The Hawkeyes had a 25–10–3 record from 1986 to 1988 and qualified for three more bowl games. Fry had taken Iowa to eight straight winning seasons and eight bowl games before going 5–6 in 1989. The Hawkeyes bounced right back in 1990, winning Iowa's ninth Big Ten title and qualifying for Iowa's fifth Rose Bowl, though Iowa lost in Pasadena for the third time under Fry. Iowa went 10–1 in 1991, but Iowa's lone loss cost the Hawks another Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl trip.