Their defense was hardly elite considering the typical horrible Big 10 offenses they faced while also combining the annual favorable scheduling they also receive from the schedule makers.
Do you remember how Nebraska took that "elite" or "big time" defense out behind the woodshed last year? Nebraska could have scored 50+ points on Parkers heralded defense if they wouldn't have taken their foot off the gas.
Then after the game the excuses were flying from some of the delusional Iowa faithful how, if they wouldn't have lost their best player on defense the game would have been much different. Really, removing one player no matter how good makes a really great defense turn to total garbage just like that?
I just laugh at the thought of how Iowa fans actually think they have anything more than a mediocre at best football team.