up to
that point.

The Hawkeyes, who have scored exactly as many points as
Northwestern this season, have battled through injuries all
season. They are down to their last proven running back, true
freshman Brandon Wegher - though he responded with a career-best
118 yards rushing and three TDs last week.

"I think Brandon's pretty comfortable and has been," Ferentz
said. "You have to be patient. I think that's offense in
general. You have to have patience and a lot of people don't."

Anyone who believes that Iowa will simply cruise past
Northwestern at home clearly hasn't seen the Hawkeyes play this
season or doesn't know the series' recent history.

Northwestern has won three of the last four in the series,
stopping Iowa four times inside the Wildcats 10-yard line late
in a 22-17 win in Iowa City in 2008.

"We're doing a good job of focusing on who we've got the next
week," said Iowa wide receiver Trey Stross. "Close games
definitely make you a little nervous."